English
to be restored, and quickly attain the state of Buddhahood. Thus it is said, in the Sutra of the Noble Jewel Lamp: If one serves and honors sentient beings as numerous as the dust of ten realms with all happiness, how great is the merit of having faith in this Dharma, that the excellent one does not have in that. Although there are countless such extensive teachings, in summary, with faith, one can quickly attain the wisdom of the Buddha. The Vinaya says: Bhikshus, things are extremely difficult to accomplish, therefore, with faith, one should rely on a virtuous friend, rely on a compliant friend, always abandon evil friends, seek the holy Dharma, contemplate its meaning, protect the precepts like precious jewels, diligently generate the supreme mind of Bodhi, and quickly attain the wisdom of the Buddha. Therefore, if one focuses on the six types of faith mentioned earlier and strives a hundredfold, and if it is combined with the ten virtues, the ten perfections, the gurus of the ten directions, the Three Jewels, and the assembly of sentient beings, one can accomplish a thousand-petaled lotus of faith. Thus, those fortunate ones who desire liberation should contemplate the nature of faith and engage in the practice of Guru Yoga, which also requires relying on a virtuous friend who possesses qualities, and has perfected hearing, contemplation, and meditation. In the Treasury of Wish-Fulfilling Jewels, it says: To cross the ocean of suffering of Samsara, one should rely on the guide, the glorious Guru. As it is said, Samsara is vast, therefore it has no beginning or end. It is deep, therefore it sinks without a bottom. It is powerful, therefore the flow of karma can enter anywhere. It is difficult to endure, therefore the waves are turbulent. From this place where one is oppressed by many kinds of suffering, one should board the ship adorned with the unsurpassed Dharma as the boat and the guide Guru as the helmsman. Having obtained this human body as a support, one must cross the ocean of Samsara. If one does not strive, then in the future one will be submerged in the depths of the evil realms of Samsara, and there will be no time for liberation. Therefore, having generated the mind of renunciation, those who wish to cross to the other shore of the water should also first rely on a boat and a good helmsman. The river of Samsara is bottomless,
Chinese
度脱方面，依赖于具备精深佛法和精通证悟的上师的功德，是希求解脱之士最为珍视的殊胜窍诀。然后，关于真正上师的特征，虽然有很多种说法，但简而言之，正如大圆满《心性休息》中所说： “寂静身语行为清净且无过， 善于断除疑惑，言语悦耳无垢染， 心怀深沉寂静，遍知智慧之宝藏， 功德无边，博闻且具大悲心， 智慧广大，见行如虚空一般， 事业无量，凡结缘者皆具意义， 慈爱，断除疲厌，且恒常精进， 依仗将众生引向解脱之道。” 如是所说，以身语意的诸多功德利益众生，智慧见解如虚空般深邃，事业随顺众生而行，凡结缘者皆种下解脱之种子，以慈悲之心恒常如独子般看待，且具足教证之功德，故能随应不同根器的众生而转动法轮，在具备这些功德的基础上，特别是密宗上师的特征，正如《心性休息》中所说： “具足灌顶、律仪、誓言且清净， 精通续部，已达口诀之大海彼岸， 获得念诵、修持、事业、事业之成就， 见解、禅修、行持、果证已获暖相， 具大悲心，善巧方便，引导所化成熟解脱， 传承之加持云聚未曾消散者， 当依止如是精通证悟之具德上师。” 以及，大学者比玛拉所著的《幻化网如镜疏》中说：上师也应是圆满获得内外坛城之灌顶者，戒律和誓言清净者，精通各续部之义者，精通念诵修持等事业者，证悟见解而不迷茫者，经验与禅修相熟者，与各种行为相应者，以慈悲心引导所化者，即具足八种功德。我的上师，在此之上，还具备传承未断绝且加持如浓雾般的特点，需要具足九种功德。如是上师，乃一切善妙功德之源泉，正如极其广大的《华严经》中所说：诸位佛子，此
English
In terms of deliverance, relying on the merits of a master who possesses profound Dharma and is proficient in realization is the supreme and cherished secret instruction for those who desire liberation. Then, regarding the characteristics of a true master, although there are many ways to describe them, in short, as it is said in the Great Perfection 'Resting the Mind Itself': "A peaceful body, speech, and conduct, pure and without fault, Skilled at cutting through doubts, speech pleasant and without defilement, A mind that is deep and peaceful, a treasury of omniscient wisdom, Limitless qualities, learned and with great compassion, Great wisdom, views and conduct like the sky, Limitless activities, all who connect with them have meaning, Loving, abandoning weariness, and constantly diligent, Relying on turning beings towards the path of liberation." As it is said, benefiting beings with the many merits of body, speech, and mind, wisdom and views as deep as the sky, activities that accord with beings, planting the seeds of liberation in all who connect with them, constantly regarding them with compassion like an only child, and being rich in the merits of scriptural authority, thus turning the wheel of Dharma according to the inclinations of different beings. On top of possessing these qualities, especially the characteristics of a tantric master, as it is said in 