![]() Of course, there are others who use the break time to pray to Buddha or to continue with their Buddhist practice.Ī thousand over years ago, Chan master Venerable Baizhang established a set of rules for monastic practice. For monastics who do not meditate that often, napping is essential to regain energy. Many senior monastics do not need to take a nap to regain their energy a short meditation or a short rest is more than sufficient. Those in charge of the forests and hills will have to patrol those areas those in charge of cooking will have to prepare meals, while those in charge of meditation will have to stay and meditate in the meditation halls.Īn afternoon break reduces the stress accumulated during the morning’s work, and helps to get rid of negative emotions and maintain a positive mood, which in turn, increases productivity for the afternoon. The administrative duties are executive in nature and task-oriented, such as a commander or a chief-of-army.Įveryone is allocated specific job duties. Although these positions are identifiable, such as the ranks of generals and colonels of an army, there are generally no actual executive roles involved. The clerical duties were determined by the age, knowledge and morality of each monastic, and were usually held by the seniors. In the past, there were forty-eight duties for monastics, which were grouped into “clerical” and “administrative” duties. ![]() One has to perform each and every bit of the task with a peaceful and serene mind. It is detrimental to harbor unwholesome thoughts and hatred during the process of cleaning up. The job of cleaning up is mainly to train one’s concentration and mindfulness in performing a task. Some may find this meticulousness excessive and troublesome, but the word “troublesome” is not found in Buddhist practice. Take the glass windows for example these have to be spotlessly clean as if the glass panels are not there. Whether it is the halls or the dormitories, everyone takes turns to clean up each and every corner of the temple. “Sweep, sweep, sweep the mind, it is futile to sweep without sweeping the mind!” Sweeping and cleaning up is a way to develop one’s Bodhi mind. With palms joined and with a sincere and pure heart, one invites the Buddhas of the ten directions and all sentient beings of the different realms to join in the meal. One reflects on five aspects during the course of each meal in the dining hall: firstly, the effort, care and the source of the food offered secondly, the conduct and worth of oneself in earning this share thirdly, to be wary of the mind’s poisons, where greed is foremost fourthly, the food is like medicine, which is taken only as needed fifthly, acceptance of the offered food as sustenance to the cultivation. Thus, porridge is usually eaten in the morning. It is recorded in the scriptures that drinking porridge brings ten benefits, which includes improving the appearance, providing strength, promoting longevity and peace of mind, expelling wind, digesting food, alleviating hunger and quenching thirst. Only by forgetting the concept of time, by paying no attention to the beginning, the process or the end, will one be able to concentrate on chanting wholeheartedly, in complete ease and peace of mind. ![]() ![]() It is important that one does not watch the time taken for chanting, because doing so causes one to become impatient, and time will seem to pass even slower. This trait of endurance is developed through daily practice. It is no easy feat to stand for two hours in the Buddha Hall. Through chanting, one clears away the dust in one’s life, sows the seeds of wisdom in one’s mind, and rids one’s troubles with repentance and gratitude. Morning chanting is performed each day in front of the Buddha in loud and clear voices, with palms joined in prayer. Whether for brushing the teeth or washing up, it is a race against time for punctuality. Upon hearing the calls, one is to wake up immediately, for any slight delay would affect the sequence of everybody forming up subsequently. At the break of dawn, the sounding of a wooden board announces the start of each day at the temple.
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