四分律行事鈔資持記 3.769

3.769

三中。六法：初禮三寶；二昇高座；三打磬靜眾（今多打木。）；四贊唄（文是自作，今並他作，聲絕秉爐說偈祈請等。）；五正說；六觀機進止，問聽如法，樂聞應說（文中不明下座，今加續之。）；七說竟迴向；八復作贊唄；九下座禮辭。《僧傳》云：周僧妙，每講下座，必合掌懺悔云：佛意難知，豈凡夫所測；今所說者，傳受先師，未敢專輒；乞大眾，於斯法義，若是若非，布施歡喜。最初，鳴鍾集眾，總為十法今時講導，宜依此式。

In the third part, there are six procedures: first, paying homage to the Triratna; second, ascending the high seat; third, striking the sounding-stone to quiet the assembly (nowadays most strike wood); fourth, chanting verses of praise (in the text this was done by oneself; nowadays it is done by others, and when the sound ceases, one takes up the incense burner, recites gāthās of prayer and invitation, and so forth); fifth, the principal exposition; sixth, observing the faculties of the audience to proceed or stop: when questions and listening accord with the Dharma, and there is joy in hearing, one should expound (the text does not make descending the seat clear; it is added and continued here); seventh, when the exposition is finished, making the dedication of merit; eighth, chanting verses of praise again; ninth, descending the seat and bowing in departure. The Biographies of Monks says: "Whenever the Zhou monk Sengmiao finished his lecture and descended the seat, he would always join his palms and repent, saying: 'The Buddha's intent is difficult to know—how could an ordinary mortal fathom it? What has been expounded today was transmitted from my former master; I have not dared to act on my own authority. I beg the great assembly, whether these points of Dharma and meaning are right or wrong, to bestow the gift of rejoicing.'" At the very beginning, striking the bell to assemble the crowd makes ten procedures in total. Expositions and guidances nowadays should follow this formula.