The Compassionate Grace of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (Part 1)

From the moment a person first encounters the Dharma until finally attaining Buddhahood, at least half, or even the majority, of their karmic obstacles are borne and eliminated by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Even the very affinity that enables every sentient being to learn the Buddha Dharma is the result of the blessings and mindful protection bestowed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. If left solely to the individual sentient being, with such heavy karmic obstacles, merely encountering the Dharma would be exceedingly difficult, how much more so practicing it, how much more so avoiding wrong paths, how much more so achieving minor accomplishments, and how much more so attaining liberation.

Even Bodhisattvas at the stage of Equal Enlightenment and Wonderful Enlightenment still require the mindful protection of the Buddhas to smoothly attain Buddhahood. How much more so for every ordinary sentient being! Without relying on the blessings and mindful protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, every step is fraught with difficulties, overgrown with thorns, making progress impossible, with no place to set foot.

The grace of our teachers is profound. Therefore, we should truly feel deep gratitude towards the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, constantly harbor a mind of repaying their kindness, believe in the Buddha's words, follow the Buddha's teachings, uphold the Buddha's precepts, refrain from all evil and practice all good. Take the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as our teachers, never betraying them or forsaking the teachings. Generate great vows to benefit ourselves and others, eliminate afflictions, purify our own minds, and dedicate all our virtuous actions, virtuous aspirations, and wholesome Dharma practices for the benefit of all sentient beings throughout the Dharma realm, thereby repaying the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their grace of deliverance.