勅修百丈清規 3.107

3.107

The monastery storehouse and the funeral office coordinate to supervise the funeral paraphernalia: the incense pavilion, portrait pavilion, banners, pennants, chanted music, umbrellas and chairs before the casket, hot water stoves, carrying lamps, bamboo staves, staff, fly-whisk, incense boxes, Dharma robes, and other items. The junior disciples follow behind the casket. The great bell and various Dharma instruments are sounded to escort the funeral. At the raising of the casket, the recitation is: "The golden coffin lifts itself, circling the great city of Kuśinagara. Banners and pennants flutter in the sky, proceeding to the grand rite of cremation (jhāpita). We rely upon the great assembly to invoke the vast names, to express our longing at parting and to assist his path to enlightenment. Recite: Pure Dharmakāya Vairocana Buddha... and so forth. (If the whole body enters a stupa, then say: 'The grand rite of Mahākāśyapa')." The funeral office karmadāna steps forward to burn incense and leads the junior disciples in bowing to request the rite of raising the casket. When the casket reaches the main gate, the portrait is hung at the offering pavilion and tea and hot decoction are offered, both accompanied by Buddhist rites. The two ranks and the great assembly line up at the gate; once the casket has exited, the monastery karmadāna faces inward, clasps hands, stands in the center, and intones the Rebirth Dhāraṇī or the Names of the Four Sages, and the great assembly chants together. The chief mourner leads the assembly, dividing into pairs as they go out, distributing paper mourning willows to the left and right, marching in unison side by side, not brushing shoulders or conversing, each harboring sorrow and emotion. The rector oversees the funeral procession, while the funeral office karmadāna, guest master, and sacred monk attendant distribute funeral offerings along the procession.