勅修百丈清規 2.9

2.9

In advance, the hall office collects funds from the assembly and delivers them to the storehouse office to prepare the offerings, requesting the drafting and joint signing of the memorial (the etiquette is the same as for the descent and birth). The abbot ascends the hall, offers incense, and says: "On this day of the Buddha's attainment of the Way, I, Bhikṣu [name], the abbot of [name] Monastery and a distant grandson of the bequeathed teachings, on behalf of all sentient beings of the dharmadhātu, reverently burn precious incense in offering to our original teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Upādhyāya, to repay from above his compassionate shelter, and next, hoping that all sentient beings of the dharmadhātu together achieve right awakening." Next, he sits cross-legged and says: "On the eighth day of the twelfth month, reverently meeting the occasion of the attainment of the Way of our original teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Upādhyāya, leading the assembly of bhikṣus, I solemnly prepare incense, flowers, lamps, candles, tea, fruit, and rare delicacies to extend these offerings. I, Bhikṣu [name], the abbot and a distant grandson of the bequeathed teachings, ascend to this seat to expound the sectarian tradition. May the extraordinary merit gathered repay above his compassionate shelter, and we universally pray that all sentient beings of the dharmadhātu will discover their own wisdom and enter fine dust-mote lands to turn the great wheel of the Dharma." When he finishes preaching the Dharma, he announces: "Stepping down from the seat, let each assume full dignified deportment and proceed to the Great Buddha Hall to chant sūtras. Respectfully announced." He steps down from the seat, leads the assembly in the hall to spread their mats and bow, and kneels before the incense burner. The karmadāna addresses the Buddha, saying: "Before the Mountain of Right Awakening, he gazed upon the morning star and was enlightened to the Way; within the great trichiliocosm, he raised high the wisdom-sun to spread its radiance." When the proclamation of the memorial is finished, they chant sūtras and dedicate the merit. On the day of Nirvāṇa, the abbot first offers incense in the Buddha Hall to pray for the Emperor and chants sūtras; then, following in order, he ascends the hall, offers incense, and says: "On this day of the Buddha's Nirvāṇa, I, Bhikṣu [name], the abbot of [name] Monastery and a distant grandson of the bequeathed teachings, reverently burn precious incense in offering to our original teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Upādhyāya, to repay above his compassionate shelter, and below, extend together with all sentient beings of the dharmadhātu our yearning devotion, hoping that the dharma-body will abide forever, the wheel of the Dharma will turn again, and all sentient beings will awaken to the tolerance of non-arising." Next, he sits cross-legged and says: "On the fifteenth day of the second month, reverently meeting the occasion of the parinirvāṇa of our original teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, the Great Upādhyāya, leading the assembly of bhikṣus, I solemnly prepare incense, flowers, lamps, candles, tea, fruit, and rare delicacies to extend these offerings. I, Bhikṣu [name], the abbot and a distant grandson of the bequeathed teachings, ascend to this seat to extol the wondrous mind of Nirvāṇa. May the extraordinary merit gathered repay above his compassionate shelter, and we universally pray that all sentient beings of the dharmadhātu together achieve all-inclusive wisdom." When he finishes preaching the Dharma, he announces: "Stepping down from the seat, let each assume full dignified deportment and proceed to the Great Buddha Hall to chant sūtras. Respectfully announced." He steps down from the seat, leads the assembly in the hall to spread their mats and bow, and kneels before the incense burner. The karmadāna addresses the Buddha, saying: "The body of the pure dharmadhātu fundamentally neither appears nor disappears; by the power of his great compassionate vows, he manifested going and coming." The proclamation of the memorial is finished, and the chanting of sūtras and dedication of merit are both the same as before.