勅修百丈清規 7.119

7.119

master of this temple may enjoy every blessing in daily life.

Stepping back, he begins to perform [the propriety of] three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth; however, the abbot is supposed to excuse him [of the remaining prostrations after the first one], to which he duly responds with a single prostration with unopened sitting cloth. The primary seat official turns around, passes behind the altar to its right, and leaves the hall. The abbot follows him to the entrance and then returns to his place. The assistant official burns incense to give thanks for the presence of the participants. The [practice hall] bell is tolled, the cups are retrieved, and, as before, drumming signals a recess. The primary seat official first goes to the Dharma hall and waits for the abbot’s arrival to express his thanks. If the formality is excused, he simply bows.

Format of the Reception Notice of Tea Serving

The Venerable Abbot, master of the temple, will conduct a special serv-

ing of tea at the practice hall today after the noon meal, especially for the

sake of the primary seat official and the practitioners, to express the pro-

priety of Such-and-such celebration day. Moreover, the invitation is

extended to the administrative officials to be present as main participants.

Date and month

Respectfully stated by So-and-so

Office of the Abbot’s Assistants

7. The Administrative Office’s Special Serving

of Tea for the Primary Seat Official and the

Practitioners on the Four Annual Celebration Days

On the second day of the annual celebration, after breakfast, the administrative official prepares a notice of tea reception (identical to the notice of the serving of sweet hot water), to inform the practitioners of this event, and posts the tablet announcing the tea reception at the practice hall. At the signal of the kitchen hall metal gong, the head administrative official enters the practice hall to make a round, inviting the practitioners for tea just as the abbot’s assistant official did previously for the sweet hot water reception. After the noon meal, the seating placement tablets must be set up. The practitioners assemble at the signal of drumming. The official requests them to take their seats by making a gesture of

greeting, burns incense on their behalf, requests them to drink tea, and makes a round through the hall, stopping to bow at mid-hall. He proceeds before the abbot and performs the propriety of two prostrations with opened sitting cloth and three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth and the two sets of the word of greeting, which are identical to those of the occasion of sweet hot water reception.

8. The Front Hall Primary Seat Official’s

Reception of Tea for the Rear Hall

Primary Seat Official and the Practitioners

On the third day of the annual celebration, the primary seat official prepares a notice of invitation (format given below), and visits the quarters of the rear hall primary seat official and the abbot’s office in order to convey his invitation for a tea reception. The proceedings of serving tea and the propriety of ceremonial conduct are identical with those of the special tea serving by the administrative office. The only difference is that the seats of the administrative officials must be placed.

Format for the Invitation for Tea

The front hall primary seat official, So-and-so Bhikṣu, has respectfully

scheduled the tea reception at the practice hall today after the noon

meal, especially for the sake of the rear hall primary seat official and

the practitioners, to express the propriety of the celebration day. This

invitation is extended to the administrative officials to be present at

this occasion as main participants.

Date and month

Respectfully prepared

by So-and-so

Format of the Envelope

Letter of Invitation

To

The Venerable Rear Hall Primary Seat Official

and the Practitioners

Respectfully sealed

by So-and-so

9. Serving Tea on the First Day of the Month

and the Mid-month Day after Making a Round

through the Practice Hall

When the abbot finishes the ascent to the Dharma hall and preaching, he

says:

Upon descending this high seat, we shall make a round through the

practice hall and have a cup of tea.

When the practitioners reach the front hall, they stand at their positions

as prescribed in the prayer chanting chart, and then enter the practice hall in

a line in due order. The new arrivals and the assistant official follow the line

of the practitioners in the procession, and upon reaching the back of the

guardian bodhisattva’s altar, the new arrivals stand at their positions facing

the back of the altar and the assistant official. The practitioners proceed through

the hall and take their respective positions. The practice hall bell is rung seven

times and the abbot enters the hall, burns incense, and makes a round through

the hall before returning to his place. The administrative officials enter the

hall and line up in front of the altar to bow, then turn toward the abbot and

bow before him. They then make their round beginning from the raised sit-