佛說盂蘭盆經疏 2.70

2.70

The first half of this purifies the three karmas, and the second half provides the Three Jewels. In the first half, reciting incantations and vows is verbal karma, dhyāna-concentration is mental karma, and receiving food is physical karma. In the second half, before the pagoda is the Buddha, reciting incantations and vows is the Dharma, and receiving food is the Saṅgha. Receiving from another before eating is the monastic rule, so the character "receive" also belongs to the Dharma. "Pagoda" (ta 塔) is a corrupt transliteration from the borderlands; correctly it is called stūpa, which translates here as "a high, prominent place." The meaning here encompasses halls and pagodas: relics are placed in pagodas, and Buddha images are placed in halls.