勅修百丈清規 7.118

7.118

When congee is finished on that day, the guest-inviting attendant writes the tea notice (see below). He prepares a tray, wrapper, incense burner, and candles, goes to the dormitory, lights incense, makes prostrations touching the mat, and invites [the head seat], saying: ('This morning after the noon meal, the hall head upādhyāya will serve tea in the cloud hall for your special hospitality; we humbly pray for your gracious condescension.') He presents the notice and posts it in the upper section in front of the Sangha hall. The guest postulant invites the remaining prefects, the various dormitories, and the administrators to accompany as honored companions, and hangs the board for serving tea. When the long wooden board is struck, the guest-inviting attendant enters the hall, burns a stick of incense before the sacred monk, makes three prostrations with full unfoldings, circumambulates the hall once, greets with folded hands in the center, and withdraws. This is called 'patrolling the hall to invite to tea.' In front of the hall, the identifying plaques for special hospitality are arranged. The head seat faces the abbot. The senior administrator sits opposite the abbot, with the karmadāna next to him. The remaining administrators sit opposite the recipient of the special hospitality. The drum is beaten to gather the assembly. The incense-burning attendant performs the ceremony (the same as the etiquette for the storehouse's special decoction). The head seat goes before the abbot to thank him for the tea with two unfoldings and three prostrations. At the first unfolding, he says: ('On this occasion, having specially received your decoction and serving of tea, my humble feelings are overwhelmed with the utmost gratitude.') At the second unfolding, he says: ('Respectfully observing the present season, we reverently pray that the hall head upādhyāya will enjoy abundant good fortune in his daily activities.') He steps back and makes three prostrations touching the mat. At each unfolding by the head seat, the abbot stops him, but at the prostrations touching the mat, he returns one prostration. The head seat turns and exits from the right behind the sacred monk. The abbot accompanies him slightly and returns to his place. The attendant burns incense for the companions. The bell is struck, cups are collected, and the drum is beaten to dismiss the assembly, also the same as before. The head seat goes first to the Dharma hall to await the abbot and bow in thanks; if excused, he greets with folded hands.