![]() 9
order of seniority with the senior-most students tray closest to the door. Close the door behind
you and walk back to your seat. All movements in practice rooms are done in a clockwise
fashion, so if you are in the Hatto you will need to circle past the Butsudan (altar) to reach your
seat.
Place the tray to one side of your zabuton and zafu, and mindfully take your seat. Then
place the tray in front of you, bring your hands to gassho and do a seated bow, and recite the Meal
Chant before beginning to eat. You will find the Meal Chant listed in the index at the beginning
of the Chanting Text located behind your seat. You do not need to use kaishaku or gong as
accompaniment as you recite the chant. Recite the Chant twice without chanting the last line,
Prajnaparamita! On the third recitation, chant the entire Chant, including the last line. With
your hands still in gassho, do a final seated bow before beginning to eat.
This meal arises from the labour of all beings,
may we remember their offering.
Delusions are many, attention wanders,
may we justify this offering.
Greed arises from self-cherishing,
may we be free in moderation.
This offering sustains us, gives us strength,
may we be grateful.
We use this strength and attain the Way.
Prajnaparamita!
As you eat, please apply your practice to this activity. Stay in posture, and eat mindfully, but at a
reasonable speed. Sometimes students confuse mindfulness practice with doing things more
slowly, becoming ponderous. It should not take more than ten minutes at most to eat a small bowl
of rice with eggs; for larger meals with multiple courses, 20 minutes at most.
After you have finished eating, place utensils neatly on the tray, cover your dishes with
the napkin, bring your hands to gassho, and recite The Four Great Vows in English.
All beings without number I vow to liberate.
Endless obsessions I vow to release.
Dharma gates beyond measure I vow to penetrate.
Limitless Awakening I vow to unfold.
Do a seated bow with your hands in gassho at the end of the chant, move the tray to one side of
your seat and use the forms to take care of your zafu and zabuton.
Closing the Butsudan
You will now need to close the Butsudan (altar). Stand and walk to the Butsudan with
your hands in shashu. Facing the Butsudan, feet together, bring your hands into gassho and
without bowing, lower yourself into a kneeling posture. Using your right hand to cup the back of
each candle to prevent wax from being blown on to the lacquered finish, blow them out,
extinguishing the left candle first. If you are in the Hatto, open the left-hand door of the Butsudan
by pushing against the corner of the door gently (it has a push latch) to retrieve a stick of incense
from the box marked For retreatants and place it on the Butsudan in front of the incense bowl,
running horizontal to the front edge of the Butsudan. In the Zendo, the box containing incense is
on the floor, below the Butsudan. Having placed the incense, put your hands in shashu, rise, and
bring your hands to gassho to do a final standing bow.
You can now retrieve your tray. In the Hatto, the tray may only be a few feet from the
Butsudan, but you must walk clockwise and so you will need to turn to your left, circling up and
|