'Resting the Mind Itself': "Possessing and maintaining pure empowerments, vows, and samayas, Proficient in the tantras, having reached the other shore of the ocean of oral instructions, Having attained accomplishment in recitation, practice, activities, and deeds, Having obtained the warmth of realization in view, meditation, conduct, and fruition, With great compassion, skillful means, guiding disciples to maturity and liberation, The blessings of the lineage, a cloud mass that has not dissipated, One should rely on such a master of skillful realization, glorious master." And, in the commentary on the 'Net of Illusions Like a Mirror' by the great scholar Vimalamitra, it is said: The master should also be one who has fully received the empowerments of the inner and outer mandalas, whose precepts and vows are pure, who is proficient in the meaning of each of the tantras, who is skilled in the activities of recitation and practice, whose realization of the view is not confused, whose experience is familiar with meditation, who is in accordance with various behaviors, and who guides disciples with compassion, thus possessing eight qualities. My master, on top of that, also possesses the characteristic of an unbroken lineage and blessings like a dense fog, requiring nine qualities. Such a master is the source of all good qualities, as it is said in the vast 'Flower Garland Sutra': O sons of the Victorious Ones, this
Chinese
如是，从善知识处生出的功德是无量的。慈悲的广大机会犹如虚空。陀罗尼和三摩地之众多如星辰。慈悲不可估量如雪山之大湖。慈悲无量如江河。不为散乱所动如雪山。不从如是性中动摇如须弥山。处于轮回中却不被过患沾染如大莲花。慈爱无有遮蔽地平等如父母。功德无量如珍宝之来源。度脱所有于轮回中流转者如如来。如是，功德之聚是无量无边的。拥有如是功德的上师，以事业之行相同故与佛相等，是胜者的化身故也说是相等。《大鼓经》中说：“莫悲伤，阿难陀！莫哀叹，阿难陀！我于未来之时，将化现为善知识，成办你等之利益。”又，《金刚镜续》中说：“金刚萨埵坛城主，上师与诸佛皆相同。”如是，必须以极大之信心依止殊胜之上师。如《意集经》中说：“无上心要成熟之缘，迷途指引者善知识怙主，遣除黑暗之明灯珍宝，见眼根识意，度脱无数河流之舟，怖畏之大堡所依之城，拔出轮回之疴良医之王，布施海岛珍宝之，导师无上殊胜者，事先务必知晓。”如是说。这些的意义，也在《如意宝藏》中说：“如所说之殊胜功德中，具足一切之上师如乌昙跋罗花。大体具足者也与佛相同，具足六分者也值得依止。于此末世极为难得，当以极大之信心与恭敬依止。”如是所说，圆满具足所说功德者如花之王乌昙跋罗般难以获得，大体具足功德者也与佛相等，具足六分者也当珍重。
English
Thus, the merits arising from a virtuous spiritual friend are immeasurable. The vast opportunity of compassion is like the sky. The multitude of dharanis and samadhis is like the stars. Immeasurable compassion is like a great lake of snow mountains. Limitless compassion is like rivers. Not moved by distraction is like a snow mountain. Not wavering from suchness is like Mount Sumeru. Abiding in samsara but not tainted by faults is like a great lotus. Love is impartial without obscuration like parents. Limitless merit is like the source of jewels. Liberating all who wander in samsara is like the Tathagata. Thus, the collection of merits is immeasurable and boundless. The Lama who possesses such merits is equal to the Buddha because the manner of his activities is the same, and it is also said that he is equal because he is an emanation of the Victorious One. The Sutra of the Great Drum says: "Do not grieve, Ananda! Do not lament, Ananda! In the future, I will emanate as a virtuous spiritual friend and accomplish the benefit of you and others." Also, the Vajra Mirror Tantra says: "Vajrasattva, the lord of the mandala, the Lama is equal to all the Buddhas." Thus, one must rely on the supreme Lama with great faith. As it is said in the Gongdü: "The condition for ripening the supreme essence, the guide for those who have lost their way, the virtuous spiritual friend, the protector, the precious lamp that dispels darkness, the eye of sight, the power of mind and consciousness, the boat that ferries across countless rivers, the great fortress of fear, the city to rely on, the supreme physician who cures the chronic disease of samsara, the giver of jewels on the island of the sea, the unsurpassed and supreme guide, must be known in advance." So it is said. The meaning of these is also stated in the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Treasury: "Among the excellent qualities described, a Lama who possesses all of them is like an Udumbara flower. One who possesses most of them is like a Buddha, and one who possesses six of them is also worthy of reliance. In this degenerate age, they are extremely rare, and one should rely on them with great faith and respect." As it is said, one who fully possesses all the described qualities is as difficult to find as the king of flowers, the Udumbara. One who possesses most of the qualities is equal to the Buddha, and one who possesses six of them should also be cherished.
