一切經音義 8.207

8.207

跏趺 (the first character is pronounced like 加 [jiā]; the second like 夫 [fū]; both are popular characters. The standard form is 加跗. Zheng's commentary on the Yili says: "跗 is the upper part of the foot." Gu Yewang says: "The top of the foot." Note: In the Vajraśekhara, Vairocana, and other sūtras, the sitting postures are of various distinctions, not just one. Here I briefly present two or three to clarify that the four postures all contain deep meaning. In the cross-legged posture (paryāṅkāsana) there are roughly two types: first, the auspicious posture (bhadrasana/svastika), and second, the posture for subduing māras. In sitting, one generally first places the right toes over the left thigh, and then the left toes over the right thigh—this places the right above the right, and the left hand on top, which is called the posture for subduing māras. Most Zen traditions transmit this sitting posture. If according to the vidyādhara piṭaka and the yoga teachings, the auspicious posture is transmitted as supreme, while the demon-subduing posture is used occasionally. The auspicious posture first places the left toes over the right thigh, and then the right toes over the left thigh, causing the two soles of the feet to face upward on the two thighs; the hands are also placed right pressing on left, facing upward upon the crossed legs; this is called the auspicious posture. Formerly, when the Tathāgata attained perfect enlightenment beneath the bodhi tree, his body was in the auspicious posture, and his hand formed the seal of subduing māras. Therefore, the Tathāgata constantly rests in this posture when turning the wondrous wheel of Dharma. According to esoteric yoga, every physical, verbal, and mental movement and bodily posture is an esoteric mudrā. The distinctions among sitting postures must all be transmitted by a master: whether called the half-lotus (ardhaparyāṅka), the auspicious seat (bhadrasana), the universal monarch seat, or the posture of taming—when one is in accord with this Dharma, one is conferred this seat. All are esoteric intentions of the Buddha meant to indicate something).