法苑珠林 47.24

47.24

又梵網經云。若佛子。應如法次第坐。先受戒者在前坐。後受戒者在後坐。不問老少比丘比丘尼貴人國王王子乃至黃門奴婢。皆應先受戒者在前坐。後受戒者次第而坐。莫如外道癡人。若老若少無前無後。坐無次第兵奴之法。我佛法中先者先坐後者後坐。而菩薩不次第坐者。犯輕垢罪。若佛子。常行教化。大悲心入檀越貴人家一切眾中。不得立為白衣說法。應白衣眾前高座上坐。法師不得地立為四眾白衣說法。若說法時法師高座香華供養。四眾聽者下坐如孝順父母。敬順師教如事火婆羅門。其說法者若不如法。犯輕垢罪。

Furthermore, the Brahmajāla-sūtra says: If one is a disciple of the Buddha, one should sit in order according to the Dharma: those who received the precepts earlier sit in front, and those who received the precepts later sit behind. Regardless of age, whether monk, nun, noble person, king, prince, or even eunuch or slave, all should sit with those who received the precepts earlier in front, and those who received the precepts later sitting in succession. Do not be like the foolish people among non-Buddhists, where young and old have no front or back, sitting without order after the manner of soldiers and slaves. In my Buddha-Dharma, the seniors sit first and the juniors sit afterward. If a bodhisattva does not sit in order, he commits an offense of light defilement (duṣkṛta). If a disciple of the Buddha constantly carries out transformation through teaching, entering with great compassion among noble donor families and all assemblies, he must not stand to explain the Dharma for laypeople. He should sit on a high seat before the lay assembly. A Dharma master must not stand on the ground to explain the Dharma for the fourfold assembly and laypeople. When explaining the Dharma, the Dharma master sits on a high seat, offered perfumes and flowers, and the fourfold assembly of listeners sits below, like being filial to parents and respectfully obeying the teacher's instruction like a fire-worshipping brāhmaṇa. If the one explaining the Dharma does not act according to the Dharma, he commits an offense of light defilement.