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59
teisho ends before the thirty minute sitting round ends, continue sitting to complete the round.
Following this, you will sit in 30-minute rounds with a round of kinhin between sitting rounds
until your meal is served. Please use the clock to time your sitting rounds and be sure to adhere to
this format. 
Noon Meal
At 12:00 noon, you will hear a bell rung outside the rear door of the Hatto indicating that your
lunch tray has been placed there. Please apply the same instructions as described above under
“breakfast”. 
Kitchen Cleanup
Please follow the instructions above under “kitchen cleanup”. 
Free Period
After you have finished cleaning your dishes, you will have a free period until 1:30. This
is not a break or recreation period but rather an unstructured time in which to extend your
practice. You can make yourself some tea or coffee if you wish. If you have requested and have
been given the combination for the front or side door locks, you can sit outside, or walk about the
grounds but you should not leave the grounds. If you have not been given the combination, it is
wise to stay inside or you may inadvertently be locked out. All of the doors should remain locked
at all times. You may sit in the Dining Hall or in the Shuryo, but should not read anything. If you
encounter other students, apply functional talking - meaning that you should only express what
really needs to be expressed - for example, to ask a relevant question. (For further information on
the use of speech, please refer to the section of the Retreat Handbook entitled Functional
Talking). This free period allows enough time for retreatants to shower.
Samu Period
At 1:30, please go to the Dining Hall to recite the Samu Chant (Samu-no-ge: Verse of
Caretaking). If there is no one available to lead you in the chant, recite it while standing before
the Butsudan in the Dining Hall. 
Before the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors,
standing in the midst of all beings,
I vow to dedicate this caretaking practice
to the liberation of all beings.
May all beings be happy, may they be peaceful,
may they be free.
May all beings be happy, may they be peaceful,
may they be free.
May all beings be happy, may they be peaceful,
may they be free.
From 1:30 until 2:40 you will be engaged in a samu task. The task will either be given to you
verbally, or written instructions will be left on the counter in the Dining Hall, in front of the
Butsudan. 
Please be sure to finish on time (including putting away any materials associated with the
task) by 2:40 to allow yourself a 15-minute free period.