千手眼大悲心呪行法 1.5

1.5

Third: Sīmābandha. On the opening day, prior to paying homage, the practitioner should mark out the boundary around the place of practice in accordance with the Dharma. The sūtra states: "As for the method of sīmābandha: take a knife, recite the mantra over it twenty-one times, and draw a line on the ground to make the boundary; or take pure water, recite the mantra over it twenty-one times, and scatter it in the four directions to make the boundary; or take white mustard seeds, recite the mantra over them twenty-one times, and throw them in the four directions to make the boundary; or make the boundary wherever thought reaches; or take clean ash, recite the mantra over it twenty-one times, to make the boundary; or recite the mantra over five-colored thread twenty-one times and encircle the four sides to make the boundary—all are permissible. If one can receive and maintain it in accordance with the Dharma, results will naturally be achieved." The sūtra states: "All may be practiced according to convenience."