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答：這沒有什麼意義。因為小時候，我是最壞的孩子，好打架，想作大俠客。路見不平，拔刀相助，生死不怕，槍刀不懼，豁出命來；從前村打到後村，從後村打到前村，也不怕將來敵人滿天下。很剛強的，寧折不彎，令父母親擔心憂愁，非常不孝。後來因為想找長生不老的方法，就各處訪道，有人告訴我要出家，有人說要作老道。又聽說有個王孝子，盡孝得道，所以我就想學孝順，以順為孝。這是在十二歲的時候，才知道要做個最好的孩子。
此後，沒人教我，我就自己天天向父母叩頭認錯，先從昏定晨省，冬溫夏凊開始。又學習忍耐，打不還手，罵不還口，慢慢來改自己的習氣。又覺得對不起一切的眾生，就願意向所有的人叩頭頂禮，從天地君親師，乃至聖賢、豪傑、忠臣、孝子、義夫、節婦……，就連大惡人、大愚人，這一切的壞人也都向他們叩頭，希望他們都能夠改過自新。就這樣風雨、霜雪無阻地向所有眾生叩頭，每天早上八百三十多個，晚上也叩八百三十多個頭。後來因為單是叩頭就用去很多的時間，現在科學時代，什麼都講簡化、濃縮，我也要跟著時代跑，所以就濃縮成叩五個頭。
第一拜是頂禮十方三世一切諸佛。第二拜是頂禮十方三世諸佛所說的一切法。第三拜是頂禮十方三世一切的賢聖僧和凡夫僧。第四拜是頂禮法界一切眾生。第五拜是向這十方三世諸佛所說的一切波羅提木叉叩頭。這五拜都是遍禮十方。
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A:There's no real meaning. It's because when I was little, I was a very naughty boy. I liked to fight, and wanted to be a knight-errant, drawing my sword to settle injustice wherever I went. I didn't fear death, and wasn't afraid of guns or knives. I was ready to give up my life, fighting from the front village to the back village, and from the back village to the front village, unconcerned that I was making enemies everywhere. I was really stubborn and never gave in. I caused my parents much grief and worry, and was extremely unfilial. Later, as I sought a way to become immortal, I went around visiting cultivators. Some advised me to leave the home-life; others told me to become a Taoist. I heard about Filial Son Wang, who had practiced filial piety and attained the Way, and I also wanted to be obedient as a way to be filial. I was twelve before I realized that I should be a very good child.
From then on, without being taught, I'd bow to my parents and confess my wrongs everyday. I arranged my parents' beds in the evening and inquired after their health in the morning, warmed their beds in the winter and fanned them in the summer. I also learned to be patient, not to return blows when beaten, not to talk back when scolded, and to slowly change my bad habits. I also felt I owed an apology to all living beings, and I wished to bow to everyone, starting with Heaven, Earth, the national leader, my parents and teachers, sages, worthies, heroes, patriots, filial sons, upright husbands and virtuous wives...and even very bad people, very foolish people. I bowed to all bad people, hoping they'd reform and turn over a new leaf. The wind, rain, frost and snow didn't stop me from bowing to all living beings. Every morning I bowed over eight hundred and thirty times, and every night I also bowed over eight hundred and thirty times. Later, since the bowing was taking a lot of time, and in the modern scientific era everything is condensed, I followed the times and condensed the number of bows to five.
The first bow is to pay homage to all Buddhas in the ten directions and three periods of time. The second bow is to pay homage to the Dharma spoken by all Buddhas in the ten directions and three periods of time. The third bow is to pay homage to all the worthies, sages and common members of the Sangha in the ten directions and three periods of time. The fourth bow is to pay homage to all living beings in the Dharma Realm. The fifth bow is to all the Pratimoksha (precepts) spoken by the Buddhas in the ten directions and three periods of time. Each of the five bows pervades the ten directions.
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