Only One Unmoved by Humiliation Is a Suitable Vessel for the Path, Worthy of Receiving the Teacher's Dharma

An ancient saying goes: 凡验人，以辱之骂之而能受者可矣，以抑之挫之求而不予亦能顺受者可矣。先能承其重，则后能享其荣。In the cultivation and realization of the Buddha's Dharma, anyone who is a suitable vessel for the Path must be able to bear all heaviness and endure all humiliation, because their mind is empty of self and accords with the Path. Those who always want things to go their own way are not vessels and cannot be used, because their self-mind is not empty and does not accord with the Path. Those who in all matters put themselves first and others last are all heavy with self, not suitable vessels for the Path. A great vessel must have great capacity; only a mind of great capacity can bear everything—a prime minister's belly is wide enough to pole a boat in—while the narrow-minded can only hold filth and dung. For those with aspiration and a sense of responsibility, of great mind and great capacity, when the opportunity arises, give them hardships to temper their character; only through a hundred refinings can steel be made. Having withstood the training and tests of all kinds of adversity, the vessel is thereby forged; thereafter no states of suffering or pleasure can subdue them. With a mind like solid rock, when the first dhyāna arrives and Māra comes to disturb, the mind will not be moved; thus the gate of the first dhyāna is passed, and after attaining the fruit, afflictions will surely be severed. 

Those with skill in meditative concentration (samādhi) have strong samādhi power and are often gentler in character, not minding any humiliation inflicted upon them, not crying injustice or shouting grievance, their minds according with emptiness. In the past, when practitioners of the Path cultivated to a certain level, the master would test them to raise their endurance—insults and unjust beatings, groundless accusations; the disciples would not feel wronged, nor offer any defense, still less storm off in a huff. Those who cannot be driven away by beating or scolding are the true disciples, the vessels for the Path that can be delivered. A person with an empty mind cares about no bullying or humiliation; as long as there is Dharma to learn and a Path to cultivate, the mind has found its refuge, and before long will realize the Path. One can see that the Path has eyes. 

Chan Master Zhaozhou said: 上等人禅床上接，中等人门口接，下等人山门外接。The lower the person, the smaller the mind's capacity, the narrower the vision, the heavier the self, and the more they need gentle words and loving words; even if they are wrong, one cannot point it out directly, still less reprimand them—if slightly reprimanded, they will run off and wash their hands of it all. Those of the highest grade have great capacity of mind, a light notion of self, little emotion and few attachments, their mind abiding in the Path, disregarding the people, affairs, and things outside the Path. Therefore, the heavier a person's self-esteem, the more they need respect and tolerance, with a tactful and courteous tone; whereas a person of inner strength needs only directness, blunt and unvarnished, without any politeness, because their capacity is great. Whether there is the Path or not, cultivation or not, is clear at a glance.