To correctly display a nest of bowls, the monk should first
bow and untie his cloth bundle. He takes out the bowl wiper and
folds the cloth into a small shape. He then takes out his spoon and
chopstick bag and places them horizontally, close in front of him. Next
the clean towel is used to cover the knees, after which the cloth
bundle is completely opened and the three corners closest to him are
folded over and neatly joined together at the center, while the far corner
is allowed to drape over the edge of the platform. He then uses
both hands to unfold the mat. With his right hand facing down, he
holds the corner of the mat closest to him on the right side and places
it over the top of the bowls in front of him. Then, with the left hand
facing up, he reaches under the mat to pick up the bowls and places
them on the left side of the mat. Using the fingertips of both hands,
he takes out the three smaller bowls stacked together and places
them on the mat one at a time without making any noise. If his seat
is narrow, he should display only three of his bowls. He then opens
the bag to take out his spoon and chopsticks. (When removing these
items, he should take out the chopsticks first. When replacing them, he should
put the spoon in first.) He places the chopsticks and spoon horizontally
behind the first bowl, with the handles to the side of his upper shoulder.
The brush he places on the edge of the mat to the side of the
lower shoulder with the handle facing out. He then waits for the offering
of food to all sentient beings.
...
To correctly receive the food, the monk should hold the bowl with
both hands and lower his hands close to the mat. The bowl should
be held level. The monk should gauge the amount of food served
him; he should not request too much and leave unfinished food. He
must wait until the food has been distributed and the rector has struck
with the hammer before he lifts up his bowl to make the offering.
After the hammer has struck, he presses his hands together in honor
of the food and performs the five contemplations:
one, to ponder the effort necessary to supply this food and to appreciate its origins; two, to reflect
on one’s own virtue being insufficient to receive the offering; three, to protect the
mind’s integrity, to depart from error, and, as a general principle, to avoid being
greedy; four, at the same time to consider the food as medicine and bodily nourishment,
preventing emaciation; five, to receive this food as necessary for attaining
enlightenment.
After this comes the offering of food to all sentient beings.
(Before the completion of the five contemplations the food cannot
be considered one’s own portion and therefore cannot be offered to sentient beings.)
While the monks perform the offering of food to all sentient beings,
they chant a verse: “All spirit beings and deities, / Now I offer you this
food. / May this food be spread in all ten directions / For all spirit beings and
deities to share.
...
After he has finished eating, if there
is anything left in his bowl he should use the bowl wiper to clean it
and then eat it. When he receives the water, the monk should wash
the largest bowl first and then the other bowls in order from largest
to smallest. He should not wash the smaller bowls inside the large
bowl. He then wipes the bowls to dry them. In addition, the
spoon and chopsticks should be washed and placed inside their bag.
The water for the bowls should not spill onto the floor around the
platform. The mantra pronounced while the water from the bowls
is poured out is “Om mahorase svâhâ.” The two thumbs are used to
stack all the bowls inside each other. With the left hand facing up,
the monk puts the bowls into the center of the cloth. Then with the
right hand facing down, he holds the corner of the mat closest to him
on the right side and puts it on top of the bowls. He then folds the
mat and places it back on top of the bowls. Next he picks up the corner
of the cloth closest to the body to cover the bowls. Then he pulls
the corner of the cloth draped over the end of the platform toward
himself to cover the bowls. He folds the clean towel and places it, together
with the bag containing the spoon and chopsticks and the bowl
brush, on top of the now covered bowls and covers them with the
bowl wiper. After the monks have put their bundles back in order,
when they hear the hammer strike to exit the hall, they will all chant
the verse for the completion of the meal:
“After the meal, the body is full
of physical energy / And quakes with a power like the heroes, which permeates
all ten directions in the past, present, and future./ One can now revert
causes and transform effects and therefore one need no longer be preoccupied
with one’s inabilities. / Let all sentient beings obtain supernatural power
through this strength.”