Question: When we practise ‘constantly complying with sentient beings’ (恒顺众生) as a Bodhisattva practice, how do we decide what can and cannot be done? (To comply with beings means to ‘go’ with the flow of their predispositions, their likes and dislikes, so as to lead them directly or indirectly towards Buddhahood.)
Answer: The answer is in this saying — ‘When Great Bodhisattvas cultivate constant complying with sentient beings, they are with immeasurable skilful means, yet not breaking one precept.’ (大菩萨修习，恒顺众生时，以无量方便，却不破一戒。) In other words, anything can be done, as long as it does not really go against any precept.
The scope of what can be done is thus very great. However, even if a word or deed comes close to, and seems to break a precept, it must not really do so. This is as far as a skilful Bodhisattva will go. If ending up breaking a precept, this means there is harm done, which makes it unskilful straightaway, against the Bodhisattva spirit.
Related Teachings:
《普贤菩萨行愿品》第九大愿：恒顺众生
[09] The Ninth Great Vow: Constantly Complying With Sentient Beings (Of Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Practices’ And Vows’ Chapter)
https://purelanders.com/2020/05/31/09-the-ninth-great-vow-constantly-complying-with-sentient-beings-of-universal-virtues-practices-and-vows-chapter
《楞严经·四种清净明诲章》第四重戒
[4] Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Four Kinds Of Clear Instructions On Purity: Fourth Heavy Precept
https://purelanders.com/2021/05/15/fourth-heavy-precept
济公有赞同或鼓励吃肉喝酒吗？
Did Jìgōng Endorse Or Urge Meat-Eating And Wine-Drinking?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2014/09/did-jigong-urge-meat-eating-wine-drinking
