勅修百丈清規 2.50

2.50

When requested by the assembly through the offering of incense, [the abbot] sits in the designated seat. When specially requested by a donor, or when the abbot gives an instruction to the assembly on his own initiative, he ascends the dharma seat. Whenever there is a general discourse, the attendant instructs the guest prefect postulant to hang the general discourse board to notify the assembly, and set up the bed chamber or the dharma hall. After breakfast porridge, the postulant reports to the abbot and strikes the drum slowly five times. The attendant goes out to wait for the assembly to gather, invites the abbot to come out, and [the abbot] takes his seat for the general discourse, following the same ceremonial protocol as for an informal sermon.