勅修百丈清規 2.48

2.48

每夏前。告香新歸堂者推參頭一人。維那和會定同眾詣侍司。稟云。新掛搭兄弟欲求和尚告香普說。敢煩侍者。咨稟。答云（容為後覆却當相報）如住持允從。即報堂司出告香圖（式見後）量眾多少。列作幾行。分東西兩邊面向法座而立。依戒排列。預集眾習儀。堂司行者率眾錢。買香大小三片及紙。作圖之費。付參頭收。至日侍者令客頭於寢堂或法堂。鋪設罘罳椅子。須用香几三隻燭臺三對。當椅前　字間列。外設小拜席。堂司行者預逐一報眾。掛告香牌。侍者預出小榜。貼法堂柱上云（奉堂頭和尚慈旨。名德西堂首座並免告香。侍司某謹白）至日粥罷。諸寮各鳴板三下。眾集依圖位立各備小香合坐具。參頭同維那侍者。入請住持出。參頭歸位。同眾問訊進前云（請和尚趺坐）住持就座。副參遞大香一片。與參頭同眾問訊插香。各大展三拜。收坐具復同問訊。參頭進椅側。問訊稟云（某等為生死事大無常迅速。伏望和尚慈悲開示因緣）住持舉話三則。隨下語。歸位問訊。插香一片復同眾就位。叉手而立。東西各三人出班。東第一第二人過東爐前。第三人中爐前。西第一第二人過西爐前。第三人過中爐前前。兩兩炷香問訊。然後東三人過東。西三人過西。以次如前而進徐步行各巡接班尾。三三叉手出班合掌歸位。俟各炷香畢次第趲至元位。同眾三拜不收坐具。參頭進云（某等蒙和尚慈悲開允。下情不勝感激之至）復位同眾三拜進云（即日時令謹時共惟。堂頭和尚尊候起居萬福）復位同眾三拜收坐具。行者鳴鼓五下。兩序轉身序立座前。參頭立西序下。其告香人東西轉身依位對立。勤舊蒙堂已告香者立于後。普說竟。仍齊向法座立。參頭插香同眾三拜。免則觸禮進云（某等宿生慶幸。獲蒙和尚慈悲開示。下情不勝感激之至）普同問訊而退。參頭領眾法堂下間。謝維那侍者觸禮一拜。次大眾謝參頭。觸禮一拜。請客侍者預依戒次。具茶狀。備卓袱筆硯。告香罷。列法堂下間請茶各僉名。請首座光伴。齋退鳴鼓眾歸位立。兩侍者行禮（與常特為茶同）當晚方丈請參頭維那侍者藥石。首座光伴。次早請參頭茶。半齋請參頭維那侍者點心。若大眾均預告香。則首座為參頭。其特為茶請西堂光伴。住持入院後人事定。庫司備香。首座領眾。懇請為眾告香。然後開堂（古法未預告香不許入室）

