[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025) › The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations # The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations Translation of [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025) - **Language:** English - **Date:** 2006 CE - **Translator:** [Shohei Ichimura](https://indike.org/pramana/person/shohei-ichimura) - **Extent:** 111 passages, 125,527 words - **Text:** complete digital text - **Source:** bdk · Shohei Ichimura (tr.), The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations, BDK English Tripiṭaka 77, Berkeley: Numata… · CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 (Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, digital edition… ## Contents - [1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1) — 9 parts - [2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.2) — 19 parts - [3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3) — 19 parts - [4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.4) — 17 parts - [5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.5) — 18 parts - [6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.6) — 10 parts - [7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.7) — 15 parts - [8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.8) — 4 parts ## Text ### [1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.1) Edited by Dasu, Abbot of the Great Dragons Flying to Assemble for Celebration Temple Fascicle One Festivities and the Observance of Rites I. Preface to the Chapter ### [1.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.21) What people value most is found in the realization of the Way (Dao). Hence, from ancient times, the sublime rulers of this land have continued to revere the teachings of our Western Sage (the Buddha) and have never failed to treat Buddhists in a manner well beyond conventional propriety. This is because they revere the Way. With respectful consideration, the Yuan imperial court has treated Buddhists most honorably; we are exempted from taxes and levies of service and are permitted to remain in our place (i.e., monasteries and temples) in order to fully devote ourselves to the realization of the Way. Our indebtedness to imperial favor is as vast as heaven and earth, beyond measurement. We are obliged to realize the insight of Buddha-nature and return to the abode of highest good. We will give full play to the wondrous faculty of insight to transcend \[the world\] to the height of spirituality, lead the populace toward spontaneous conversion, and thereby promote benevolence and long life in this world. This is the way we pay our indebtedness to the throne. It is the goal for which we Buddhists strive wholeheartedly. With respect to everyday life, we have a rule to pray for imperial well-being every morning and evening and at each mealtime so as not to become unmindful of it. II. Festivity of the Imperial Birthday ### [1.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.28) 1. Inauguration of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday When the day of celebrating the imperial birthday arrives, the first step is to set up the place for the rite of prayer for the Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha (Vajrāmitāyus; Jingangwuliangshou). For the sake of proper expres- sion of reverence, no one should be allowed to be absent for the duration of the entire month \[in which the imperial birthday occurs\]. One day before the inauguration of the rite, the practice hall official (this position is also referred to as director of the practice hall and director of practitioners’ affairs) pre- pares the signboards, writes the announcement of the rite on two separate sheets of paper, and attaches one sheet to the board to be posted on the right side of the temple’s main gate and the other to the tablet of sutra titles, which is hung higher in the Buddha hall. (Format given below.) The announcement is written on yellow paper. \[The director of the practice hall\] is obliged to prepare the name list for rotating shifts according to ordination seniority. Each name must be listed together with the status \[as regards the schedule\]. Five days in advance, the director of the practice hall, accompanied by a novice attendant, visits the official of the scribes’ quarters, carrying a sheet of paper in his sleeve. (Having been notified beforehand, the head scribe awaits the director’s arrival. The director greets the scribe with an informal prostration with unopened sitting cloth.) After a single prostration, the direc- tor of the practice hall says: May I request you to compose the word of tribute for the inauguration of the rite of the imperial birthday. (If the official is not available at the time, the scribe’s assistant performs this role, and if neither is available, any previous composition may be sub- stituted. Format of the word of tribute given below.) Upon completing the composition, the scribe official presents it to the abbot for inspection and then takes it to the practice hall director himself in order to pay a return courtesy visit. After an informal prostration, he thanks the director for his prior visit. The latter copies the composition onto two sheets of yellow paper, and proceeds to the abbot’s office accompanied by his novice attendant, who carries a crepe-wrapped tray, equipped with candles and an incense burner. After burning incense and performing an informal prostration, the director asks the abbot for his approval: This is the word of tribute prepared for the inauguration of the rite for the imperial birthday, sir. Your inspection is requested. Upon approval \[of the tribute by the abbot\], the novice attendant notifies the abbot by announcing: The sutra chanting to inaugurate the rite of the imperial birthday is scheduled for tomorrow morning at the Buddha hall, sir. The \[practitioners in the\] various quarters are immediately notified, and the wooden tablet announcing the sutra chanting is hung at the entrance to the practice hall. The abbot’s incense offering assistant notifies the abbot: “The ascent to the Dharma hall is scheduled for tomorrow, sir.” 2. The Ascent to the Dharma Hall At 3:00 A.M. (i.e., the fifth watch of the night), when the abbot makes his rounds, burning incense through the aisles of the practice hall, the incense offering assistant reminds the abbot of the scheduled event once again, saying: Following the breakfast of rice gruel (shuifan), the ascent to the Dharma hall is scheduled, sir. The assistant instructs the guest master to post in the practice hall a wooden tablet inscribed with \[the words\] “Ascent to the Dharma hall.” At breakfast, the practice hall director strikes the octagonal wooden post with its mallet to signal the moment when the first serving of rice gruel is completed, then immediately