Arriving at the story of Never Despising Bodhisattva in Chapter 20, we enter the Lotus Sutra’s many lessons on how one who has faith in the sutra should act, beginning with the simplest practice: respect.

As Nichiren writes in “The ‘Emperor Sushun’ Letter”:

“A wise man named Confucius of China is said to have thought over what he intended to say nine times before he uttered a word. It is also said that Tan, the Duke of Chou, interrupted washing his hair, or having a meal, three times in order to see visitors without keeping them waiting. How much more you who have faith in Buddhism should take these examples to heart! Otherwise you will regret it later. Please do not bear a grudge against me. This is the teaching of the Buddha. The essence of Buddhism is the Lotus Sūtra, and the gist of practicing the Lotus Sūtra is shown in the “Never-Despising Bodhisattva” chapter. Contemplate why the Never-Despising Bodhisattva stood on the street to bow to passersby. The true purpose of Śākyamuni Buddha appearing in this world was to teach us how to behave ourselves on a daily basis.

Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4,
Page 124

In The Stories of the Lotus Sutra, Gene Reeves underscores the importance of showing respect in our daily practice:

“Over and over again in the Dharma Flower Sutra we are encouraged to ‘receive, embrace, read, recite, copy, teach, and practice’ the Dharma Flower Sutra. Thus, the fact that Never Disrespectful Bodhisattva did not read or recite sutras is quite interesting. I think it is an expression of the general idea in the Dharma Flower Sutra that, while various practices are very important, what is even more important is how one lives one’s life in relation to others. The references to bodhisattvas who do not follow normal monastic practices, including reading and recitation of sutras, but still become fully awakened buddhas indicates that putting the Dharma into one’s daily life by respecting others, and in this way embodying the Dharma, is more important than formal practices such as reading and recitation.”

The Stories of the Lotus Sutra, p216-217

This practice can have real-world beneficial effects, as Thich Nhat Hanh explains in Peaceful Action, Open Heart:

“This bodhisattva removes the feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem in people. “How can I become a Buddha? How can I attain enlightenment? There is nothing in me except suffering, and I don’t know how to get free of my own suffering, much less help others. I am worthless.” Many people have these kinds of feelings, and they suffer because of them. Never Disparaging Bodhisattva works to encourage and empower people who feel this way, to remind them that they too have Buddha nature, they too are a wonder of life, and they too can achieve what a Buddha achieves. This is a great message of hope and confidence. This is the practice of a bodhisattva in the action dimension. This is the practice of the Lotus Sutra.”

Peaceful Action, Open Heart, p146

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