勅修百丈清規 2.79

2.79

若法嗣到寺煎點。令帶行知事。到庫司會計。營辦合用錢物送納。隔宿先到侍司咨稟通覆。詣方丈插香展拜。免則觸禮請云（來晨就雲堂聊具菲供。伏望慈悲特垂降重）令客頭請兩序單寮諸寮。掛煎點牌。至日僧堂住持位嚴設敷陳。及卓袱襯幣之具。火板鳴。大眾赴堂。煎點人隨住持入堂揖坐。轉身聖僧前燒香叉手。往住持前問訊。轉聖僧後出。住持引手揖煎點人坐。位居知客板頭。行者喝云（請大眾下鉢）行食遍。煎點人起燒香下䞋問訊住持。及行眾䞋。厨司方鳴齋板就行飯。飯訖眾收鉢。退住持卓。煎點人燒香往住持前問訊。從聖僧後出爐前問訊。鳴鐘行茶遍。往住持前勸茶。復從聖僧後出。進住持前。展坐具云（此日薄禮屑瀆特辱附重。下情不勝感激之至）二展寒溫觸禮三拜。送住持出。煎點人復歸堂燒香上下間問訊。以謝光伴。復中問訊鳴鐘收盞。次詣方丈謝降重。住持隨到客位致謝。若諸山煎點候齋辦。請住持同赴堂。揖住持坐。住持當免行禮。揖煎點人歸位。持行食遍。起燒香往住持前。問訊下䞋。俵眾人䞋。燒火伴香。歸位伴食。茶禮講否隨宜斟酌。

When a dharma successor arrives at the monastery to sponsor a meal offering, he has his accompanying administrator go to the monastery storehouse to calculate accounts, and prepare and deliver the necessary money and goods. The evening before, he first goes to the attendants' quarters to consult and report, goes to the abbot's quarters, inserts incense, and makes a prostration with spread mat; if exempted, he makes a prostration touching the mat and requests: 'Tomorrow morning in the Cloud Hall, I have prepared a humble offering, humbly hoping your compassionate kindness will especially condescend to honor us.' He instructs the guest prefect to invite the two ranks, the individual dormitories, and all dormitories, and hangs the meal offering placard. When the day comes, the abbot's seat in the Sangha hall is solemnly arranged with covers, as well as table cloths and monetary gift accessories. When the fire-board sounds, the great assembly proceeds to the hall. The sponsor of the meal offering follows the abbot into the hall and makes greetings with folded hands to take their seats. Turning around, he burns incense and clasps his hands before the sacred monk, goes before the abbot to make a greeting with folded hands, and comes out around behind the sacred monk. The abbot gestures with his hand to invite the sponsor of the meal offering to sit, his seat being at the head of the guest master's bench. The postulant calls out: 'May the great assembly lower their bowls.' The food is served all around. The sponsor of the meal offering rises, burns incense, and distributes the gifts, making a greeting with folded hands to the abbot, and then distributes the assembly's gifts. Only then does the kitchen office strike the meal-board and serve the rice. When the rice is finished, the assembly gathers their bowls, and the abbot's table is cleared. The sponsor of the meal offering burns incense, goes before the abbot to make a greeting with folded hands, comes out from behind the sacred monk, and makes a greeting with folded hands before the incense burner. The bell is struck, and tea is served all around. He goes before the abbot to urge tea, comes out again from behind the sacred monk, advances before the abbot, spreads his niṣīdana, and says: 'Today's slight gift was a trivial intrusion, and I am especially privileged by your honoring presence; my humble feelings cannot contain the utmost gratitude.' Spreading his mat twice for cold-and-warm greetings, he makes three prostrations touching the mat, and escorts the abbot out. The sponsor of the meal offering returns again to the hall, burns incense, and makes greetings with folded hands to the upper and lower bays to thank them for lending their company. Again in the center he makes a greeting with folded hands, strikes the bell, and collects the cups. Next, he goes to the abbot's quarters to express thanks for his honoring presence, and the abbot subsequently goes to the guest quarters to express thanks. If a meal offering is sponsored by another monastery, upon awaiting the preparation of the meal, they invite the abbot to proceed together to the hall. He bows the abbot to his seat; the abbot should excuse the ritual prostrations, and bows the sponsor of the meal offering back to his seat. When the serving of food is completed, he rises, burns incense, goes before the abbot, makes a greeting with folded hands, presents the gifts, and distributes the gifts to everyone. He burns incense for his companions, returns to his seat to accompany the meal, and whether the tea ritual is conducted or omitted is weighed according to circumstance.