勅修百丈清規 1.39

1.39

今上皇帝聖壽萬歲萬歲萬萬歲

The Everlasting Life of the Present Emperor

May the Buddha’s supernatural vision clearly illuminate and the Dragon God of Heaven witness the sincerity of the foregoing statement.

Day, month, and year

Respectfully stated by the imperial subject,

Head Administrative Official So-and-so

The imperial subject, Abbot Priest So-and-so

2. Format for the Tablet of Sutra Titles

The sutra titles are given here:

Flower Ornament Sutra (Avataṃsaka-sūtra; Huayanjing)

Śūraṃgama-sūtra (Dafodingwanxingshoulengyenjing; Sutra on the Buddha’s Omnipotent Valiant March)

Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra; Dachengmiaofalianhuajing)

Sutra of Golden Splendor (Suvarṇaprabhāsottama-sūtra; Dachengjinguangmingjing)

Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (Yuanjuejing)

Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Dachengjingangbanruoboluomijing)

Sutra of the Benevolent King (Renwangbanruoboluomijing)

Respectfully placed as indicated above

Director, imperial subject,

Priest So-and-so

3. Format of the List of Names

for Assignment According to Seniority

The names of each day’s duty assignment at the Buddha hall are respectfully given below (to be written on a sheet of white paper):

Imperial subject, Abbot So-and-so; So-and-so Primary Seat Official;

So-and-so Secretarial Official; So-and-so Tripiṭaka Hall Official; So-

and-so Guest Reception Official; So-and-so West Hall Official

So-and-so practitioners; So-and-so senior practitioner; So-and-so Head

Administrative Official

[continued below as above]

Prepared by Practice Hall Official So-and-so

IV. Words of Tribute for

Various Occasions

1. The Word of Tribute for the Inauguration

of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday

It is reverently thought by the foregoing participants that there is no par-

tiality whatsoever under the heavenly canopy, nor is there any meas-

urement by which to fathom which is higher and wider between heaven

and earth. The descending illumination is so dazzling that its brightness

cannot be compared even with that of the sun and moon. One only knows that it is futile to look up to praise it; nor is there any limit to it even when one tries to make a tribute to it. One can only entrust oneself to the care of the imperial realm, and thereby faithfully weigh the four kinds of indebtedness (i.e., indebtedness toward parents, people, kings, and the Three Treasures). Thus, one is obliged to exert one’s mind in loyalty and love, respectfully wishing the throne to be filled with the three kinds of blessing (i.e., longevity, wealth, and male offspring).

The axis of the north star winds around like lightning, and the dragon’s appearance spreads a banquet on the ground. The imperial network covers myriads of rivers and mountains, thereby bringing all of them to imperial deliberation, while the three thousand worlds of the lotus storehouse [manifested by Vairocana Buddha] make the great dominion of the empire ever more spacious (i.e., prosperous). There is no drop of water wasted, nor is there any idle person morning or evening. May the imperial couple rise, the auspicious star shine, the exalted seat be ever in peace, the unicorn and phoenix bring good fortune, and the wise lead, making myriads appear as they are. Respectfully presented.

2. The Word of Tribute for the Fulfillment

of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday