佛祖統紀 33.42

33.42

The Bushel Offering for the Six Destinies: The Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa-sūtra states, 'Giving a single meal to all (stating "all" entirely encompasses the six destinies) and offering to the Buddhas and the assembly of wise and noble ones, only then may one eat.' Nanyue's Sui ziyi sanmei states, 'Whenever one receives food, one should say: "The color, fragrance, and flavor of this food are offered above to the Buddhas of the ten directions, in the middle to the assembly of wise and noble ones, and below to the classes of the six destinies; distributed equally without distinction."' The Tiantai Method of Contemplating the Mind at Meals states that after sounding the bell, one joins one's hands in offering to the unitary Three Jewels, and next takes out raw rice, declaring it as an offering to the six destinies. These all make equal offerings to the ten realms; this is clear proof for people today distributing [food in] bushels to the six destinies when cultivating the Water and Land Offering.