勅修百丈清規 2.40

2.40

凡旦望侍者隔宿稟住持。云來晨祝　聖上堂次早再稟。分付客頭行者。掛上堂牌報眾。粥罷不鳴下堂鐘三下。俟鋪法座畢。堂司行者覆首座。鳴眾寮前板。大眾坐堂方丈行者覆住持。次覆侍者鳴鼓。兩序領僧行。至座前問訊。分班對立侍者請住持出。登座拈香祝壽（詳具祝釐章）趺坐開發學者。激揚此道。若有客併敘序謝。多則具目子。恐有遺忘。侍者提起。或有諸山住持名德西堂。座右設位。官客對座設位（知禮尊法則不坐也）五參上堂。兩序至座下徑歸班立。住持登座不拈香（餘如前式）若尊宿相訪。特為上堂或引座舉揚。施主請陞座不拘時也。

On the new and full moon days, the attendant informs the abbot the evening before, saying: 'Tomorrow morning, ascend the hall to offer prayers for the Emperor.' The next morning he informs him again, instructing the guest prefect postulant to hang the ascending-the-hall notice to inform the assembly. When morning congee is finished, the bell for leaving the hall is not struck three times. Waiting until the dharma seat is arranged, the hall postulant reports to the head seat and strikes the wooden board before the communal dormitory. The assembly sits in the hall. The abbot's postulant reports to the abbot, and then informs the attendant to strike the drum. The two ranks lead the monastics and postulants to the front of the seat, make a greeting with folded hands, and line up facing each other in their ranks. The attendant invites the abbot to come out, ascend the seat, and pinch incense to pray for imperial longevity (detailed in the Chapter on Praying for Blessings). Sitting cross-legged, he inspires the students and invigorates this Way. If there are guests, he also addresses and thanks them; if there are many, a list is prepared lest any be forgotten, and the attendant prompts him. If there are abbots of other mountains or eminent worthies of the west hall, seats are set to the right of the dharma seat; for official guests, seats are set facing the dharma seat (those who know propriety and revere the Dharma do not sit). For the five-and-ten ascends to the hall, the two ranks come before the seat and go straight to their ranks to stand; the abbot ascends the seat without pinching incense (the rest as in the previous format). If a venerable elder visits, an ascending of the hall is specially arranged for hospitality or to introduce the seat and expound; if a donor requests ascending the seat, it is not restricted to set times.