釋門歸敬儀 2.29

2.29

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.