Chinese
应当依止。在这些之中，主要依止精通道路者。在《功德宝藏圆满汇集经》中说：应当恒常依止上师智者们，为什么呢？因为智者的功德由此产生。像这样的殊胜上师，为了劝诫无离地依止，有六个决定。第一，因为除了上师之外，没有其他可以询问获得恒常安乐菩提的意愿和商议之处，因此也劝诫必须依止上师。《幻化网续》中说：从轮回的怖畏中必定救护，引导至寂灭的殊胜者，除了上师之外没有其他。那么，难道没有善巧方便且具有慈悲的佛陀吗？答：那也是没有上师就不会产生的。所以，首先依止上师，因此一切的怙主就是上师。在《意集经》中说：相比一千劫的佛陀，应当了知上师更为重要。为什么劫的佛陀们，都是依止上师而产生的。我们这些的导师，释迦牟尼佛也是没有上师就不会出现的，唯有上师才值得恒常依止。在《意集经》中说：不依止导师们，佛陀永远不会出现，出现的情况真实未曾见过，如果出现就与圣者的教言相违背。以及《轮涅自在续》中说：因此一切法的根本，说是上师金刚持。没有从上师处产生的，成就也不可能获得。没有从上师处产生的，名为佛陀者也不可能出现。存在的缰绳，由具相的上师所转变。如是，仅仅忆念具有殊胜功德的上师，瑜伽士也能获得无法估量的福德。在《如意宝顶续》中说：谁将上师视为所欲之神，在头顶梵穴处观想，就能获得等同于在手掌中放置千佛坛城，绕三千大千世界。在心间融入千次，也不会获得百千的疾病和冰雹。因此，恒常忆念，将具德上师视为头顶轮的庄严。以及经文中说：上师是佛，上师是法，同样上师是僧，一切的作者是上师。
English
Should be relied upon. Among these, mainly rely on those who are proficient in the path. In the Sutra of Completely Gathering Precious Qualities, it says: One should always rely on the wise gurus. Why? Because the qualities of the wise arise from this. Such a supreme guru, to advise on relying on him inseparably, there are six reasons. First, because there is no other place to ask for advice and consultation on achieving lasting happiness and enlightenment other than the guru, it is also advised to rely on the guru. The Magical Net Tantra says: Surely protecting from the fears of samsara, leading to the supreme state of nirvana, there is no other than the guru. So, isn't there a Buddha who is skillful in means and possesses compassion? Answer: That also does not arise without a guru. Therefore, first rely on the guru, therefore the protector of all is the guru himself. In the Gongdü it says: Compared to the Buddhas of a thousand kalpas, one should know the guru to be more important. Why do the Buddhas of the kalpas arise from relying on the gurus? Our teacher, the Buddha Shakyamuni, also did not appear without a guru, only the guru is worthy of constant reliance. In the Gongdü it says: Without relying on the teachers, the Buddhas will never appear, the appearance has never been truly seen, if it appears it contradicts the words of the holy ones. And in the Wheel of Bliss Tantra it says: Therefore, the root of all dharmas, is said to be the guru Vajradhara. That which does not arise from the gurus, the accomplishment cannot be obtained. That which does not arise from the guru, the one called Buddha cannot appear. The reins of existence, are transformed by the qualified guru. Thus, by merely remembering the guru who possesses supreme qualities, the yogi obtains immeasurable merit even more than from meditation. In the Tantra of the Supreme Wish-Fulfilling Jewel it says: Whoever regards the guru as the desired deity, and meditates on him at the crown of the head, obtains the merit of placing a thousand Buddha mandalas in the palm of the hand and circumambulating the three thousand great thousand worlds. If one dissolves him into the heart a thousand times, one will not obtain hundreds of thousands of diseases and hail. Therefore, constantly remembering, regard the glorious guru as the ornament of the wheel at the crown of the head. And in the text it says: The guru is the Buddha, the guru is the Dharma, likewise the guru is the Sangha, the creator of all is the guru.