Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (LI)

One with a goal to reach needs guidance, but guidance cannot replace the effort one has to make. Though the road lanterns show your way, without stepping forward, you reach nowhere. It is one’s own effort that is decisive.

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)

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Below is not an official translation, just for reference.

To achieve anything in life - whether it's pursuing a career, acquiring knowledge, or simply becoming a better person - one must have a mentor or virtuous leader to provide guidance, enlightenment, and education. However, having such guidance merely points you in the right direction and informs you of the methods and strategies to pursue. It does not guarantee one hundred percent success in your endeavors. With the aforementioned conditions, after you understand the direction and methods, the most important thing is to rely on your own continuous efforts and progress to succeed. 

If a teacher instructs you on how to act, but you fail to implement those instructions, you cannot expect to achieve anything. It's akin to someone lighting a path for you, but you must still walk the path yourself. If you only know how to walk but don't move, you will never reach your destination. Therefore, mentors are like guiding lights, only by moving forward can you achieve your goals. Therefore, the fulfillment of your wishes is determined by yourself, which means that in the end, if you want to achieve your wishes and fulfill your wishes, you have to fight for them yourself.