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Stand, turn, and walk around the room clockwise at a normal walking pace (this is not
kinhin) to the rear door of the Hatto to pick up your tray. If two or more students are sitting a
retreat, all should go to the door to retrieve their trays, which have been placed in order of
seniority with the senior-most students tray closest to the door. Close the door behind you, bow
to the space of the room while holding your tray and then walk back to your seat. All movements
in the Hatto are done in a clockwise fashion, so you will need to circle up and around the
Butsudan (altar) to reach your seat.
Place the tray to one side of your seat, and mindfully take your place. Stand the tray in
front of you, bring your hands to gassho and do a seated bow and then 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. Eat mindfully, but at a reasonable speed.
Sometimes students confuse mindfulness with doing things more slowly, becoming ponderous. It
should not take more than ten minutes at most to eat a 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 mindfully 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 (clockwise)
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. Open the left-hand door of the Butsudan by gently pressing on
it to release the push latch, and 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
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