釋氏要覽 2.11

2.11

In the South, drawing out the sitting cloth is used as a form of etiquette, yet there is no text for this in an examination of the Vinaya. According to the Seng shilüe: Recently, unfolding the sitting cloth has come to serve as etiquette, which may be discussed. Formerly, when Indian monks arrived here, they all unfolded the niṣīdanam and paid homage upon it. Later generations avoided trouble: the venerable master, upon seeing the niṣīdanam being unfolded, would immediately halt them, and then they would exchange pleasantries about the weather. Unfolding it again was like prostrating a second time, and the venerable master would halt them again. From this, merely intending to unfold the niṣīdanam came to serve as the measure of etiquette, which is called a cuobai (cuo has the sound of cuo; it means a bow that loses proper demeanor, and is also said to mean feigned). Showing respect like this: is it not overly brief? However, since whatever accords with regional custom is pure, one cannot help but practice it.