strikes it again and makes the following announcement: I announce to you, fellow practitioners, that when we hear the bell ring after breakfast, each of us, properly attired, will proceed to the Buddha hall and inaugurate the prayer rite for the imperial birthday. Respect- fully announced. After striking \[the octagonal wooden post again\] to signal the end of the announcement, the director goes and stands before the abbot, bows with palms together, and then makes a single round through the aisles of the hall, starting from the raised sitting platform of the primary seat official, going out to the lower outer hall, then to the upper outer hall, and finally returning to the center of the inner hall to bow before the altar of the guardian bodhisattva (usually Mañjuśrī) before leaving the hall. After a short recess after breakfast, the practice hall novice attendant reports to the abbot’s guest master when the Buddha hall is ready, \[that is, when\] incense, candles, tea and sweet hot water, the cymbals, and a portable incense burner \[have been prepared\]. The guest master in turn conveys this message to the abbot, then to his chief assistant. The abbot’s attendant strikes the wooden sounding board at the abbot’s office and begins a series of drumbeats to signal \[commencement of the rite\]. Before all this takes place, the wooden sounding board at the practitioners’ quarters is struck three times to call them to return to the practice hall, where they wait in their places in sitting meditation (zazen), facing the wall as usual. At the sound of the drum, the practitioners turn to face each other across the aisles. Also upon hearing the drum, the training faculty officials, who have previously assembled outside, enter the hall and take their respective places. The primary seat official follows. The west hall official, the retired officials and retired subfunctionary officials of the temple, and the functionaries of various offices take their seats in the outer hall. As the drumming begins, the abbot comes to his reception hall, and when he takes his seat, his chief assistant greets him with a bow and stands on the east side of the hall, while the novice attendants salute him likewise and stand on the west side. When the drumming changes pitch, the chief assistant proceeds to the Dharma hall, stands by the left side of the main rostrum seat, and waits for the practitioners to assemble. At the practice hall the training faculty officials descend to the floor, bow before the altar of the guardian bodhisattva, and lead the practitioners toward the Dharma hall. Approaching the rostrum seat, they line up facing it and bow, then move back to form the west-order column, slightly away from the center, and stand facing east. The practitioners take parallel positions behind their column. It is inappropriate for practitioners to go to their places before the officials arrive and take their places. When the drumming commences, an official at the novice attendant’s hall also strikes the wooden sounding board three times, and the ceremonial leader leads the group of novice attendants toward the kitchen hall. They line up in two columns in front of the hall, facing each other, and wait for the change of drum pitch. The administrative officials come out of the hall at the moment the drum changes pitch; the novices greet them with a bow and then follow them to the Dharma hall. When the training faculty officials take their positions in the west-order column, the administrative officials proceed to line up in front of the rostrum, and, after a bow, move back to take their positions in the east-order column, led by the head administrative official, where they stand facing west. The novice attendants then take parallel positions behind the administrative officials at a slight distance from them. The chief assistant returns to the abbot and escorts him to the main rostrum seat. All novice attendants salute the abbot with a bow. When the abbot reaches the rostrum, the novice attendants close in behind the administrative officials. During the winter months, everyone is required at this moment to take off his cap to bow. With a gesture of greeting, the abbot ascends the rostrum seat, followed by his chief assistant, and receives from him \[powdered\] incense proffered on the lid of an incense case. The abbot reverently raises it with a word of blessing, and completes the word of tribute for imperial longevity. Thereupon, receiving the \[blessed\] incense back, the chief assistant pours it into the burner with his left hand, simultaneously placing next to it a stick of incense with his right hand while giving a word of prayer. After a slight bow, the chief assistant descends the rostrum and returns to his place. After the abbot sits down cross-legged and adjusts his robe, the incense offering assistant and colleagues go before of the rostrum, turn toward the abbot, bow in unison, and return to their places, led by the chief assistant. Next, the primary seat official leads the west-order members in similar manner. They bow toward the abbot in unison, in tandem with the practitioners \[behind the west-order column\]. Third, the administrative officials bow in the same manner toward the abbot, in tandem with the novice attendants \[behind the east-order column\]. The ranking west hall resident and east hall resident likewise go before the rostrum and bow. Thereupon, the chief assistant ascends the rostrum, offers incense with his left hand, turns to the abbot, and bows toward him with a gesture of offering his unopened sitting cloth. (This is called “the request for a Dharma session on behalf of the practitioners.”) Thereupon the chief assistant descends the rostrum and stands to the side. When the question-and-answer session is over, the abbot explains the meaning of the assembly: On such-and-such day, we respectfully perform the commemoration of the imperial birthday. On this day in such-and-such month, this temple shall inaugurate the continual session of prayer for the Adamantine Immeas- urable Life Tathāgata for the duration of an entire month. From today, practitioners of this temple shall continuously recite the sacred scriptures at the Buddha hall in rotating shifts. Your subject So-and-so, abbot of this temple, has ascended this high seat this morning and has expounded the sublime truth and primary meaning of the Dharma. We dedicate the great merit thereby accrued toward everlasting imperial well-being. When the abbot has finished preaching, he addresses the assembly: Now, descending from this hall, let us proceed, with proper attire and dignity, to the hall of the great Buddha and inaugurate the commem- orative rite of the imperial birthday. Respectfully stated. On this day, if government officials are present at the morning session it is customary not to give any words of appreciation for their participation, in regard to the primary respect \[being shown\] the imperial throne. 