誰堪依止難抉擇，況逢欺誑轉灰退；
自檢菩提踏實修，緩進慎察專志隨。
跋
佛友遠道來訪，請我就如何抉擇上師為文，因為有許多人對此十分迷惑，不知何所是從，又有許多人遭逢邪師，覺悟後灰心退轉，對精神上的追求十分存疑。佛道的進展，主要是基於菩提心。追隨上師是為求得到有經驗、有證德者的護佑及指導。因此，修行者首應自檢菩提心是否堅實。只要菩提心堅實，則任何境遇都是助長成熟的磨鍊，縱遇邪師欺誑，在行者自心上並無虧欠。再者，修行者應當努力修習基本功課，如念佛、持咒、拜佛、四加行等，而不需急於求高法、妙法，或忙於跑道場、領灌頂。只要根基札實，機緣成熟，便會有感應，可以知道應當依止誰為上師。親近上師，不必急著要馬上完全投入，應順其自然，而有時間可以觀察及省思，是否確實有助益於修途上的進展。至於真正依止上師，則只有已經出離世事，專門修行的人才能體會該怎麼做。其他一般所謂的依止上師，只不過是結交道友而已。
二○○○年四月十八日
養和齋 於加州
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Yutang Lin"]
To: "Dharma Friends"
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 8:23 AM
Subject: Four More Poems in Calligraphy_依師之道、點撥、體會師恩、百依百順
The calligraphy files and their respective original works are attached. Also the file containing the requests is attached. All works
mentioned in this request that I would do calligraphy had been done.
拙書檔案及它們的原作都附呈。附呈檔案中也包含了提請文。所有在這提請文中所提的作品，我想寫成翰墨的都已寫出來了。
F1308 is hereby added to the Chinese book Yi Shi Zhi Dao, the Way to Follow a Guru.
謹此將F1308加入到《依師之道》的中文書中。
Attain Enlightenment Soon!
祝早成佛！
Yutang
鈺堂
南無金剛蓮華佛！
最敬愛的本師佛：
上師的開示聖詩每一首都非常的殊勝透徹，具足圓滿的智悲，每一首弟子都非常喜歡，愛不釋手。今天再次拜讀，感覺首首皆是稱佛本懷，暢佛欲言，實在是稀有珍貴，法門至寶！弟子一時控制不住，又選了許多詩句，期望 師佛能在百忙之中再施神來妙筆，楊枝淨水，遍灑三千。所呈聖詩很多，師佛如果不能一一賜下，還請悲憫群生急盼甘霖浸潤心田故，儘量見賜墨寶聖跡！弟子貪心，萬祈寬恕！
法脈皈依境啟請頌、祈祐偈、陳上師啟請短頌、啟請陳師早誕頌、事師九心、沐恩者稀、依師之道、常隨修學、點撥、自願皈從、體會師恩、皈依上師、百依百順、韋馱菩薩往昔修因文
弟子大開獅口，再次請求 師佛慈憫原諒！
衷心祝禱 師佛佛母及諸佛子佛體安康，吉祥如意，永久住世利樂有情！！！
皈依弟子智宣恭敬頂禮頓首百拜
二○○七年三月
The Way to Follow a Guru Yutang Lin
Hard enough to know how to choose a Guru,
Not to mention being turned off by a sour one.
Be truthful to Bodhicitta and practice solidly,
Approach gradually with eyes open, and dedicate oneself to the Dharma!
Comment:
From afar a Buddhist came to visit. He asked me to write about how to choose a Guru because many are puzzled as to how to do it, and many had been turned off by sour ones that they remain skeptical to spiritual quests and Gurus. Progress on the Buddhist path is mainly based on Bodhicitta, the aspiration to enable all sentient beings to attain ultimate enlightenment. Following a Guru who is an experienced and realized practitioner one would gain protection and guidance on the path. Therefore, a practitioner should, first of all, reflect on Bodhicitta to ensure that it is genuine. As long as one's Bodhicitta is genuine, any situation would become an opportunity to help grow and mature, and even in case one had been misled or cheated by evil teachers, there is no fault on the practitioner's conscience. Furthermore, a practitioner should diligently practice basic training such as chanting the name of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, repeating mantras, making prostration to Buddhas, the foundational practices of Vajrayana, etc., instead of being anxious to obtain high or wondrous teachings, or hustling to visit centers and initiation gatherings. When the foundational practices are solidly developed, the opportune time would come for the practitioner to have inspirations indicating whom to follow as one's Guru. When one approaches a potential teacher, no need to rush into deep relationship. One should let the relationship develop naturally over time, then there will be opportunity to observe and reflect on whether this relationship is really beneficial for growth and progress on the Dharma path. As to how to take genuine refuge in a Guru it requires a disciple to have renounced worldly engagements and devoted fully to Dharma practices and services to comprehend the suitable way. No one can teach this through words. The usual so-called "taking refuge in a Guru" is no more than associating with a senior Dharma friend.
Written in Chinese on April 18, 2000
Translated on April 19, 2000
El Cerrito, California
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