釋門歸敬儀 2.25

2.25

八、明右膝著地者。經中多明「胡跪、互跪、長跪」，斯竝天竺敬儀，屈膝拄地之相也。如《經》中明俗多左道，所行皆左，故佛右手按地，以降天魔，令諸弟子右膝著地。言互跪者，左右兩膝交互跪地，此謂有所啟請，悔過授受之儀也。佛法順右，即以右膝拄地，右𮪭（退罪反）在空，右指拄地，又左膝上戴，左指拄地，使三處翹翹，曲身前就，故得心有專志，請悔方極，此謂心隨其身，行慢失矣。

Eighth, explaining placing the right knee on the ground. In the sūtras, "kneeling on both knees," "alternating kneeling," and "kneeling upright" are often explained; these are all Indian rites of respect, marks of bending the knees to support oneself on the ground. Just as the sūtras explain that secular people mostly follow the left-hand path and all their actions incline to the left, the Buddha therefore pressed the ground with his right hand to subdue the heavenly Māra, and instructed all disciples to place the right knee on the ground. As for what is called "alternating kneeling," this means alternating the left and right knees in kneeling on the ground; this is the rite for making requests, repenting transgressions, and conferring and receiving. The Buddha-Dharma accords with the right: one supports oneself on the ground with the right knee, the right heel is suspended in the air, and the right toes support oneself on the ground; moreover, the left knee is raised upward and the left toes support oneself on the ground, so that the three places are lifted up and the body bends forward. Thus the mind attains single-minded resolve, and requests and repentance reach their utmost; this means the mind follows the body, and arrogant behavior is discarded.