3. The Rite of the Imperial Birthday When the large bell begins to toll, preceded by three strikes of the practice hall bell, the practitioners assemble at the Buddha hall and take their positions facing the altar. The abbot commences offering tea and sweet hot water before the Buddha image. As the head administrative official hands over these offering items to the abbot one by one, the abbot censes each offering and hands it to his chief assistant who, standing near the pedestal of the image, places each item before the Buddha image. When this is done, the abbot returns and stands at his position. As the novice attendants begin to play the cymbals, the practice hall director steps forward toward the central incense burner and, with a salutation to the abbot, offers incense, assisted by the abbot’s assistant who carries an incense case. Next, the ranking east and west hall residents simultaneously step forward in pairs to offer incense. (If any abbots of other temples happen to be present, the chief assistant of the host temple invites them to the altar to offer incense in a similar manner, prior to the offering of incense by the host temple’s dual order officials, i.e., of the east and west orders.) Next, a pair of officials from the dual orders proceed together to the incense burner, bow toward the Buddha image with palms together, and, after offering incense, turn toward the abbot, salute him in unison, and return to their respective positions. The whole assembly of practitioners performs three prostrations with half-opened sitting cloth. Thereupon, the dual order officials turn to face each other, and the abbot kneels in the center before the altar. The guest reception official approaches on his knees, carrying a portable incense burner; simultaneously the abbot’s incense offering assistant also approaches on his knees, carrying an incense case. In the meantime, the director of practitioners’ affairs reads the word of tribute addressing the Buddha, and the guest reception official pours incense into the burner. Thereupon, the abbot stands and folds his sitting cloth. The director then leads the entire assembly in a recitation of the Śūraṃgamadhāraṇīs and, when the recitation is completed, he proclaims the following invocation of merit transference: We solemnly dedicate the great merit accrued from reciting the sacred chapter of the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs to the present imperial highness for this day of festivity, well-being, and longevity. Veneration to Adaman- tine Immeasurable Life Tathāgata, Benevolent King (Kāruṇikārāja; Ren- wangpusa) Bodhisattva Mahāsattva (mohesa; “great being”), and Mahā- prajñāpāramitā (Mohebanruoboluomi; Great Perfection of Wisdom). Thereupon, all leave the hall. 4. Sutra Chanting in Rotating Shifts Each day, the novice attendants of the director of the practice hall are required to present a list of the names for the rotating shifts to the abbot, the training faculty officials, and the other practitioners and obtain their approval, at least one day before the date of \[the shift\] assignment. The list consists of the ### [1.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.30) name and status \[of each assignee\] and their affixed signatures. By carefully considering the number of practitioners, they should produce copies of \[the shift\] assignments based on ordination seniority and arranged in proper order of the particular days, and upon completion of one rotation proceed to the next, and so on. The tablets listing the sutra titles that are to be recited during the period are hung over the rear pillars of the Buddha hall. Each day of \[the rotating shift\], the assignees conduct themselves with utmost seriousness, entering the hall after the large bell tolls. They are obliged to maintain proper attire and dignity, carry an incense case for venerating the Buddha, and recite the sutras at their assigned position. Every day the administrative official must prepare incense and candles without fail, and also a simple meal for the assignees. The director offers incense and sweet hot water and cleans the altar every day. When evening comes, the assignees toll the large bell and retire from the hall. The practice hall novice attendants as well as those of the Buddha hall must always be ready to serve the assignees so as to enable them to carry out the sutra chanting without slackening. If government officials should happen to visit the temple to offer incense in commemoration of the imperial birthday, the bell should be tolled to assemble the practitioners to recite the sacred verses of Immeasurable Life Tathāgata (Amitābha; Wuliangshourulai) and invoke the name of the Great Medicine Buddha (Bhaiṣajyaguru; Yaoshirulai). The service is concluded with the following invocation of merit transference: Such-and-such government official of such-and-such locality has vis- ited the temple to offer incense and prayer. The practitioners have completed the recitation of the sacred chapter of verses. We solemnly dedicate the merit thereby accrued to the present imperial highness for this day of festivity, well-being, and longevity. Veneration to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and so on. 5. The Prayer Service on the Days Ending in Three and Eight of the Month of Festivity On the days ending in three and eight (i.e., the third, eighth, thirteenth, eighteenth, twenty-third, and twenty-eighth) during the month of the rite of the imperial birthday, regular prayer services must be conducted in the Buddha hall \[instead of the practice hall\]. On these days, after the noon meal the practice hall attendants notify the abbot, as well as the offices of both the training faculty and the administration, of the time of the prayer service and post the tablet announcing the prayer service at the entrance of the practice hall to inform the practitioners. Before the evening session, the wooden sounding boards located in the various corridors of the temple are struck three times to assemble the practitioners at the Buddha hall, where they take their positions facing the Buddha’s altar. The abbot’s arrival is signaled by three strikes of the metal gong located at the kitchen hall. Next, at the sound of the large bell, the abbot offers incense and returns to his position. Immediately, the director steps forward from his east-order position and reads the prayer: The imperial wind forever sends fresh air, and the imperial way for- ever flourishes, while the Buddha’s sun shines ever more brightly and the wheel of the Dharma perpetually turns. For the sake of assisting the aforementioned causes, let us pray by calling the \[ten sacred names of the Buddhas\]: Luminous Pure Dharma Body Vairocana Buddha (Pariśuddhadharmakāyavairocanabuddha; Qingjingfashenpilushenafo), and