釋氏要覽 2.9

2.9

爾雅云。訊言也○善見云。比丘到佛所問訊云。少病少惱。安樂行否○僧祇律云。禮拜不得如瘂羊。當相問訊○地持論云。當安慰舒顏。先語平視。和色正念。在前問訊○僧史略云。如比丘相見云不審。謂之問訊。律文。其卑者問尊。則云不審少病少惱起居輕利否。若上慰下。則云不審無病無惱乞食易得否。住處無惡伴否。後人省其言辭。乃止云不審。大似歇後語也。直須分明道箇不審字。始可成禮爾。

The Erya states: Xun means speech. ○ The Shanjian [lü piposha] states: When a bhikṣu arrives where the Buddha is, he greets and inquires, saying, "Are you little afflicted by illness and little troubled, faring in peace and ease?" ○ The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: In paying homage, one must not be like a mute sheep; one should exchange greetings. ○ The Bodhisattvabhūmi states: One should comfort with a relaxed expression, speak first with a level gaze, harmonious countenance, and right mindfulness, offering greetings before them. ○ The Seng shilüe states: When bhikṣus meet and say "shen" [inquiring respectfully], this is called greeting and inquiring. In the Vinaya text, when an inferior inquires of a superior, he says, "Inquiring respectfully: Are you little afflicted by illness and little troubled, light and agile in daily life?" If a superior comforts an inferior, he says, "Inquiring respectfully: Are you free of illness and free of trouble? Is almsfood easily obtained? Is your dwelling free of evil companions?" Later people condensed these words and merely said "shen," which much resembles a truncated saying. One must distinctly say the words of respectful inquiry; only then does it constitute proper etiquette.