勅修百丈清規 4.87

4.87

invites the assistant of the guardian bodhisattva of the practice hall, before

the zazen practice preceding the evening session, to arrange the seats and

place the seat name tablets at his quarters, extending the invitation to the

head official of the practitioners’ quarters. The director of practitioners’

affairs now has the wooden sounding block at his quarters struck, receives

the guests, and invites them to take their seats. (The manner is identical

with that of the administrative office’s serving.) It is preferable, however,

that this serving of tea be conducted prior to the abbot’s special serving of

sweet hot water. In general it must be done in a way that does not interfere

with the major event that takes place at the abbot’s office. Thus, in order to

invite the former and new practitioner assistants for the special serving of

tea, the practice hall official may have to wait until the abbot’s special serv-

ing of tea for the new primary seat official is completed. Those who are

invited here are obliged to express thanks the next morning.

3. The Head Administrative Official’s

Special Serving of Sweet Hot Water

and an Evening Meal for the Former

and New Dual Order Officials

After the serving of an occasional meal (i.e., rice mixed with sprouts, caofan) at the abbot’s office, the administrative head accompanies the guest reception attendant, carrying a crepe-wrapped tray equipped with an incense burner and candle stand, to visit the former and new primary seat officials as well as the former administrative head. After burning incense, he invites them by saying:

This evening, after the serving of sweet hot water is completed at the

abbot’s office, we will conduct a special serving of sweet hot water at

the administrative office. I earnestly request you to grant us your hon-

orable presence.

Immediately following this, the guest reception attendant further invites them, saying:

After the serving of sweet hot water, an evening meal will be served

for the guests, sir.

In addition, an invitation is extended to the old and new officials of the major and minor positions, and especially to the west hall ranking official and the retired officials as honorable participants.

The seats and name tablets must be set up in terms of the four divisions. The new training faculty officials’ seats are set in the first section (i.e., front right of the hall), the former faculty officials in the second section (front left), the former administrative officials in the third section (middle right), and the estate management official and treasury administrative official in the fourth section (middle left). Additional seats are prepared for the new administrative officials as a group in the main section, but only the new director of practitioners’ affairs is supposed to take a seat as participant. The seats of the retired officials who participate in this serving must be arranged in the fashion previously referred to in the serving of sweet hot water at the abbot’s

office, [namely, the retired officials of the east and west orders should be placed on the right side of the main seat and the left side of the participant’s seat, respectively]. As soon as the serving of sweet hot water at the abbot’s office is finished, the administrative office strikes the wooden sounding block located there. The guests enter the hall and stand by their designated seats. The head administrative official goes around to each seating section, requesting the guests to take their seats, then burns incense on behalf of the guests of each section and bows, repeating this according to the order of the seating arrangements. Finally, returning to mid-hall, he burns incense on behalf of the special participant and takes his seat, requesting the serving. Thereupon the serving of sweet hot water begins. When the ceremony is completed he stands, proceeds to the incense burner, and thanks the guests for their presence. The guests then take off their robes and settle themselves on their seats for the evening meal.

4. The Practice Hall Official Escorts the

Former Primary Seat Official and Head

Administrative Official to Their Almsbowl Seats

Three days after the transfer of duties between the former and new dual order officials, and prior to the end of the silent period (i.e., before the dawn zazen is completed), the director of practitioners’ affairs sends his attendant, accompanied by a man carrying a crimson lantern, to invite both the former primary seat official and former head administrative official for a serving of sweet hot water at his office. The director of practitioners’ affairs duly receives the guests, burns incense, and, after drinking sweet hot water, says to them:

Your spotless term has been fulfilled. Hence, in accordance with the tem-

ple’s manner of honoring, I have the honor to escort your reverences to

your almsbowl seats in the practice hall.

Ushering them into the practice hall from the rear entrance, he first escorts the former primary seat official and next the former head administrative official to their respective seats on the raised platform. Each exchanges a prostration with unopened sitting cloth, and during the day, both officials return to the hall to place their almsbowls at the assigned seat space.

5. The Abbot’s Meal Reception for the

Former and New Dual Order Officials

The abbot conducts a special ascent to the Dharma hall and expresses his thanks by referring to the names of the former and new dual order officials one by one. When this is over, the two groups of officials come before the rostrum seat to express their thanks. The guest reception assistant, accompanied by a guest master attendant carrying a crepe-wrapped board with an incense burner, candle stand, and incense case, comes before the former and new training faculty and administrative officials, and, after burning incense, conveys the abbot’s invitation to them, saying:

The venerable abbot, master of the temple, wishes to serve a special

meal for your honors at the reception hall at noon, sirs.

The guest master attendant then invites the other associate officials, old and new, for the same reception, and simultaneously extends the invitation to the retired officials as honorable participants.

The seats are arranged and the name tablets set up in the reception hall. When the guests have assembled, the abbot is notified, and he enters the hall,