勅修百丈清規 7.115

7.115

四節秉拂

bow bids the practitioners to sit, and the practitioners take their seats. The

assistant official proceeds to the incense burners in mid-hall, burns incense

in the higher- and lower-ranking sections of the inner hall as well as in the

outer hall, returns the incense case to its place, and, stepping back a little,

makes a bow toward mid-hall, toward the higher- and lower- ranking sec-

tions, and toward the outer hall, then returns to stand mid-hall. With the sig-

nal of two strikes of the practice hall bell, the serving of tea is completed.

After the jars have been carried out of the hall, the assistant official stands

at mid-hall as before. With the signal of one strike of the bell, the teabowls are retrieved, and with the signal of three strikes, the assistant official goes out of the hall and the practitioners leave the hall as well.

The abbot proceeds to make his rounds at the various quarters in due order. At each quarters, a chair and an incense table should be set up, and the resident practitioners should receive him outside the entrance. The abbot begins his rounds at the first quarters located in the eastern corridor and proceeds to the incense table set at each quarters. Along with the member residents, the master of the quarters burns incense and says:

On this day, although it is our duty to make a congratulatory visit to

the venerable, we have instead received your gracious visit.

After placing incense [in the burner], he further says:

Receiving the venerable’s gracious blessing, we are extremely gratified,

sir.

Following a few steps behind the abbot, he returns to the incense table and stands at its right side with palms together, bowing until the procession completely ends. He then brings up the rear of the procession making rounds through the quarters. In this way, the residents of each quarters follow in the procession, and all finally arrive at the Dharma hall. The abbot stands in the middle of the space between the incense tables while the practitioners, in groups of three, come to stand before him and, after a bow, proceed through the quarters. Thus, making a round through the various quarters and reaching their own quarters, the resident members stand to the side of the incense table with palms joined together, in order of seniority [letting the following groups pass]. When the rounds are completed at the last quarters, the propriety of the congratulatory procession ends. The proceedings are identical for all four annual celebration days.

5. Appointed Discourse or Holding a Zen Dusting

Brush on the Four Annual Celebration Days

At the supplementary session, the abbot announces:

Tomorrow, after the noon meal, the head administrative official, the

director of practitioners’ affairs, and the assistant official are requested

to take the tablet of “appointed preaching” and a Zen dusting brush to

the primary seat official and other training officials and invite them to

give an exhortation for the sake of the practitioners.

The next day, after the noon meal, the incense offering assistant instructs an attendant of the guest reception master to carry a walking cane, a tablet, and a Zen dusting brush, and a workman to carry a crepe-wrapped board equipped with an incense burner and a candle stand. They accompany the head administrative official and the director of practitioners’ affairs to visit each of the training officials’ quarters. The two officials respectively visit each training official, burn incense, and say:

Due to his compassionate wish, the abbot instructed us, So-and-so and

others, to respectfully forward the tablet of “appointment of preach-

ing” and a Zen dusting brush to the venerable here and invite the ven-

erable to preach for the sake of the practitioners this evening.

After the invitation is extended individually to each of the training officials, the primary seat official and the others who have accepted it visit the abbot’s office together, accompanied by their attendants carrying the tablet, Zen dusting brush, and walking cane, and report to him their acceptance [of the invitation to preach]. The abbot is especially obliged to encourage them before they leave. The primary seat official turns to his place and says:

Since I cannot refuse your gracious appointment, may I earnestly hope

for the venerable’s compassion to have the Dharma seat available for

my use on this occasion, sir.

In ancient days, different seats were set up for such an occasion but today it is more customary to use the [abbot’s preaching] seat. We no longer hear today about the ancient practice.

Next, the appointed preachers visit the assistants’ office to request the use of the drum for the evening, and instruct the tea attendant to invite the guardian bodhisattva’s assistant and some well-versed Zen specialists to their tea reception. After burning incense, they make this request:

This evening, we are scheduled to give an exhortation and shall be in

need of an assistant to burn incense on our behalf and also some Zen

conversants to exchange dialogue with us.

Again they instruct the attendant to post the tablet indicating “appointed preaching” at the practice hall. Although the abbot has invited the appointed preachers for an evening meal, he should excuse them if they decline to attend and have the meal delivered to them instead.

The practice hall office attendants set up a screen and seat for the abbot on the left side of the Dharma seat. While the evening bell is being tolled, an attendant notifies the appointed preachers and the abbot, and at once starts to drum to assemble the practitioners for the session. The propriety is identical to that of the supplementary session. The abbot enters [the Dharma hall] and immediately goes to stand at his prepared seat. The head administrative official, the director of practitioners’ affairs, and the assistant official simultaneously proceed to the appointed preacher and bow to him in unison. The appointed preacher