釋門歸敬儀 2.22

2.22

Sixth, explaining the five points touching the ground. This is also called casting the five limbs to the ground. The Bodhisattvabhūmi Sūtra also says: "One should pay homage with the five points touching the ground." The Āgamas say: "The two elbows, the two knees, and the crown of the head are called the five points." A point [wheel] is a round form; all five places are round. Nowadays, when Indian monks pay homage, most tuck up their robes to expose their knees and touch the ground with them first, and then press their elbows to the ground with both palms turned upward, showing the form of receiving the feet. In practicing this rite at the present time, one should observe the situation and advance or retreat accordingly. If a Buddha image or a venerable master sits back with feet hanging down, only then can one receive the feet with the five points as described above; if they sit cross-legged, one simply adapts to the occasion. We have also seen people who, having heard of the form of taking the feet to the crown of one's head, approached the seat, pulled out the other person's feet, and said: "I wish to place them on the crown of my head." How offensive and clumsy this is! Thus we know that bending, turning, bowing, and looking upward are all intended to express reverence; other cases should be understood by analogy.