so on. (Upon completion of the prayer of the ten sacred names of the Tathāgatas, the following invocation of merit transference is given:) We solemnly dedicate the merit hereby accrued to the present impe- rial highness for this day of festivity, well-being, and longevity. Ven- eration to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and so on. After the practice hall bell is tolled three times the practitioners bow and leave the hall. 6. The Propriety for Welcoming the Abbot’s Return When the abbot returns from visiting temples in other districts, prefectures, cities, or provinces, it is customary for the resident practitioners to toll the large bell and assemble at the main gate to receive him and follow him to the abbot’s office, where all greet him with a bow. 7. Inauguration and Fulfillment of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday Recorded in the Ancient Regulations The Ancient Regulations (i.e., the original Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations) record that the practitioners who participated in the rite of the imperial birthday were given a certificate \[commemorating their participation\] from the director of the practice hall, while temporary visitors or recent arrivals were given a similar certificate from the guest reception official, in order to verify their status and career. This is because in olden days, Buddhist as well as Daoist practitioners were required to pay a tax for their exemption \[on religious grounds\] from levies of service. Upon payment, each received a government certificate verifying his status of exemption from physical labor. In those days, therefore, besides the required items \[a practitioner takes with him when traveling\] (see Chapter VII, part IV) and the certificate of ordination, an annual certificate was required to verify one’s status as exempt from government levies, to verify one’s participation in a particular temple’s summer retreat, and to verify one’s participation in a particular temple’s rite of the imperial birthday from inauguration through fulfillment. These certificates were a necessary precaution for avoiding any sort of criminal charge \[for dereliction of civic duties\]. Though such certificates are not in use today, mention is made here to show such bygone regulations. III. Various Formats \[for Signs\] 1. Format of the Signboard with Yellow Paper For the Festivity and Rite of the Imperial Birthday: Respectfully meeting at Such-and-such Temple in such-and-such dis- trict and province on such-and-such day and month For the Day of Festivity of the Imperial Birthday This temple will conduct the commemoration rite on such-and-such day and month. The inauguration of the rite is scheduled at the Buddha hall, in the place set up for the prayer rite to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and practitioners are assigned to recite the sacred mantras and the sacred names of the Buddhas continually every day for the duration of a month. We dedicate the great merit thereby accrued to the festivity of the imperial birthday and the promotion of imperial well-being for the sake of ### [1.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.39) The Everlasting Life of the Present Emperor May the Buddha’s supernatural vision clearly illuminate and the Dragon God of Heaven witness the sincerity of the foregoing statement. Day, month, and year Respectfully stated by the imperial subject, Head Administrative Official So-and-so The imperial subject, Abbot Priest So-and-so 2. Format for the Tablet of Sutra Titles The sutra titles are given here: Flower Ornament Sutra (Avataṃsaka-sūtra; Huayanjing) Śūraṃgama-sūtra (Dafodingwanxingshoulengyenjing; Sutra on the Buddha’s Omnipotent Valiant March) Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra; Dachengmiaofalianhuajing) Sutra of Golden Splendor (Suvarṇaprabhāsottama-sūtra; Dachengjinguangmingjing) Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (Yuanjuejing) Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Dachengjingangbanruoboluomijing) Sutra of the Benevolent King (Renwangbanruoboluomijing) Respectfully placed as indicated above Director, imperial subject, Priest So-and-so 3. Format of the List of Names for Assignment According to Seniority The names of each day’s duty assignment at the Buddha hall are respectfully given below (to be written on a sheet of white paper): Imperial subject, Abbot So-and-so; So-and-so Primary Seat Official; So-and-so Secretarial Official; So-and-so Tripiṭaka Hall Official; So- and-so Guest Reception Official; So-and-so West Hall Official So-and-so practitioners; So-and-so senior practitioner; So-and-so Head Administrative Official \[continued below as above\] Prepared by Practice Hall Official So-and-so IV. Words of Tribute for Various Occasions 1. The Word of Tribute for the Inauguration of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday It is reverently thought by the foregoing participants that there is no par- tiality whatsoever under the heavenly canopy, nor is there any meas- urement by which to fathom which is higher and wider between heaven and earth. The descending illumination is so dazzling that its brightness cannot be compared even with that of the sun and moon. One only knows that it is futile to look up to praise it; nor is there any limit to it even when one tries to make a tribute to it. One can only entrust oneself to the care of the imperial realm, and thereby faithfully weigh the four kinds of indebtedness (i.e., indebtedness toward parents, people, kings, and the Three Treasures). Thus, one is obliged to exert one’s mind in loyalty and love, respectfully wishing the throne to be filled with the three kinds of blessing (i.e., longevity, wealth, and male offspring). The axis of the north star winds around like lightning, and the dragon’s appearance spreads a banquet on the ground. The imperial network covers myriads of rivers and mountains, thereby bringing all of them to imperial deliberation, while the three thousand worlds of the lotus storehouse \[manifested by Vairocana Buddha\] make the great dominion of the empire ever more spacious (i.e., prosperous). There is no drop of water wasted, nor is there any idle person morning or evening. May the imperial couple rise, the auspicious star shine, the exalted seat be ever in peace, the unicorn and phoenix bring good fortune, and the wise lead, making myriads appear as they are. Respectfully presented. 