四分律行事鈔資持記 3.740

3.740

次科，初出所以，有五。一効諸佛，由佛効佛，而教弟子，令相法故，糜即是粥。二防眾戒者，或恐盤坐不穩，而犯足食，或離諸非儀等。三淨衣者，西天跣足，盤坐則污衣，故食訖洗足，方乃加趺。四異俗者，必應彼俗，食多盤坐，此方不然。五食易者，便於事故。因下，立制法。前却，却即是後，謂不齊並也。四竪，謂跟著地，指向上也。交，謂左右互交過。翹，即翹上一足。

In the next section, first the reasons are given; there are five. First, imitating the Buddhas: because Buddhas imitate Buddhas and instruct their disciples to follow the model of one another, [this is done]; "congee" (mi) means thin rice gruel (zhou). Second, guarding against multiple precepts: fearing perhaps that sitting cross-legged is unstable and one might commit [the offense of eating beyond] sufficiency of food, or to keep apart from various improprieties, and so forth. Third, keeping the robes pure: in the Western lands, they go barefoot; sitting cross-legged would soil the robes, so after finishing the meal, they wash their feet before assuming the lotus posture. Fourth, differing from the worldly: it must be that among those worldly people, they mostly sit cross-legged to eat, whereas in this land it is not so. Fifth, ease of eating: because it is convenient for the activity. From "due to" downwards, the formulated rules are established. "Ahead and behind": "behind" means back, referring to [the feet] not being evenly paired. "Four erect": meaning the heels touch the ground and the toes point upward. "Crossed": meaning the left and right cross over each other. "Raised": meaning raising up one foot.