法苑珠林 89.74

89.74

既略識持犯即須禮退。故地持論云。令受戒者。禮佛一拜。大地菩薩一拜。不云禮法。義准通禮。三拜彌善。

Once one has briefly understood upholding and transgressing, one must then make prostrations and withdraw. Therefore the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra states: ‘Instruct the recipient of the precepts to make one prostration to the Buddha and one prostration to the bodhisattvas of the Great Ground.’ It does not mention bowing to the Dharma, but in principle this applies generally; making three prostrations is even better.