勅修百丈清規 3.28

3.28

Nowadays, when the newly appointed [abbot] arrives, one should consider whether his lodging place is near or far. If near, the head seat leads the assembly to go and welcome him; if far, only the two ranks and retired officers do so. The special envoy should beforehand consult and report to the abbot, who must first issue a notice excusing the assembly from welcoming him from afar. If the lodging place is near, hot tonic and fruit should be prepared, with the two ranks and retired officers accompanying him to select an auspicious day to enter the monastery. The monastery storehouse arranges everything one by one. The evening before, the board for receiving the abbot is hung to notify the assembly. When the time comes, the great bell and various dharma instruments are sounded. The assembly welcomes him at the gate, lining up in two rows from far to near. The postulants and servants stand outside the assembly. When the newly appointed [abbot] arrives at the gate, he burns incense and speaks dharma words. Arriving at the Buddha hall, he burns incense, speaks dharma words, and makes three prostrations with fully spread mat. The Sangha hall bell is sounded. The assembly first returns to their bowl-places and stands firm. The newly appointed [abbot] enters the hall and burns incense; his traveling companions together make three open-mat prostrations. The karmadāna greets him facing him and leads him to circumambulate the hall once. The traveling companions exit first. The two ranks escort the newly appointed [abbot] to his bowl-place, where he makes three prostrations touching the mat. Next, he goes to the earth spirits' hall and patriarchs' hall to burn incense, each with dharma words. He enters the abbot's quarters to take possession of the room. The attendants step forward, burn incense, greet with folded hands, and stand to the side waiting. When he has finished speaking the dharma words, the postulants bring forward a table, brush, and inkstone. The administrators prepare a certificate (the model appears below) with a tray and wrapping cloth, and present the monastery seal. The newly appointed [abbot] inspects the seal impression, hands it to an administrator to unseal it, and inspects the seal script. When finished, he first signs and puts his mark upon the certificate, next inscribes the date, and applies the seal upon it. The administrators collect the certificate; the robe-and-bowl attendant collects the seal; and the table is removed. The abbot rises. The entire staff of administrators advances and lines up, the senior one places incense [in the burner], and they make two open-mat prostrations and three bows. In the first opening, the words are: 'With compassion, we are blessed that the upādhyāya illustriously takes possession of the dharma seat; our humble sentiments cannot bear our supreme joy.' In the second opening, the words are: 'At this present season, we respectfully ponder in unison: may the newly appointed hall head great upādhyāya be blessed with abundant good fortune in his esteemed daily life.' They make three prostrations touching the mat. The [abbots of] other mountains, prefects, and retired officers step forward and place incense (the incense is not received). When the informal congratulations are finished, the guest prefect postulant calls out: 'We invite the [abbots of] other mountains, the two ranks, and the retired officers to take their seats for the offering of hot tonic.' When the hot tonic is finished, official guests and those from other mountains are invited to take refreshments. If the former abbot has been transferred elsewhere and has not yet departed, or has retired to the eastern hall, before [the new abbot] takes possession of the room, they perform the handover ritual. After the newly appointed [abbot] has received the informal congratulations, the Sangha hall bell is sounded, and leading the assembly, he personally escorts the former abbot back to his dormitory, where they make one mutual prostration touching the mat. Next, the head seat and the assembly offer congratulations, and the postulants and servants must all pay their respects.