【Benefits of relying on the teacher】- Although cultivation may be difficult

And in all the worldly protections, to gain one small advantage, the cost is immeasurable. Buddha Dharma is just the opposite. Initially, it will be hard work, but the protection is truly perfect and thorough. And, in the end, the reward is the best – it is much greater than the cost, much greater. In other words, it may be a bit arduous during your practice, but this effort is very small compared to the effect. Now, we lack the understanding of this concept and become attached to immediate advantage. This is harmful. In sincere practice, there is suffering at the present moment, but the rewarding harvest is remarkable, great, and perfect! If you can apply accordingly, that will be the path to achieving perfect and unsurpassable enlightenment. This is your true engagement on the path. Once you engage in it, you will advance step by step.

So if you are able to do this, then you “therefore will be able to work for the welfare of living beings who have entered wrong paths.” Of course, when we practice the teaching now, it is certainly good! With your ability to do so, then you can help others. This is truly spreading the teachings to benefit others! Genuine promulgation of the teaching to benefit others arises from here. This is how you benefit self and others. If you cannot even apply it yourself, what benefit will there be? Isn’t this very obvious? And, for us to succeed in doing [i.e practice the teaching properly ], it is mentioned above.

“Once Bodhisattvas have relied on the guru” – for those who are sincere about training on the perfect Buddha path, those who are inspired to benefit self and others, these are called Bodhisattvas. They should definitely rely on great virtuous teachers. 

SOURCE 来源 :

21A 04’09”  Vol 3 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P147 L5
English Lamrim Vol 1 P88

日常师父法语📡21A 04’09” 手抄稿第3册P147 L5

亲近胜利 : 虽然修行苦一点

而且世间的所有这种保护，得到了一点小的好处，付出无量的代价；佛法恰恰相反，刚开始做的时候满辛苦的，但是得到真正圆满的保护、究竟的保护。而且得到的最后好的结果，比之付出的代价那个大得太多、太多，换句话说，你虽然修行的时候一点辛苦，可是这个辛苦比之于你的收获是微乎其微。现在我们不懂这个道理，所以贪眼前的便宜，那是害了。真正修行的话，眼前是苦的，但是那个收获是非常地了不起，大而圆满!你能够这样做的话，那是能够圆满无上菩提的道，这个就是你真正的修道了，走上这条道路，步步上升。

所以因为你能这样的话，“故能利益趣向恶道诸有情类”，当然我们现在修行，当然好!你能够这样的话，那些人你才能够帮助他，这个才是真正的弘法利生啊！真正的弘法利生是这样来的，是自利而利他。你自己都做不到，谈什么利益啊？这不是很明白吗？而自己要做到呢，就是像上面。

“是故菩萨应依尊重”，所以真正想修学圆满佛道，要求自利、利他的那些人，这个就是菩萨，决定应该依止这个大善知识。