四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.249

3.249

Regarding the first part, the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: 'The Buddhas do not regard paying homage to the physical body as true respect; if one sees the Dharma body, that is called making offerings.' When the Buddha descended from Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, Subhūti, contemplating impermanence and emptiness within a rock cave, was the first to see the Buddha; the nun Utpalavarṇā was first to pay homage at the jeweled staircase, but the Buddha did not accept it. The reason for showing respect to one another is to eliminate arrogance. In the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, because the bhikṣus did not know seniority, the Buddha rebuked them and said: 'Whom do you say should receive the foremost seat, the foremost water, the foremost food, and even being welcomed, bowed to, revered, and greeted?' The bhikṣus' answers varied: some said one practicing the twelve dhūtas, someone of noble clan, one of vast learning, a Dharma master, a Vinaya master, or a meditation master. The Buddha said: 'Each of you increases arrogance; that is why you say this.' He expounded at length the dharma of mutual respect among the three animals. Then he spoke this verse: 'He who respects the elders, / Such a person can protect the Dharma; / In the present life he has renown, / And in the future will be born in good realms.' He instructed the people, all following the guidance of the Dharma: 'You who have gone forth in my Dharma and Vinaya must show mutual respect to one another, so that the Buddha-Dharma may spread. From this day forward, I permit that, according to seniority, you pay respectful homage to the elders, welcome them, and inquire after them.' The Mahākaruṇā Sūtra states: 'When the Buddha was in past lives, whenever he saw the Three Jewels, relics, stupas, images, masters, monks, parents, brothers, sisters, seniors, good friends, tīrthikas, ṛṣis, śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, and so forth, he bowed without exception in humble reverence; as a karmic result of this, since attaining buddhahood, whenever the Buddha walks, the mountains, forests, humans, and animals all bow their heads in homage.' The Ekottarika-āgama states: 'Those who have no mind of respect toward the Buddha will be reborn among nāgas and serpents; having come from among them in the past, they still lack respect and sleep much in the present.' The Saṃyuktāgama states: 'He addressed the bhikṣus: If you see the four assemblies, restrain your senses, and you will have long-lasting peace and happiness, and so forth.' The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: 'Tīrthikas belong to other teachings and thus belittle the Buddha; when they come to the Buddha's presence, they seat themselves. Laypeople are like guests, so he invites them to sit. All members of the five renunciant assemblies have body and mind belonging to the Buddha, so they stand. If they are arhats who have attained the Way, such as Śāriputra and others, they all sit; those below the third path are not permitted to sit, because their work is not yet finished and the thieves of defilement have not yet been broken.' It also states: 'Because Śākyamuni Buddha had no separate bodhisattva saṃgha, Mañjuśrī, Maitreya, and others entered the śrāvaka saṃgha and took their seats according to seniority,' and so forth.