He wore the white clothes of the layman, yet lived impeccably like a religious
devotee. He lived at home, but remained aloof from the realm of desire, the realm of pure
matter, and the immaterial realm. He had a son, a wife, and female attendants, yet always
maintained continence. He appeared to be surrounded by servants, yet lived in solitude.
He appeared to be adorned with ornaments, yet always was endowed with the auspicious
signs and marks. He seemed to eat and drink, yet always took nourishment from the taste
of meditation. He made his appearance at the fields of sports and in the casinos, but his
aim was always to mature those people who were attached to games and gambling. ...
He mixed in all crowds, yet was respected as foremost of all.
... He engaged in all sorts of businesses, yet had no interest in profit or possessions. To train
living beings, he would appear at crossroads and on street corners, and to protect them he
participated in government. To turn people away from the Hinayana and to engage them
in the Mahayana, he appeared among listeners and teachers of the Dharma. To develop
children, he visited all the schools. To demonstrate the evils of desire, he even entered the
brothels. To establish drunkards in correct mindfulness, he entered all the cabarets.
He was honored as the businessman among businessmen because he
demonstrated the priority of the Dharma. He was honored as the landlord among
landlords because he renounced the aggressiveness of ownership. He was honored as the
warrior among warriors because he cultivated endurance, determination, and fortitude. He
was honored as the aristocrat among aristocrats because he suppressed pride, vanity, and
arrogance. He was honored as the official among officials because he regulated the
functions of government according to the Dharma. He was honored as the prince of
princes because he reversed their attachment to royal pleasures and sovereign power. He
was honored as a eunuch in the royal harem because he taught the young ladies according
to the Dharma.