Prior to each summer retreat, those who have newly returned to the hall to request incense select one leader. The karmadāna coordinates and leads the assembly to the attendant office, reporting: 'The newly registered brothers wish to request the upādhyāya for incense instruction and general sermon. We dare to trouble the attendant to report this.' The reply is: 'Allow us to report it later, and we will notify you.' If the abbot consents, he informs the hall office to issue the diagram for requesting incense (the format is seen below). Gauging the size of the assembly, it is arranged in several rows, divided into eastern and western sides facing the dharma seat, lined up according to monastic age. In advance, they assemble to practice the ritual. The hall postulant collects money from the assembly to purchase three pieces of incense, large and small, and paper, covering the cost of making the diagram, and gives it to the leader to keep. On the day, the attendant directs the guest prefect to arrange a screen and chairs in the sleeping hall or dharma hall; three incense tables and three pairs of candlesticks are required, arranged in a row in the shape of the character 品 before the chairs; outside, a small bowing mat is laid. The hall postulant notifies the assembly one by one in advance and hangs the incense-request notice. The attendant posts a small notice on the pillar of the dharma hall beforehand, saying: 'By the kind order of the hall head upādhyāya, the eminent worthies, the west hall, and the head seat are all exempt from requesting incense. Respectfully announced by so-and-so of the attendant office.' On the day, after morning congee, the various dormitories each strike their wooden boards three times; the assembly gathers and stands according to their positions on the diagram, each preparing a small incense box and niṣīdana. The leader, together with the karmadāna and the attendant, enters to invite the abbot to come out. The leader returns to his place, greets with folded hands together with the assembly, steps forward, and says: 'We invite the upādhyāya to sit cross-legged.' The abbot takes his seat. The assistant leader hands a large piece of incense to the leader, who, together with the assembly, greets with folded hands and inserts the incense. Each fully unfolds their niṣīdana and makes three prostrations, collects their niṣīdana, and again greets with folded hands together. The leader advances to the side of the chair, greets with folded hands, and reports: 'The matter of birth and death is great, and impermanence is swift. We humbly hope the upādhyāya in his compassion will provide guidance on the causes and conditions.' The abbot cites three cases and delivers turning words accordingly. Returning to his place, the leader greets with folded hands, inserts a piece of incense, and rejoins the assembly in their places, standing with hands clasped across the chest. Three people each from the east and west step out of rank; the first and second persons of the east pass before the east censer, and the third passes before the center censer; the first and second persons of the west pass before the west censer, and the third passes before the center censer. In pairs they offer incense and greet with folded hands; then the three from the east pass to the east, and the three from the west pass to the west, advancing in turn as before, walking slowly to take their places at the tail of the ranks. In threes, with hands clasped across the chest, they step out of rank and return to their places with palms joined. After all have burned incense, they advance in order to their original positions and make three prostrations together with the assembly without collecting their niṣīdana. The leader steps forward and says: 'Having received the upādhyāya's compassionate consent, our humble feelings are exceedingly grateful.' Returning to his place, he makes three prostrations together with the assembly, steps forward, and says: 'At this present season, we respectfully inquire together after the hall head upādhyāya's venerable health, daily life, and myriad blessings.' Returning to his place, he makes three prostrations together with the assembly and collects his niṣīdana. The postulant strikes the drum five times. The two ranks turn around and stand in order before the seat; the leader stands below the western rank; those requesting incense turn east and west to stand facing each other according to their positions; the retired officers and those from the infirmary hall who have already requested incense stand behind them. When the general sermon is finished, all face the dharma seat again; the leader inserts incense and makes three prostrations together with the assembly; if prostrations are excused, he performs a prostration touching the mat, steps forward, and says: 'By the fortune of past lives, we have received the upādhyāya's compassionate guidance; our humble feelings are exceedingly grateful.' All greet with folded hands together and withdraw. The leader leads the assembly to the lower bay of the dharma hall and thanks the karmadāna and attendant with a prostration touching the mat. Next, the assembly thanks the leader with a prostration touching the mat. The guest-inviting attendant prepares the tea roster in advance according to monastic seniority, providing table covers, brush, and inkstone. When the request for incense is concluded, they are lined up in the lower bay of the dharma hall to be invited for tea, each signing their name; the head seat is invited to keep company. After the meal, the drum is struck, the assembly returns to their places and stands, and the two attendants conduct the ritual (the same as normal special hospitality tea). That evening, the abbot's quarters invites the leader, karmadāna, and attendant for the evening meal, with the head seat keeping company. The next morning, tea is offered to the leader. At mid-day, refreshments are offered to the leader, karmadāna, and attendant. If the entire assembly participates in requesting incense, the head seat acts as the leader; for the special hospitality tea, the west hall is invited to keep company. After the abbot enters the monastery and personnel matters are settled, the monastery storehouse prepares incense, and the head seat leads the assembly to earnestly request him to hold the request for incense on behalf of the assembly, after which the hall is opened (according to ancient rule, those who have not participated in requesting incense are not permitted to enter the master's room).