勅修百丈清規 5.28

5.28

When the ushering ācārya waits until the chant-master raises 'Dwelling in the world like empty space,' he immediately rings the hand-chime and leads the novice to bow three times to the ordination master, turn around to bow three times to the Sacred Monk, make a greeting with folded hands, and exit to stand at the lower position outside the hall. The ordination master and the two ācāryas make three full-prostrations before the Sacred Monk and exit. The postulant of the administrative office strikes the bell before the hall three times. The abbot exits the hall, and the assembly steps down from the platforms. The head seat leads the assembly to accompany him to the abbot's quarters to offer congratulations. If there are many people, the abbot should receive congratulations in the dharma hall. The guest prefect postulant should set out in advance the incense, candles, censer, vases, screen, and chairs. He waits for the ordination master and the two ācāryas to perform the ceremony first. Unfolding the sitting mat for the first time, they say: "(Having received the assignment to confer the precepts, we reluctantly complied; our social manners are negligent, delaying your veneration. We are overwhelmed with trepidation)." The abbot replies: "(The shaving of the novice's head has wearied your spiritual faculties)." Unfolding the mat again, after inquiring about the weather, they perform three prostrations touching the mat. The abbot returns one prostration. Next, the head seat and the assembly come forward to insert incense, either unfolding their mats or performing prostrations touching the mat, or are excused. Next, the attendants and junior disciples insert incense, make three full-prostrations without packing up their niṣīdanas, step forward, and say: "(The novice having received ordination, the whole assembly rejoices together; looking up to your venerable dignity, we are filled with boundless joy)." Bowing three more times, they step forward to inquire about the weather, step back, bow three times, and pack up their niṣīdanas. Next, the novice inserts incense, makes three full-prostrations without packing up his niṣīdana, steps forward, and says: "(We have unworthily had our heads shaved and fortunately donned the field-of-merit robe; free from worldly defilements, we are forever parted from the net of emotional attachment. We are filled with boundless joy and gratitude)." Bowing three more times, he steps forward and says: "(In this very season, we respectfully inquire: hall head original teacher great upādhyāya, may your venerable daily life be blessed with abundant happiness)." He steps back, bows three times, and packs up his niṣīdana. The abbot makes the rounds of the dormitories to return the courtesy. The novice visits each dormitory to offer thanks, and then settles in the novices' dormitory, awaiting the future occasion of ascending the platform to receive the full precepts. The words of gratitude for ordination are: "(Having attained the precept ranks and unworthily entered the monastic company, we look up to your protective shelter and specially offer our thanks with these prostrations)." The reply is: "(Having previously received the Buddha's prediction, the monastic precepts are now accomplished. Endure steadfastly, uphold them, and exert yourself to support the ancestral teachings)."