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It protects and enhances good qualities.<ref>''Ratnolkādhāraṇī'' (''<i>'</i>Phags pa dkon mchog ta la la'i gzungs zhes bya ba theg pa chen po'i mdo''), in Derge Kangyur D145, mdo sde, vol. 57, pa, fol. 63b, purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW22084_0145.</ref> | It protects and enhances good qualities.<ref>''Ratnolkādhāraṇī'' (''<i>'</i>Phags pa dkon mchog ta la la'i gzungs zhes bya ba theg pa chen po'i mdo''), in Derge Kangyur D145, mdo sde, vol. 57, pa, fol. 63b, purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW22084_0145.</ref> | ||
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Citing such verses, a teacher often elaborates on the benefits of having faith and its crucial role in spiritual transformation with the aim of helping a student generate faith in the teacher, teachings, paths, and results. There is a popular Tibetan saying that goes: "For the hook of the Buddha's compassion to catch hold, sentient beings need the ring of faith." Another popular Buddhist statement found in ''The Sūtra of Ten Dharmas'' (''Daśadharmakasūtra'') says "A person without faith cannot give rise to positive things just as a burnt seed | Citing such verses, a teacher often elaborates on the benefits of having faith and its crucial role in spiritual transformation with the aim of helping a student generate faith in the teacher, teachings, paths, and results. There is a popular Tibetan saying that goes: "For the hook of the Buddha's compassion to catch hold, sentient beings need the ring of faith." Another popular Buddhist statement found in ''The Sūtra of Ten Dharmas'' (''Daśadharmakasūtra'') says "A person without faith cannot give rise to positive things just as a burnt seed won't produce a green sprout."<ref>''dad pa med pa'i mi la ni''/ /''dkar po'i chos rnams mi skye ste''/ /''me yis sa bon tshig rnams la''/ /''myu gu sngon po ji bzhin no''//. See ''Daśadharmakasūtra'' (''<i>'</i>Phags pa chos bcu pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po'i mdo''), in Derge Kangyur D53, dkon brtsegs, vol. 40, kha, fol. 166a, http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW22084_0053. See also ''Mañjuśrī Root Tantra'' (''Āryamañjuśrīmūlatantra'', ''<i>'</i>Phags pa 'jam dpal gyi rtsa ba'i rgyud'', in Derge Kangyur D543, rgyud, vol. 88, na, fol. 159b, http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW4CZ5369_0543.</ref><ref>(link to teachings on faith)</ref> | ||
A more specific faith required in this case is the faith and trust in the value and merits of the thought of awakening so that one would seek it earnestly. For this reason, many sūtras and masters like Śāntideva extol the power of bodhicitta as a source of incredible merit and benefit. A student is recommended to repeatedly reflect on the merits of bodhicitta and generate great interest in and high regard for the thought of awakening, resulting in a strong enthusiasm to generate it. | A more specific faith required in this case is the faith and trust in the value and merits of the thought of awakening so that one would seek it earnestly. For this reason, many sūtras and masters like Śāntideva extol the power of bodhicitta as a source of incredible merit and benefit. A student is recommended to repeatedly reflect on the merits of bodhicitta and generate great interest in and high regard for the thought of awakening, resulting in a strong enthusiasm to generate it. | ||
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Many Buddhist writings discuss the qualities and character of a spiritual teacher, how to find and follow such a teacher, and the numerous benefits of following the teacher. In ''The Way of the Bodhisattva'', Śāntideva describes the teacher for someone on the Mahāyāna path as having two qualities. | Many Buddhist writings discuss the qualities and character of a spiritual teacher, how to find and follow such a teacher, and the numerous benefits of following the teacher. In ''The Way of the Bodhisattva'', Śāntideva describes the teacher for someone on the Mahāyāna path as having two qualities. | ||
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A teacher must be very learned in the Mahāyāna system and also practice the path with integrity. Maitreya describes the Mahāyāna teacher as having nine qualities in ''The Ornament of Mahāyāna Sūtra'' (''Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā''): | A teacher must be very learned in the Mahāyāna system and also practice the path with integrity. Maitreya describes the Mahāyāna teacher as having nine qualities in ''The Ornament of Mahāyāna Sūtra'' (''Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā''): | ||
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Following the cultivation of these four immeasurable thoughts, one must also cultivate the strong resolve to forsake everything for the sake of all sentient beings. One can chant the following verse and verses 12–22 of chapter 3 of ''The Way of the Bodhisattva'': | Following the cultivation of these four immeasurable thoughts, one must also cultivate the strong resolve to forsake everything for the sake of all sentient beings. One can chant the following verse and verses 12–22 of chapter 3 of ''The Way of the Bodhisattva'': | ||
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