四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.265

3.265

Third, the procedure upon arriving at the inviting house. If the Buddha image and the seat of the holy monk have not yet been arranged, the virtuous senior monk should first direct the installation of the image, making it extremely clean and superior to the saṃgha seats, placed in a covered and elevated position. Thereafter, the seat of the holy monk is arranged; its ritual consists of five fascicles, which Emperor Wu of Liang translated in consultation with an Indian Tripiṭaka master, and cannot be recorded in full. As stated in the Sūtra on the Method for Inviting Piṇḍola: It instructs one to make an invitation the night before, and in an empty and quiet place, spread a soft, buoyant seat; when I come, the seat will show signs. Nowadays people set it up hastily at the time, entirely lacking proper ritual format. Since it is known not to be easy, the instructing bhikṣu of the lineage should instruct them in advance according to the sūtra. If it has not been prepared in advance, when approaching the vegetarian meal, the senior monk should ask for new, soft cloth, padded garments that are clean and white, place them at the head of the saṃgha, and have them spread out extensively upon rugs and carpets to make an ample space for a grand seat; only then should the senior monk sit down next in order. One must not wait until having sat down before dividing the places for the saṃgha and Buddha seats; nor, on account of the seating area being narrow, crowd it onto the ground or arrange it in front of the Buddha; or, though occupying the seat, lay out an overly cramped space. In such a senior monk, no merit is seen; not only does he lack an excellent condition for reverence and faith himself, but he also causes laypeople to disrespect the Three Jewels; such a person is a senior monk who destroys the Dharma. The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: If a dānapati invites the saṃgha but does not know the Dharma, providing inferior seating mats to the senior monk and superior couches and mats to the junior monks, the senior monk should instruct him, saying that the inferior ones should be given to the junior monks. If the donor, on account of a familiar bhikṣu, spreads fine couches and cushions, one must not dispute with them, but follow the donor's wishes; the same applies to food and drink. If the donor does not yet know the method of inviting the saṃgha, an acquainted nun may instruct them on arranging the images and the method of serving food, and sit only afterward; she should sit in a separate place, and must not sit in a place superior to that of the saṃgha. The Dīrgha-āgama states: When the Bhagavat responded to an assembly, he always sat in the midst of the assembly; on his left were the bhikṣus, and on his right were the laymen of pure faith.