2. The Word of Tribute for the Fulfillment of the Rite of the Imperial Birthday ### [1.64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.64) The blooming of the lotus flower is an auspicious sign in this world, just as it was auspicious that the Buddha was born into this world. The enlightenment he realized under the bodhi tree has continued in succession in this world of humans for as long as the age of heaven. By nature, the divine quality accumulated through previous lives was cultivated in order to inherit the great and splendid plans of the Sage (i.e, Śākyamuni Buddha). How vast is the Yuan! How supreme is the Yuan! It embodies the origin and abides in the very heart of it. It meets with the utmost zenith and returns to it, and thereby erects the utmost and establishes its center of the universe. The harmonious way of our tradition has, indeed, received an advantage at the time of the best governance, comparable to that of the ancient Sage. The bells and drums of this forest (i.e., monastic tem- ple) enjoy times of peace, their sound expanding and increasing. Grasses, trees, and insects receive the permeating benefit of such advan- tage. Good omens inaugurate the dawn and hymns celebrate the flow- ery hill. While the robes (i.e., hands) fall and do nothing, yet may heaven and earth take their positions, myriads of things be nourished and grow, forms be created, the principles of yin and yang be harmo- nized, the four seasons be in proper order, longevity be enjoyed for ten thousand years, and the root and branches be extended for one hun- dred generations. 3. The Word of Praise on Coronation Day and the Four Monthly Days of Festivity On the commemorative day of the imperial coronation, at the beginning of the month and mid-month, and on the eighth and twenty-third days of each month, the practice hall novice attendants are obliged, the night before, to notify the practitioners of the ceremonial rite \[to be conducted the next day\], and post the tablet indicating the schedule of sutra chanting. The following morning, when the sound of the large bell ceases, the practice hall bell is tolled to assemble the practitioners and all proceed to the Buddha hall. The director leads the recitation of the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs and invokes the name of Medicine Buddha. When this rite is completed, the director concludes with the following invocation of merit transference: On the morning of such-and-such day and month, Abbot So-and-so, who has been entrusted with the Dharma, at Such-and-such Temple of such-and-such district and province, has respectfully assembled all the members of this temple at the Buddha hall, and they have recited in unison the \[dhāraṇīs\] of the Śūraṃgama-sūtra and praised the sacred names of the Buddhas. The merit thereby accrued is dedicated to the festivity and promotion of everlasting imperial well-being and longevity. Veneration to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, Benevolent King Bodhisattva, and so on. 4. The Word of Praise for the First and Mid-month Days in the Tripiṭaka Hall From ancient times, it has been customary on these days to read the sutras and conduct the prayer for imperial longevity. Today it is regarded as a norm, a most suitable expression of reverence for the throne, to rise early in the morning and assemble at the Tripiṭaka hall to conduct the prayer rite for the sake of imperial longevity before the altar. As an alternative, the practice has been that after breakfast and after the morning session is over, the bell is tolled to assemble the practitioners and they proceed to the Tripiṭaka hall for the same purpose. The director recites the title of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Banruoboluomiduojing) while the practitioners silently pray. The abbot then leads the procession, each member holding his palms together, in three circumambulations around the building, or a single circumambulation if the number of participants is too large. They then return to their former positions and remain standing. Thereupon, the director calls for the chanting of the Mahākāruṇikacitta-dhāraṇīs (Dabeixintuoloni; Esoteric Prayer Verses Praising Great Compassion) and concludes with the following invocation of merit transference: The Lotus-store ocean in the Huayan (“Flower Ornament”) universe is filled with vast perfect illumination. Its artfulness in creating effects is beyond the creation of nature, and its path totally transcends names and words. The light of the sun, moon, and stars winds down like lightning, submerging in the absolute state of existence-as-it-is. Although light rushes back and forth in all six directions (i.e., north, east, south, west, zenith, and nadir), this ocean is profoundly quiescent. The mystery of this ocean is indeed inexhaustible no matter how much and how far it is praised and exalted. On the felicitous morning of the first day of the month (or mid- month day), the abbot of this temple of such-and-such province, entrusted with the Buddha-Dharma, the imperial subject, priest So-and-so, has respectfully called for this assembly of all the practitioners of this tem- ple. Having completed three circumambulations of the Tripiṭaka hall, we recited the title of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, with mind- fulness and continued to turn the wheel of the Dharma treasure of the heavenly palace and intoned in unison the sacred Mahākāruṇikacitta- dhāraṇīs. The merit thereby accrued is dedicated to the festivity and promotion of everlasting imperial well-being and longevity. Venera- tion to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, Benevolent King Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, and Mahāprajñāpāramitā. 5. The Word of Praise for Daily Ritual Services Twice a day, at breakfast and the noon meal, the practitioners leave the prac- tice hall and are obliged to assemble at the Buddha hall. The director intones the Amitābha-dhāraṇī (Wuliangshouzhou; Immeasurable Life Dhāraṇī ) three times and concludes with the following invocation of merit transference: Having intoned the sacred verses of the esoteric chapter, we respect- fully dedicate the merit accrued thereby to the festivity and promotion of the well-being and longevity of the present emperor. Veneration to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and so on. ### [1.71](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.71) 6. The Festivity for the Birthday of the Crown Prince On the evening before the appointed day, the practice hall novice attendants should notify the practitioners of the scheduled sutra chanting by posting a tablet. Next morning, they toll the practice hall bell to assemble the practi- tioners at the Buddha hall. The director recites the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs and invokes the name of Medicine Buddha. (This is identical to the rite of the four monthly commemorative days.) The director concludes the service with the following invocation of merit transference: Such-and-such Temple in such-and-such district and province respect- fully acknowledges the felicitous birthday of the Crown Prince. All the practitioners of this temple have assembled at the Buddha hall and