無智の者は、この経を説く者に使われて功徳をうべし。いかなる鬼畜なりとも法華経の一偈一句をも説かん者をば「当に起って遠く迎うべきこと、当に仏を敬うがごとくすべし」の道理なれば、仏のごとく互いに敬うべし。例せば、宝塔品の時の釈迦・多宝のごとくなるべし。
Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra. No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if someone proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says," You should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you would a Buddha." You should respect one another as Shakyamuni and Many Treasures did at the ceremony in the "Treasure Tower" chapter.
「当に起って遠く迎うべきこと、当に仏を敬うがごとくすべし」というこの一節がとても大事なんだと先生が言われていたことがあったと記憶しています。
座談会などの会合で参加者を迎える時の主催者側は肝に銘じておくべきですね。
