勅修百丈清規 5.80

5.80

西堂首座掛搭

in the higher section of the quarters to exchange a prostration with unopened

sitting cloth and then moves to the lower section of the quarters to again

exchange a prostration with unopened sitting cloth. The ceremonial leader

says in greeting

We are fortunate to be once again received by the venerable, sir. We

are most grateful.

The director replies:

The quarters may not be convenient. It would be fortunate, however,

if I could obtain your pardon for any of its shortcomings.

The ceremonial leader accompanies the director of practitioners’ affairs

outside the quarters and stands to the right of the entrance to see him off.

The practice hall attendant strikes the small wooden sounding block inside

the quarters three times. The master of the quarters receives the new resi-

dents. The propriety is the same as before.

3. Establishing Residency by the

West Hall Primary Seat Official

If a renowned practitioner from one of the major monastic establishments wishes to obtain residency, he is obliged to express his intent clearly along with the formal statement. The abbot must consider whether individual quarters are available for him, or if there is a vacant seat to practice zazen in the practice hall appropriate for his rank and agreeable with the higher- and lower-ranking members. If these matters are evaluated and resolved affirmatively, [the abbot] accepts the request in question.

The following day, the ranking practitioner attends a tea reception and says:

I, So-and-so, have come here especially to take refuge, because the

matter of life and death is of prime importance.

Immediately he performs a prostration with unopened sitting cloth. He will be invited on that day or another day to a tea reception to meet with the dual order officials and the retired officials. The abbot rises to burn incense, returns to his seat, and says:

The west hall primary seat official of Such-and-such Temple has not

abandoned us and has come to stay with us in order to guard the path

of quiescence and solitude. May the dual order officials and the retired

officials kindly escort him to his resident quarters.

The new guest resident steps forward and says:

As I came here to seek refuge, I am most grateful that the heavy bur-

den that I represent has been well received.

The abbot, along with the dual order officials and the retired officials, escorts him to his quarters. After exchanging a prostration with unopened sitting cloth, the new ranking resident sees the abbot off. He then takes his main seat, invites the abbot’s assistant into the quarters to exchange a bow, and then sees him off. He again invites the dual order officials as well as the retired officials into the quarters and, after a bow, sees them off. As soon as this propriety is completed, he proceeds to the abbot’s office, carrying an

incense case, to express his thanks. Escorted in by the practice hall attendant, he visits the offices of the dual orders and the retired officials in order to return his thanks to them. On the following day, the abbot invites him to a special meal and tea reception. Moreover, this high-ranking resident is to be invited to tea on every first and mid-month day as an equal of the retired officials.

4. Establishing Residency by

Renowned Officials of Major Temples

In general, when such a high-ranking official seeks to obtain residency, he is obliged to attend the morning tea reception on the second day, and afterward he should say:

I, So-and-so, have come here especially to take refuge, because the

matter of life and death is of prime importance. I earnestly wish that

my request be included in the residency record.

He immediately performs a prostration with unopened sitting cloth. If the abbot accepts the request, he immediately invites the new member as well as the primary seat official, the administrative official, and the director of practitioners’ affairs to a tea reception in order to introduce them to each other. When the serving of tea is over, the abbot rises to burn incense and escort the guest to his quarters. The guest steps forward and says:

I am most grateful for your acceptance of my request to be included

in the residency record. I am simply happy to join the practitioners in

the practice hall and follow the rules of their life.

The abbot, however, replies:

We shall follow the standard propriety of this temple in escorting you

to your quarters, sir.

In accordance with the name and rank of his previous position, he is escorted to either the retirees’ hall or to the hall of the retired subfunctionaries. After performing a prostration with unopened sitting cloth, he sees the abbot off.

At the quarters, the escorted guest exchanges a bow with the master of the quarters and says:

Benefited by good relations in my past lives, I have fortunately relied

on the venerables of these quarters.

The master of the quarters replies:

We are delighted to witness the maturation of such past relations and

happy to share this residence with you, sir.

The new resident moves to the main seat. He receives the abbot’s assistant into the quarters and, after exchanging a bow, sees him off. When the exchange of a bow with the dual order officials has been completed, he pays a visit to the abbot’s office, carrying an incense case in his sleeve, and expresses his thanks to him for the individual quarters to which he has been assigned. The practice hall office attendant escorts him on making rounds through the administrative offices and the various quarters of the training officials to express his thanks.

As an alternative procedure, if the abbot’s office dispatches an official note to the primary seat official, requesting him to act on his behalf to escort the guest resident to his quarters, the primary seat official immediately sends a practice hall attendant to invite an official representing the administration, the director of practitioners’ affairs, the abbot’s assistant official, as well as the guest resident to come to his quarters. The primary seat official burns incense and serves tea for these officials. [In the meantime,] the abbot sends a message to the guest resident, saying that the temple community as a whole will escort him to his quarters. When they enter the gate of the guest resident’s quarters, the primary seat official takes the main seat on behalf of the abbot and exchanges a prostration with unopened sitting cloth with the guest. The guest then moves to the main position, while the primary seat official moves to the guest position, and they exchange a bow in unison with the administrative official and the director of practitioners’ affairs. The remainder of the procedure is identical to the above.

5. Establishing Residency by a

Relation in the Dharma Lineage

or a Former Subfunctionary