釋氏要覽 2.94

2.94

十誦律云。佛聽蓄杖。其𥎞用鐵為堅牢故。斯蓋行李之（善助）也（言𥎞用鐵即小拄杖子非今擔衣鉢大者）。毘奈耶云。佛聽蓄拄杖。有二因緣。一為老瘦無力二為病苦嬰身故○隋煬帝在[邱-丘+(乏-之+ㄠ)]時。送法藏禪師靈壽杖。書云每策此杖時。賜相憶（策杖有禮。呂氏春秋日。孔子弟氏抱杖而問其父。拄杖而問兄弟。曳杖而問妻子。蓋尊卑之差也。凡策杖若見尊宿并二師皆須投杖於地問訊。或是二師杖必倚著處然有問訊若為二師揉杖師有願問必抱杖以對之）。

The Daśādhyāya-vinaya says: 'The Buddha permitted the keeping of staffs. Its ferrule is made of iron for sturdiness.' This is indeed a good aid for travelling. (Saying that the ferrule is made of iron refers to a small walking staff, not the large ones carried today for robes and bowls.) The Vinaya says: 'The Buddha permitted the keeping of walking staffs for two reasons: first, on account of being old, emaciated, and lacking strength; second, on account of being beset by the torment of illness.' ○ When Emperor Yang of the Sui was Prince of Jin, he sent Chan Master Fazang an immortal-longevity cane, writing in a letter: 'Whenever you use this staff, grant me your remembrance.' (Leaning on a staff entails etiquette. The Lüshi Chunqiu says: 'The disciples of Confucius held their staffs to their chests when inquiring of their fathers, leaned on their staffs when inquiring of brothers, and trailed their staffs when inquiring of wives and children.' This marks the distinction between the venerated and the lowly. Whenever leaning on a staff, if one meets an elder or the two masters, one must cast the staff to the ground and pay respects. Or if it is the staff of the two masters, it must be set leaning against something, and then one pays respects. If carrying a staff for the two masters, and the master turns to inquire, one must hold the staff to the chest while answering him.)