釋門歸敬儀 2.29

2.29

十、明在繞恭敬者。經律之中制令右遶，故左行繞塔，為神所訶，左遶麥𧂐，為俗所責。其徒眾矣，且述知之。今行事者，順於天時，面西而北轉，右肩袒侍而為敬也。比見有僧，非於此法，便面東而北轉為右繞也。天竺梵僧，填聚京邑，經行旋繞，目閱其蹤，竝從西迴而名右轉，以順天道，如日月焉。然撿經中，匝數無定，或云「一匝、三匝、七匝、百匝、千匝，無數匝」者，斯何故耶？皆謂隨務緩急，致有不同，莫不身曲掌合，徘徊瞻不，不能已已，周旋敬重，申己信重之心也。故內外清信，來至佛前，禮而後遶，遶已復禮，加敬重沓，無得恒準。總而言之，以敬為本，故《語》曰：「禮，與其奢也寧儉。」故知禮與其敬寧重。重則隨心，顯晦萬途，其致一矣。故孔門贊素王曰：「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後」是也。

Tenth, explaining circumambulating in reverence. In the sūtras and Vinaya, it is prescribed to circumambulate to the right. Therefore, walking to the left to circumambulate a stūpa was rebuked by spirits, and circumambulating a wheat stack to the left was blamed by common people. Many such followers exist, so let this be stated so that they may know it. Nowadays, practitioners accord with celestial time, facing west and turning north, keeping the bared right shoulder facing [the object of veneration] to show respect. Lately I have seen monks who reject this rule, facing east and turning north, considering that to be circumambulating to the right. Indian monks fill the capital city; watching their footsteps during walking meditation and circumambulation, they all turn from the west, calling it turning to the right, in order to accord with the heavenly Way, like the sun and moon. However, examining the sūtras, the number of circumambulations is not fixed: some say "one circumambulation, three circumambulations, seven circumambulations, a hundred circumambulations, a thousand circumambulations, or countless circumambulations." What is the reason for this? It is simply that depending on the urgency or leisure of the task, differences arise. In all cases, one bends the body and joins the palms, pacing back and forth and gazing upward, unable to bring oneself to stop, turning round in reverence and expressing one's mind of faith and gravity. Therefore, both internal and external pure believers, upon coming before the Buddha, bow and then circumambulate, and having circumambulated, bow again; repeatedly heaping up reverence, there is no fixed rule. In sum, taking respect as fundamental, the Analects says: "In ceremonies, it is better to be sparing than extravagant." Hence we know that in rites, it is better to be grave than simply respectful. Being grave accords with the mind; though revealed or hidden in ten thousand ways, their ultimate purpose is one. Therefore, the disciples of Confucius praised the Uncrowned King, saying: "Looking up to it, it is ever higher; drilling into it, it is ever firmer; I look at it in front, and suddenly it is behind"—this is just so.