勅修百丈清規 8.7

8.7

This is what initiates the monastic grove's signals. Struck at dawn, it shatters the long night and alerts the sleeping; struck at dusk, it awakens the dark pathways and clears the gloom. The pestle should be pulled slowly, and the sound raised should be prolonged. In all, there are three rounds of thirty-six strikes each, making one hundred and eight strikes in total. The opening and closing three strikes are slightly tighter. The postulant who rings the bell visualizes and recites the verse, saying: '(May this sound of the bell transcend the Dharma realm, / Heard throughout the dark obscurities of the Iron Enclosure Mountains; / The defilements of hearing purified, may they realize complete penetration, / And all sentient beings achieve right awakening.)' He also recites the name of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, striking in accord with the name; its benefit is extremely great. On occasions of: