建立曼荼羅及揀擇地法 1.20

1.20

Whenever one wishes to construct a maṇḍala, one must first select the ground, assess one's own original aspiration, select a matching site, and first receive the method of consecration from a master so that the mind has no doubt or hesitation. Then, carefully select the time, choosing an auspicious day and fortunate hour; only then may one construct it. Seven days prior, sweep, sprinkle, and wipe [the site], using the previous mantra to consecrate fragrant water and sprinkle it everywhere to make it pure. When evening arrives, burn incense, scatter flowers, spread new, clean cloths, or lay out lotus leaves according to one's capacity. With whatever fragrant flowers, food and drink, lamps, argha, and so forth, make offerings to the worthy and holy ones and to the earth deity, performing the rite of requesting the ground. The practitioner dons new, clean robes, dismisses other people, and enters the site where the maṇḍala is to be placed alone. If it is in the open air, it should be surrounded with curtains or enclosed according to the occasion. Secretly consecrating oneself successively according to the practice mantras of one's own family, face east, hold an incense burner in hand, and recite the gāthā of invitation, which says: