中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 2.15

2.15

When the ordination platform was first established, whenever there was a ritual, the Bequeathed Teaching was always recited, with a seat set up at the southwest end of the platform to recite it. (West of the south-to-west stair-path of the platform, Mahābrahmā transformed an iron stem, silver dragons, and silver lotuses; on the revolving pathway of opening and closing lotus blossoms, directly opposite the balustrade, they supported the high seat.) Next, the ritual for ascending and descending the platform is explained. First, the ten preceptors assume their correct deportment according to their positions; sitting on the ground with bare feet, they ascend from the eastern stairs of the lower tier and exit to the east, turn north and circle around to the south, and having circled the two tiers twice to the east, they make three prostrations facing the Buddha. They visualize and invite the present Buddhas of the ten directions, all the great bodhisattvas, arhats, and the noble Sangha to descend upon the platform, with the eight classes of devas and nāgas filling the sky. They also invite the three sthaviras who currently conduct the ordination ritual—the first named Doutianna, the second named Louzhi, and the third named Malanna, all of whom are bodhisattva-bhikṣus who originally requested the Buddha to establish the ordination platform, formulate the precepts, and confer ordination—now all are invited, wishing that they descend here. The ten preceptors walk backwards, take the western stairs of the upper tier on the south face and ascend, turn east and circle north, and having circumambulated the Buddha, they leave the three sthaviras to sit next below. Those who wish to receive [the precepts] are about to listen to the Bequeathed Teaching. The karmadāna lines up at the path of the eastern stairs of the lower tier, standing with his face to the west. The master of deportment descends from the upper eastern stairs, and having lined up on the western stair-path and gone up and down the tiers, he immediately turns east facing north, makes three prostrations to the Buddha, kneels on both knees, and listens through the scripture. Taking the eastern stairs, he walks backwards, stepping heel to toe as he descends, and stands outside the ordination platform. Then the karmadāna leads them in one by one; reaching the place where impediments are questioned, he stands directly facing the eastern stairs, looking north. The master of deportment steps heel to toe down from the upper eastern stairs, and having questioned the impediments and obstacles, he ascends from the eastern stairs of the lower tier, turns west, ascends from the western stairs of the upper tier, and turns east. Having made three prostrations before the Buddha, he turns east and circles north, and reaching the front of the karmācārya, he makes the announcement (jñapti). When agreement is reached, he calls the ordinand to ascend the platform according to the rules of the master of deportment. Having prostrated before the three sthaviras, the ordinand next prostrates before the ten preceptors, making three prostrations to each one. The master of deportment instructs him to request the precepts. The karmācārya makes the announcement for harmony and questions the impediments and obstacles. Having received the precepts through the jñapti-caturtha-karman, he kneels on both knees facing east in order. When the others have received [the precepts], all proceed before the Buddha, kneel on both knees, and listen again to the Bequeathed Teaching. Having done so, they stand and cultivate their deportment, carefully arrange their robes and bowls, and stand awaiting instructions. The ten preceptors descend from the northern stairs on the west side and exit to the south, turn east directly north, and make three prostrations before the Buddha. The newly ordained monks descend from the stairs on the east face, exit north, circumambulate the platform to the bottom of the western stairs of the lower tier on the south face, turn east facing north, and finish prostrating to the Buddha. Only then do the ten preceptors descend from the eastern stairs of the lower tier, put on their shoes, and exit to the south, while the newly ordained monks follow behind them. In the midst of the flower groves, they then have the newly ordained proceed in front, while the ten preceptors follow behind, returning to their quarters.