rev- erently chanted the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs and praised the sacred name of Medicine Buddha. The merit accrued thereby is dedicated to the festivity of the birthday of the Crown Prince, divine heir-apparent. Before the Buddha’s shrine we humbly pray: May the wheel of the sun be turned many more times and the brightness of the moon be increased manyfold, so that they will be able to illuminate the whole ocean under heaven. May the mountain be like sandstone and the river like a gir- dle so that the foundation of the nation can be strengthened. Venera- tion to Adamantine Immeasurable Life Buddha, and so on. 7. The Prayer Invocation for the Months of Benevolence The first, the fifth, and ninth months are called “months of benevolence.” The day before the first day of each of these months, the director of the practice hall instructs his novice attendants to notify the abbot and the head administrative official, post the signboard at the entrance of the Buddha hall, and prepare the tablets of sutra titles and the list of names with assignments for rotating shifts. Each day, the large bell is tolled before sutra chanting begins, and the scheduled sutras are recited in the Buddha hall. The end of the day is concluded with a word of praise. This continues for the duration of the month. The origin of this practice can be traced to the third year of Kaihuang of the Sui dynasty, when a decree was issued throughout the land that during the designated months (i.e., the first, fifth, and ninth) as well as on the six specific days of religious austerity, each temple was required to set up a place of practice for prayer and invocation and no life should be taken or injured. According to a sutra, the deity Vaiśravaṇa (Pishamentian), who is said to have conducted inspection tours every year over the four great continents, happened to regulate the southern continent and prohibited the slaughter of animals during the first, fifth, and ninth months. When Tang provincial governors received their appointments to their respective territories, they customarily used to \[celebrate the occasion\] by sponsoring a feast for their victorious soldiers, whose number was never less than several ten-thousands, thus increasing the slaughter of animals for food. Since animal slaughter was prohibited in those months, a system was developed to the effect that new governors were not appointed during the first, fifth, or ninth months. Popular belief, however, wrongly attributed this custom to superstitious fear. End of Chapter I: Festivities and the Observance of Rites Discharging Indebtedness to the State I. Preface to the Chapter The state has the duty of conducting the sacrificial rite for the supreme, for the imperial ancestors, and the rite for the four seasons. This is to clarify the merits of these rites, to promote the original spirit, and thereby ensure the continuity of successive rulers. The present dynastic court reveres the Buddha, and from the founding Emperor Shizu onward each reign has erected temples. Each emperor is said to govern the realm of heaven and earth as an incarnate Buddha body (nirmāṇakāya), and upon completing his task of transforming the realm returns to the state of Buddhahood. Thus, in those temples in the capital that are supported by the government, the imperial portrait is placed in the Buddha’s altar. Five times a month, the portrait is enshrined with offerings and words of reverence as though for a living person and is venerated with a kind of nurturing protective thought. We can observe generally that wherever the imperial power of spiritual transformation flows, it has spread along with the teachings of the Buddha with no obstruction. Thus, Buddhist followers have been bathed in the benevolent waves and marshlands. Shouldn’t we find a way to repay our debt for that to which we are indebted? II. State Memorial Days As the memorial day of the emperor’s demise approaches, the head administrative official is obliged, the evening before, to notify the practice hall ### [1.82](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.82) official of the coming event, have his novice attendants inform the abbot and the dual order officials, and post the signboard for the sutra chanting. Finally, \[he should\] set up the imperial seat on the rostrum in the Dharma hall and place the imperial tablet, with the sacred name (i.e., that of the deceased emperor) solemnly inscribed on a sheet of yellow paper, enshrining it with incense, a flower vase, candle stand, table, and floor sheet. On the appointed day, the practitioners assemble at the Dharma hall at the signal of the practice hall bell. When the abbot enters and finishes offering incense, tea, and sweet hot water, the director of the practice hall calls for the chanting of the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs. After \[the chanting\] is over, he concludes the service with the following invocation of merit transference: So-and-so, abbot of Such-and-such Temple, entrusted with the Buddha- Dharma, in such-and-such district and province, acknowledges the memorial day of the late Emperor So-and-so, and has respectfully assem- bled all the practitioners of this temple, chanted in unison the Śūraṃgama-dhāraṇīs, praising the Buddha’s omnipotent power, and invoked the sacred name \[of the Great Medicine Buddha\]. We (respect- fully) dedicate the merit thereby accrued to the enshrinement of the imperial carriage with further assistance. It is humbly wished that the imperial spirit may enjoy all the corners of the universe, assume a visit on the chariot formed of clouds and winds, receive the delight of his abode in the center of the sky and of his palace inlaid with precious gems and his pavilion adorned with colorful gems. Veneration to all the Buddhas of the ten directions (the four cardinal directions, the four intermediate directions, zenith, and nadir, i.e., everywhere) and the three periods of time (past, present, and future, i.e., in all times), \[to all the arhats, bodhisattvas, and mahāsattvas, and to Mahāprajñāpāramitā\]. III. Various Prayer Services Whenever an occasion for prayer arises, the place of its performance must be prepared in strict accordance with the rules, and must be furnished with food and other offerings. The abbot is obliged to maintain a state of mental concentration (samādhi) and to become more attentive. The practitioners must carry out their duties in a tidy and austere manner, while the administrative officials are obliged to supervise the outer and inner temple operations and make their rounds through various quarters and buildings in order to keep them clean. If any government official happens to visit the temple to offer incense, he must be extended both a respectful welcome and farewell. Prior to the appointed day of prayer, the head administrative