The Confession of the Lotus Sutra, page 18

 

8. Walking

The practitioner, having already worshipped the Buddha, should have a single mind, an erect body and a dignified bearing. Around the Throne of the Dharma one burns incense and scatters flowers. As one slowly and methodically begins walking around the Bodhimandala, the mind thinks upon the Three Treasures, and one sequentially calls out:

Like this, one praises the names of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Next, one should chant the Sutra, which is further clarified later. The practitioner not only awakens to and understands the empty nature of sound and the voice chanting the Sutra, but also recognizes that the body and mind are like a cloud and like a shadow. With the feet moving back and forth, the mind does not seek to attain anything and does not dwell upon the aspects of walking. One also recognizes that the body's reflection is manifested in the Ten Directions, filling up the Spiritual Realm - there is nowhere that it is not manifested. Surrounded by all the Buddhas, one circumambulates three times, seven times, twenty-one times, forty-nine times, a hundred times... One should not reason there to be a set number of times. If one desires to walk, one should again go back to calling out the names of the Three Treasures and burning incense with proper remembrance. Having made a covenant of the chant, it reaches to the place of the Original Buddha. Taking refuge in the Three Treasures with a single mind and proper remembrance, from the mouth one declares:

Having spoken, one worships, and then again speaks:

Having spoken, one worships, and then again speaks:

One worships.

 

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Footnote:

1. The Great Audience: Those present at the assembly of the Lotus Sutra

2. Vandana: ‘All praise’

 

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