Observations placeholder

The Lotus sutra – translated by Burton Watson

The Buddha said to Manjushri: "If these bodhisattvas and mahasattvas in the evil age hereafter wish to preach this sutra, they should abide by four rules.

First, they should abide by the practices and associations proper for bodhisattvas so that they can expound this sutra for the sake of living beings. Manjushri, what do I mean by the practices of a bodhisattva or mahasattva ?

If a bodhisattva or mahasattva takes his stand on perseverance, is gentle and compliant, never violent, and never alarmed in mind; and if with regard to phenomena he takes no action but observes the true entity of phenomena without acting or making any distinction, then this I call the practices of a bodhisattva or mahasattva.

As for the associations proper for them, bodhisattvas or mahasattvas should not associate closely with rulers, princes, high ministers or heads of offices.”