Page "Bodhisattva" Paragraph 22

The Nyingma school, however, holds that the lowest level is the way of the king, who primarily seeks his own benefit but who recognizes that his benefit depends crucially on that of his kingdom and his subjects.

The middle level is the path of the boatman, who ferries his passengers across the river and simultaneously, of course, ferries himself as well.

The highest level is that of the shepherd, who makes sure that all his sheep arrive safely ahead of him and places their welfare above his own.