四分律行事鈔資持記 3.902

3.902

In the third [part]: first, the deportment of entering the hall. "Facing the side of the door" means lifting the feet according to the left or right door jamb. From "the right" onward, next, it shows the method of striking [the block]. "Aiming at the anvil" means making the mallet and anvil match each other. "Reverberating sound" refers to the vibrating sound. If the strokes below are indistinct, one must hold it with the left hand. (The old view saying that it symbolizes the disunity of the assembly is an error; also, seeing strikers bring their left hand to the mallet and make a swirling gesture is even more ridiculous.) From "then" onward, third, it explains making announcements. "Equal obtaining," also called "equal offering," means calling out that food is equal during major and minor meals. From "not" onward, it prohibits non-Dharmic acts. One should understand from this that striking the mallet is strictly for making announcements and quieting the assembly, unlike striking bells and chimes for functional use.