地 旦望祝聖陞座
Earth: Dawn and Full Moon Celebration - Ascending the Seat
預晚燒香侍者。詣方丈咨稟。上堂。次早。問訊時。提起令客頭行者。挂牌報寮。早粥不鳴下堂鐘。方丈客頭。敷陳法座。茶頭秉燭裝香。堂司行者覆首座。眾寮前鳴板三下。(報眾坐堂。首座與眾頭首。立僧堂前。候鼓初鳴入堂。首座居後入。轉鼓首座領眾詣法堂。兩班問訊法座。各東西列班。住持登座。祝香了出班)聖節同禮。古之學者。有疑未決。出眾請問。宗師答話。貴在解粘去縛。今之索話。已失古意。先大慧深非之。
In the evening, before burning incense, the attendant goes to the abbot's quarters to report and receive instructions, followed by the formal teaching session. The next morning, when paying respects, the attendant prompts the guest manager and the attendant to hang a notice at the dormitory, and the morning congee is served without ringing the bell for the hall. The abbot's guest manager arranges the dharma seat, the tea attendant lights candles and prepares incense, and the hall manager informs the head monk. Three strikes are made on the board in front of the dormitory.(This signals the assembly to sit in the hall. The head monk and other senior monks stand in front of the monks' hall, waiting. When the drum first sounds, they enter the hall, with the head monk entering last. As the drum continues, the head monk leads the assembly to the dharma hall. The two rows pay respects to the dharma seat and then line up on the east and west sides respectively. The abbot ascends the seat, offers incense, and then steps forward.)This is the same ritual as during the emperor's birthday. In ancient times, learners who had unresolved doubts would step forward to ask questions. When a master responded, the aim was to break through attachments and remove obstacles. Nowadays, merely soliciting words has lost this ancient spirit. The great master Dahui strongly criticized this practice.
住持舉揚。端祝一人之壽。有官客。略以敘陳。激發學者。細大因緣。則在五參升堂。山門大小事務。方丈會茶講議。晚參訓習童行。各有其時。法堂演唱宗乘。不可敘談世諦。厭眾聽也。
During the abbacy, one exclusively extols blessings for the life of a single person. When officials or guests arrive, matters are briefly laid out to stir and inspire students. Greater and lesser causes, however, are addressed during the Fifth Repentance Rising to the Hall. Minor and major affairs of the monastery gates are discussed during tea gatherings in the abbot’s quarters. Evening instruction for training the young acolytes takes place at its own set time. When the Dharma Hall is opened to expound on the fundamental principles, one must not discuss worldly affairs—for doing so would weary the assembly listening.