諸經要集 1.64

1.64

"The Buddha told Ānanda: 'Just as when I am in the world, those who take refuge in me are called taking refuge in the Buddha, taking refuge in the Dharma, and taking refuge in the Saṅgha, so those who contemplate an image of the Buddha should first enter a stūpa. Using fine fragrant paste and pure earth, they should plaster the ground to make it clean. According to their capacity, they should burn incense, scatter flowers, and make offerings to the Buddha image. They should speak of their past evils, bow to the Buddha, and repent. Taming their minds in this way for one week, they should then go among the assembly, plaster and sweep the grounds of the Saṅgha, and remove all filth and excrement. They should repent before the Saṅgha and bow to the feet of the assembly of monks. After another seven days of making offerings in this way without weariness: if one is a renunciant, one should recite the vinaya, making it thoroughly fluent; if one is a householder, one should filially nourish one's parents, respect teachers and elders, and train the mind to make it soft. If the mind is not soft, one must forcefully subdue it to make it pliable and harmonious. Residing by oneself in a quiet place, one should burn various renowned incenses, bow to Śākyamuni Buddha, and say these words: "Homage to the Greatly Virtuous One, my Great Upādhyāya, the Arhat, the Fully and Perfectly Enlightened One, the Greatly Compassionate Bhagavat! I pray that you cover and protect your disciple with your compassionate holiness." Having spoken these words, casting the five limbs to the ground, one weeps with tears before the image. Rising from the ground, one straightens one's robes, sits cross-legged, and ties one's mindfulness to a single place. Adapting to the practitioner, one may fix the mind on the tip of the nose, fix the mind on the forehead, or fix the mind on the toes; tying mindfulness at will in various ways like this, focus it exclusively on a single place, not letting it run wild or allowing the mind to vacillate. If the mind vacillates, raise the tongue to press against the palate, close the mouth, open the eyes, cross the hands, and sit upright. From one to seven days, let the body become peaceful and secure. Once the body is peaceful and secure, only then visualize the image.'"