勅修百丈清規 1.64

1.64

景命四齋日祝讚

The blooming of the lotus flower is an auspicious sign in this world, just as it was auspicious that the Buddha was born into this world. The enlightenment he realized under the bodhi tree has continued in succession in this world of humans for as long as the age of heaven. By nature, the divine quality accumulated through previous lives was cultivated in order to inherit the great and splendid plans of the Sage (i.e, Śākyamuni Buddha). How vast is the Yuan! How supreme is the Yuan! It embodies the origin and abides in the very heart of it. It meets with the utmost zenith and returns to it, and thereby erects the utmost and establishes its center of the universe.

The harmonious way of our tradition has, indeed, received an advantage at the time of the best governance, comparable to that of

the ancient Sage. The bells and drums of this forest (i.e., monastic tem-

ple) enjoy times of peace, their sound expanding and increasing.

Grasses, trees, and insects receive the permeating benefit of such advan-

tage. Good omens inaugurate the dawn and hymns celebrate the flow-

ery hill. While the robes (i.e., hands) fall and do nothing, yet may

heaven and earth take their positions, myriads of things be nourished

and grow, forms be created, the principles of yin and yang be harmo-

nized, the four seasons be in proper order, longevity be enjoyed for

ten thousand years, and the root and branches be extended for one hun-

dred generations.

3. The Word of Praise

on Coronation Day and the

Four Monthly Days of Festivity

On the commemorative day of the imperial coronation, at the beginning of the month and mid-month, and on the eighth and twenty-third days of each month, the practice hall novice attendants are obliged, the night before, to notify the practitioners of the ceremonial rite [to be conducted the next day], and post the tablet indicating the schedule of sutra chanting. The following morning, when the sound of the large bell ceases, the practice hall bell is tolled to assemble the practitioners and all proceed to the Buddha hall. The director leads the recitation of the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs and invokes the name of Medicine Buddha. When this rite is completed, the director concludes with the following invocation of merit transference:

On the morning of such-and-such day and month, Abbot So-and-so,

who has been entrusted with the Dharma, at Such-and-such Temple

of such-and-such district and province, has respectfully assembled all

the members of this temple at the Buddha hall, and they have recited

in unison the [dhāraṇīs] of the Śūraṃgama-sūtra and praised the sacred

names of the Buddhas. The merit thereby accrued is dedicated to the

festivity and promotion of everlasting imperial well-being and longevity.

Veneration to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, Benevolent

King Bodhisattva, and so on.

4. The Word of Praise for the First and

Mid-month Days in the Tripiṭaka Hall

From ancient times, it has been customary on these days to read the sutras and conduct the prayer for imperial longevity. Today it is regarded as a norm, a most suitable expression of reverence for the throne, to rise early in the morning and assemble at the Tripiṭaka hall to conduct the prayer rite for the sake of imperial longevity before the altar. As an alternative, the practice has been that after breakfast and after the morning session is over, the bell is tolled to assemble the practitioners and they proceed to the Tripiṭaka hall for the same purpose. The director recites the title of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Banruoboluomiduojing) while the practitioners silently pray. The abbot then leads the procession, each member holding his palms together, in three circumambulations around the building, or a single circumambulation if the number of participants is too large. They then return to their former positions and remain standing. Thereupon, the director calls for the chanting of the Mahākāruṇikacitta-dhāraṇīs (Dabeixintuoloni; Esoteric Prayer Verses Praising Great Compassion) and concludes with the following invocation of merit transference:

The Lotus-store ocean in the Huayan (“Flower Ornament”) universe is

filled with vast perfect illumination. Its artfulness in creating effects is

beyond the creation of nature, and its path totally transcends names and

words. The light of the sun, moon, and stars winds down like lightning,

submerging in the absolute state of existence-as-it-is. Although light

rushes back and forth in all six directions (i.e., north, east, south, west,

zenith, and nadir), this ocean is profoundly quiescent. The mystery of

this ocean is indeed inexhaustible no matter how much and how far it

is praised and exalted.

On the felicitous morning of the first day of the month (or mid-

month day), the abbot of this temple of such-and-such province, entrusted

with the Buddha-Dharma, the imperial subject, priest So-and-so, has

respectfully called for this assembly of all the practitioners of this tem-

ple. Having completed three circumambulations of the Tripiṭaka hall,

we recited the title of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, with mind-

fulness and continued to turn the wheel of the Dharma treasure of the

heavenly palace and intoned in unison the sacred Mahākāruṇikacitta-

dhāraṇīs. The merit thereby accrued is dedicated to the festivity and

promotion of everlasting imperial well-being and longevity. Venera-

tion to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, Benevolent King

Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, and Mahāprajñāpāramitā.

5. The Word of Praise

for Daily Ritual Services

Twice a day, at breakfast and the noon meal, the practitioners leave the prac-

tice hall and are obliged to assemble at the Buddha hall. The director intones

the Amitābha-dhāraṇī (Wuliangshouzhou; Immeasurable Life Dhāraṇī ) three

times and concludes with the following invocation of merit transference:

Having intoned the sacred verses of the esoteric chapter, we respect-

fully dedicate the merit accrued thereby to the festivity and promotion

of the well-being and longevity of the present emperor. Veneration to

Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and so on.