經律異相 47.52

47.52

At that time, the partridge expounded such Dharma teachings, and all the people followed them; the Dharma's admonitions spread abroad. 'You who have gone forth within my Dharma should revere one another even more.' In this way the Buddha's Dharma spread abroad. 'From now on, I permit you to pay reverence, bow, welcome, and inquire after one another according to seniority.' When the monks heard the Buddha's teaching, the monks paid reverence and bowed to one another in order of seniority. (Extracted from the Dharmaguptaka-vinaya, third fascicle of the fourth division; also extracted from the Sarvāstivāda-vinaya, sixth fascicle on the seven dharmas.)