得道梯橙錫杖經 1.23

1.23

持此杖法，齎天挾地，著左脇下，以小指句之；使兩頭平正，不令高下；鳴則常鳴，不令聲絕；其聲均細調和，恒使若初；若初無聲，訖一行處不令有聲；若初有聲，訖一行處常令有聲；亦使麁細一等，不得或麁或細；僧置左足、尼置右足；不得著地；若檀越不出，近至三家，遠滿七家，若不得，更不容多過，若過非行者法。若限內得食，持杖懸之樹上，勿令著地；若無樹著地，就地平處一，不令傾側。眠時安杖與身相順，置之床後，正與身齊，不令前却。持行路、止息時，頭常向日，勿令倒逆違背。持此杖即持佛身，萬行盡在其中，謂持天挾地。

The method of holding this staff is to hold heaven and flank earth, placing it under the left armpit, hooking it with the little finger; keep both ends level, not letting one be higher or lower. When sounding it, sound it continuously, not letting the sound break off; its sound should be even, fine, and harmonious, always remaining as at first. If at first there was no sound, do not let there be sound throughout the entire walking session; if at first there was sound, always maintain the sound throughout the entire walking session. Also keep the coarseness and fineness uniform, not permitting it to be sometimes coarse and sometimes fine. A monk places it at the left foot; a nun places it at the right foot; it must not touch the ground. If the donor does not come out, visit as few as three houses and at most seven houses; if nothing is received, one is not permitted to visit more; exceeding this is not the practice of a practitioner. If food is obtained within the limit, take the staff and hang it upon a tree, not letting it touch the ground. If there is no tree and it touches the ground, place it on a level spot, not letting it tilt. When sleeping, place the staff in line with the body, setting it behind the bed, precisely even with the body, not letting it stick forward or backward. When walking along the road or resting, the head should always face the sun, not letting it be upside down or turned away. Carrying this staff is just carrying the Buddha's body; the myriad practices are all contained within it, which is called holding heaven and flanking earth.