official is obliged to notify the abbot of the need for the particular prayer invocation, and the director of the practice hall is also invited for consultation. His novice attendants are then instructed to inform the practitioners of the coming event and to post the signboard announcing the prayer service. Twice a day, at morning and noon mealtimes, the practitioners assemble at the signal of the bell to chant sutras. Either the reading of the three Tripiṭaka scriptures or the four major groups of scriptures (i.e., the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra \[Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Banruojing\]; the Sutra of the Heap of Jewels \[Mahāratnakūṭa-sūtra; Dabaojijing\]; the Flower Ornament Sutra; and the Nirvana Sutra \[Niepanjing\]) is to be carried out for three, five, or seven consecutive days, according to the particular situation. In the cases of prayers for sunshine or rain, practitioners are grouped in teams of ten, twenty, thirty, or fifty members, led by the first member of each team, so that the sutra chanting can be carried out without interruption from one team to another. Each team of practitioners chants the Mahākāruṇikacitta-dhāraṇīs, the Dhāraṇī for Changing Disaster to Fortune (Xiaozaijixiangtuoluoni), and the Dhāraṇī for Inviting Great Rain (Dayunzhou) thirty-seven times each. This is called the “uninterrupted wheel of chanting.” After a whole day of chanting, there should be a rite of fulfillment and a word of invocation, with earnest wishes for a favorable response. The format of each invocation is given below. 1. The Prayer Invocation for Sunshine It is anxiously observed that vicious rain has caused much damage by preventing things from realizing their function. Hundreds of rivers have swept away all things, leaving no place of refuge. This is a result of the karma shared in common by all people. Since heaven and earth are equally impartial, we have respectfully prepared the ceremonial place of prayer to invite fair weather and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity conducted uninterrupted prayer through chant- ing sacred scriptures (sutras) and esoteric verses (dhāraṇīs) each day in order to appeal to the Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is fair weather. May a prompt response be granted, so that the persistent clouds may be swept away from all fields in the four directions, the gloomy disharmony be dispersed, the bright sun may appear in the center of the sky and its glorious rays illuminate, enabling all human activities to occur in proper order and enabling myriads of things to realize the fulfillment of their lives. 2. The Prayer Invocation for Rain It is anxiously observed that the sun’s overbearing rays precipitate dis- asters for all kinds of crops. This is not a punishment heaven sends from above but a result of the mounting transgressions of people below. Thus, it is hoped that the various Buddhas, by extending their com- passion, will respond to the chanting of the sacred esoteric verses and the words of invocation. We have respectfully prepared the ceremo- nial place of prayer for inviting rain and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity conducted uninterrupted prayer through chant- ing sacred scriptures and esoteric verses in order to appeal to the ### [1.88](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.1.88) Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is abundant rainfall. May a prompt response be granted, so that the people may be rescued from the difficulty of such oppressive situations. This is indeed most diffi- cult and dangerous. May the cloud dragon rise over the mountains and rivers, bringing about abundant rain, so that farm work may be done and the harvest season may be completed once again. 3. The Prayer Invocation for Snowfall It is anxiously observed that whenever the winter is unusually warm, living things are always harmed. Snowfall purifies the noxious atmos- phere of the land below. We thus offer incense with utmost sincerity, wishing for the good omen of snowflakes amassed on the ground. We have respectfully prepared the ceremonial place of prayer for invoking snowfall and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity con- ducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting sacred scriptures and eso- teric verses each day in order to appeal to the Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is snowfall. May a prompt response be granted, so that snowclouds may spread equally over thousands of miles and there may be abundant rain and snowfall in the eight regions of the universe, the six agencies of nature (i.e., heat, water, metal, wood, soil, and crops) may operate through the threefold processes (i.e., essential, efficient, and self-regenerating), grasses and trees may grow thick, the two principles of yin and yang may be harmonized, and the five primary elements of nature (i.e., fire, water, wind, metal, and earth) may be in good order, and, thereby, gods and humans may be in harmony. 4. The Prayer Invocation for the Dispersion of Locusts It is anxiously observed that flying locusts fill the entire sky. This is a bad omen to be feared, for after they disappear by entering the ground, no one knows where they may stir up calamities again. Unless supernatural efficacy is rendered, no matter how many human hands may attempt it, the dispersion \[of these locusts\] cannot be accomplished. Thus, we have respectfully prepared the ceremonial place of prayer for the banishment of locusts, and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity conducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses each day in order to appeal to the Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is the expulsion and dispersion of locusts. May a prompt dispersal be granted, so that rains and winds wash and blow all the locusts away, into the rivers where they may take the course of their own karma, the people may regain a sense of safety, and a normal way of life may resume. 