勅修百丈清規 6.4

6.4

齋罷。堂司行者覆首座。僧堂眾寮前各掛坐參牌。將晡時僧堂內裝香點燈。鳴眾寮前板。先一聲大眾入堂。二聲以次頭首入。三聲首座入（不鳴首座寮前板。若大坐參時却鳴三下）却覆住持鳴方丈板。與坐禪同。有處不披袈裟非法也。堂司行者候晚粥熟。覆首座云（放參）轉聖僧後右出下牌。鳴堂前鍾三下。眾就位普同和南。住持頭首次第出堂。眾下床各出半單前輩住持頭首亦同歸眾寮藥石。蓋古者每晚必參住持。以求開示。故率眾齊集坐。待鼓鳴而往參之。名曰坐參。因汾州地寒昭公罷之。遂有放參之說。

After the vegetarian meal, the postulant of the hall office reports to the head seat. In front of the Sangha hall and the communal dormitory, sitting-for-instruction placards are hung respectively. Approaching dusk, incense is set and lamps are lit inside the Sangha hall. Strike the board in front of the communal dormitory: at the first stroke, the great assembly enters the hall; at the second stroke, the prefects enter in order; at the third stroke, the head seat enters (the board in front of the head seat's dormitory is not struck; however, during the grand sitting for instruction, it is struck three times). Then report to the abbot and strike the board of the abbot's quarters, the same as for sitting in meditation. In some places they do not wear the kāṣāya, which is contrary to the Dharma. The postulant of the hall office waits until the evening gruel is cooked, reports to the head seat, saying: 'Instruction is released,' turns behind the sacred monk, exits to the right, takes down the placard, and strikes the bell in front of the hall three times. The assembly, at their places, universally greets with folded hands. The abbot and the prefects exit the hall in sequence. The assembly steps down from the platform, and each pulls out half their bedding. In the past, the abbot and the prefects also returned together to the communal dormitory for the evening medicine-meal. For in ancient times, every evening they were required to seek instruction from the abbot to obtain instruction; therefore, leading the assembly, they gathered together and sat, waiting for the drum to sound before going to seek instruction, which was called 'sitting for instruction.' Because the land of Fenzhou was cold, Master Zhao abolished it, and subsequently there was the practice of 'releasing instruction.'