Be a Qualified Disciple of the Buddha

In school, a qualified student must be a "three-good student" with all-round development in virtue, intelligence, and physical fitness. In Buddhism, a good disciple of the Buddha should be a Buddhist disciple with all-round development in precepts (śīla), meditative concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā), possessing the fullness of the six perfections (pāramitā), a practitioner in whom ability and mental disposition are perfectly combined. A person who possesses both virtue and talent is a very rare and precious talent, extremely scarce. If someone has only a certain ability, but their mental disposition is unwholesome and not gentle and pliable, such a person cannot be entrusted with important responsibilities. If someone's mental disposition is wholesome but their ability is insufficient, they can still be used reluctantly and can be cultivated. But if both ability and mental disposition are lacking, they must absolutely not be used.

Mental disposition is manifested in selflessness. Before eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa), some people have a heavy sense of self, while others have a light sense of self. Those with a slight sense of self can, of course, more easily eradicate the view of self and realize the fruits of the path than those with a heavy sense of self. Those who always want to dominate and control others are people with a heavy sense of self; those who are unwilling to be managed and unwilling to obey leadership are also people with a heavy sense of self—their mental disposition is not harmonious, and in all cases it is the self that is causing trouble.

People with a slight sense of self are relatively easygoing and amiable; they take an indifferent attitude toward certain people and matters, and do not care much about their own position and power. In a group, it is most often these people with a heavy sense of self who cause problems. If there is no strong leader, the group will fall into complete chaos.

A Buddhist group will certainly have Dharma-protecting deities safeguarding it. The Dharma-protecting deities know each person's mental disposition perfectly well—what kind of mental disposition this person has, what purpose they hold, and what role they can play, the Dharma-protecting deities are all clear about. Therefore, what role a person should take on in the group will be managed by the Dharma-protecting deities. Some people have heavy selfish motives and will have a destructive effect on the group; the Dharma-protecting deities will find ways to remove and isolate them.