法苑珠林 39.12

39.12

述曰。若男女所修事訖。須欲出寺。佛塔前設禮三拜。還須右繞三匝合掌唄讚然後却行。出寺門外復設一禮。若見僧時。徒眾若少各禮三拜。僧若多時總辭三拜。故善見論云。禮佛時應繞三匝三拜四方作禮合十指掌叉手於頂却行而出。絕不見如來。更復作禮迴前而去（表慕戀三寶重疊報恩也）凡欲入寺之行為作出世之緣。建立寺者開淨土之因。供養僧者為出離之軌故。惟穢俗之鄙質入伽藍之淨剎。所有施為恐乖法式。若也還家微捨自贖。表僧有法施俗有財惠。舉動合宜內外俱益也。

It is related: When the affairs cultivated by men and women are completed and they wish to leave the temple, they should make three prostrations before the Buddha's stūpa, circumambulate clockwise three times, join their palms, chant hymns, and then walk backward. Having exited outside the temple gate, they make another prostration. If they see monks, and the assembly is small, they make three prostrations to each; if the monks are numerous, they make three collective prostrations of farewell. Therefore, the Samantapāsādikā says: 'When paying homage to the Buddha, one should circumambulate three times, make three prostrations, pay homage to the four directions, join the ten fingers in anjali, raise the hands to the crown of the head, and walk backward out of the hall. Only when the Tathāgata is completely out of sight does one bow again, turn around, and depart.' (This symbolizes longing for the Three Jewels and repaying their kindness repeatedly.) In general, the act of wishing to enter a temple is to create conditions for transcending the world; founding a temple opens the cause for the pure land; making offerings to the saṃgha is the path to liberation. Reflecting that with the vile constitution of worldly defilement one enters the pure sanctuary of a saṃghārāma, all that one does may easily diverge from the Dharma's standards. If, upon returning home, one makes a small donation to redeem oneself, this symbolizes that the monks provide the gift of Dharma while the laity provide the gift of wealth. When actions are fitting, both inner and outer benefit.