5. The Prayer Invocation for a Day of Eclipse It is predicted that an eclipse will take place today, and that the five regulatory agencies of time (i.e., year, day, month, constellation, and calendrical numeration) are slightly out of proper order. Because of such disorder, it is feared that the mighty force of heaven might cause the six kinds of evil celestial phenomena (i.e., periods of continuous cloud cover, drought, wind, rain, darkening, and gloaming) to occur. Thus, in order to rescue the people from their fear and protect them from confusion, we rely on the power of the Buddhas. Teams of practitioners have respectfully conducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses in order to extend our help and protection. May the spirit of the sun promptly regain its light so that its five variegated rays spread wide, illuminating the earth’s surface below and causing shadows to disappear, and the sun shines brightly throughout the sky. 6. The Prayer Invocation for a Day of Lunar Eclipse The moon is the master of the night through its shining nature of yin. The faintness of its illumination during an eclipse reveals heaven’s inauspicious omen to the people. Humans rely on the moon’s illumination, and heaven demonstrates its power of punishment to the people for their transgressions by inducing a lunar eclipse. Because they have subjected themselves to the rules of restraint by avowing their past transgressions, the practitioners of the sangha are deemed able to generate utmost sincerity and attempt to restore the illumination from this inauspicious phenomenon through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses in order to proffer their assistance. May the flowery moon promptly return to its brightness, so that evil darkness extinguishes its trace and the clear light may once again manifest itself over the earth’s land, hills, and rivers. May the moon maintain long life so as to include myriads of phenomena in its vast and cool palace. End of Chapter II: Discharging Indebtedness to the State End of Fascicle One Fascicle Two ### [2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.2.1) Chapter III Discharging Religious Indebtedness I. Preface to the Chapter Buddha-nature is the fundamental basis of humanity. It is neither possible to know its origin even if one were to shake heaven and earth, nor to know its fulfillment by exhausting myriads of years. Buddhas and sentient beings are equally endowed with this nature. By acquiring insight into this nature, one reaches the summit of wondrous enlightenment; by straying from it, one is washed away by the waves of life and death. From one kalpa to the next, one goes through different births in the sixfold cycle of rebirth in accordance with one’s karmic retribution, and finds no end to this process. The sacred teaching of the Buddha, upon which we rely, is vast and open to anyone to follow for refuge. We Zen practitioners have reverently inherited the formality of the (Buddha’s) attire and the lineage of his Dharma transmission. What we advocate as his principle of practice are the codes of discipline and morality (vinaya); what we propagate as his word of truth is the body of teachings (śāsana); and what we transmit as his mind of transcendence is the state of meditation (dhyāna). Moreover, our compliance with the so-called Great Origin is to identify ourselves with the totality of the Buddha’s wondrous faculty, alone through which, for the first time, we are called the Buddha’s disciples and transmit the life of his insight. Is it then \[merely\] worldly convention to conduct services on the memorial days of the patriarchs? II. The Buddha’s Birthday Commemoration 1. The Ascent to the Dharma Hall Prior to the day, the practice hall official collects contributions from the practitioners and entrusts the collection to the head administrative official in order to obtain various offerings. He is also obliged to have the word of tribute composed and approved. (The procedure is identical to that of the imperial birthday rite.) When the appointed day comes, the head administrative official respectfully sets up a small pavilion decorated with flowers in the Buddha hall and places in it a statue of the infant Buddha with a tray of scented water, and provides a pair of small dippers and various offerings in front of the pavilion. When everything is ready, the abbot ascends the main rostrum seat \[of the Dharma hall\], and after offering incense, says: On the felicitous morning of the Buddha’s birthday, disciple So-and- so, abbot of Such-and-such Temple in charge of the Buddha’s teach- ing, reverently offers fragrant incense to express care and devotion for the sake of the Original Patriarch, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Pre- ceptor (mahopādhyāya; daheshang). In response to his great com- passion, I earnestly pray: May all the Buddhas manifest themselves in this world within every successive moment of our consciousness so as to rescue all beings of this Dharma world (dharmadhātu). Next, the abbot sits down cross-legged and says: On this eighth day of the fourth month, we greet the commemorative morning of the birth of the Original Patriarch Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Preceptor. By assembling all the disciples of this temple, and also by offering incense, flowers, candles, sweet water, and tea, as well as fruit and delicacies, we hereby express our care and devotion for him. Disciple So-and-so, abbot of this temple, a remote descendant in charge of the Buddha’s teaching, has ascended this main rostrum seat to offer the teaching of \[the Buddha’s\] vehicle of religious salvation. With the special merit thereby accrued, we wish, in part, to discharge our indebtedness to the refuge bestowed upon us by his compassion and, in part, along with all sentient beings of the Dharma world, to express our celebration for the event of the Buddha’s birth that was indeed of rare occurrence. 2. The Celebration of the Buddha’s Birth Next, after preaching, the abbot addresses the assembly once again: I respectfully announce that after leaving here we shall proceed to the Buddha hall with proper attire and dignity and commemorate the day by bathing the \[statue of the infant\] Buddha and chanting sutras. The abbot descends the rostrum seat and leads the practitioners toward the Buddha hall. When the practitioners have taken their respective positions, facing the Buddha image, the abbot burns incense and performs three prostrations with half-opened sitting cloth before the altar. Without folding his sitting cloth, he proceeds to the altar and conducts the offering of sweet hot water and food. His guest reception assistant hands him the offerings, while the incense offering assistant places them on the altar. The abbot returns to his position and again performs three full prostrations, and once again proceeds to the altar to offer incense, a monetary gift, and tea. Once again he returns to his position, performs three prostrations, and stands, folding his sitting cloth. With a bow, the director of practitioners’ affairs signals the dual order officials to step forward for incense offering, in pairs, while the rest of the practitioners perform three prostrations with opened sitting cloth. In the meantime, the abbot kneels to offer incense at a portable incense burner, while the director begins to read the word of tribute, addressing the Buddha: The single moon, abiding in the sky, magnanimously imprints its image into the multiple waves of water, _First 10 of 119 passages. [Read on](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk)_ --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk) · Pramāṇa