Ceremonial Instruction

INTRODUCTION

This class is designed to allow first timers, as well as those wishing to brush up their skills, some background into what ceremonial essentially is, and how that can help us in our daily practice. How can we practice meditation in daily life? If we can grasp what it is we are doing the actual practical side of it falls into place and enables us to be more adept because it is not an isolated skill.

Those elements of practice that mean we can listen more deeply and let go of those opinions which hinder our ability to follow, are studied, and we can see their importance in allowing ourselves to be less hide bound and stiff. Do we follow the form or the teaching is in evidence, and we can learn to follow more deeply the inner call.

Ceremonial is a living experience which subtly changes each time we do it. We are all part of the ceremony and are not mere observers. If we can enter fully into it then we can go deeper in our practice, and see how we can draw on that in our daily life. It is our willingness to offer that allows us all to step forward into the unknown and trust something deeper than ourselves.

Whether your job is precenting or chaplaining, you are learning to assist and follow the celebrant as well as your heart. When we are working together harmoniously it really shows letting go in practice and is a joy to experience.

SHORT MORNING SERVICE

Precenting;

Starts with two sets of three bows. Celebrant steps onto bowing seat. Start ring down as they bow. Seven steady evenly spaced hits of the signal gong, leading to the ring down. Two sets of one hit ending with one set of two hits. Repeat. As celebrant starts to rise from floor start second set. Repeat.

Watching celebrant, when they are ready, i.e. settled, strike large gong for incense offering. As they step aside and bow hit gong once more and then again as they bow on bowing seat.

Go straight into intoning Scripture of Great Wisdom , (on F ), and lead the singing. After intoning strike gong for incense offering, only striking gong again as celebrant walks onto bowing seat and makes monjin. Carry on with the scripture until you need to strike the gong for the second incense offering. There is a second asterisk, but don’t follow this but hit the gong again when the celebrant stands back on the seat and makes monjin.

At end of scripture go straight in to offertory, (on F), then Ancestral Line. The AncestraL Line is intoned on one note and shouldn’t have a discernible gap between names. Take a breath when you need one but preferably during Daiosho rather than the name.

Go straight into short offertory and three homages. This is followed by six bows as before and three gratitude bows. Wait for celebrant to be ready then as he starts to bow hit gong, then as he steps back and bows strike gong and once again. Celebrant goes straight to Founders Shrine alone. After Founders Ceremony celebrant starts to leave room stopping to bow to Precentor,(and chaplain, if there is one), you return bow, celebrant leaves. You lead bows in all directions to finish off. 3 Strikes of signal gong , bowing left, right and centre.

Chaplaining;

Start by standing below the bowing seat to the left, holding an unlit stick of incense or lit candle, (ask the celebrant what they would like). During the bows stay still without joining in bows.

When the large gong is struck go up on your toes holding the incense or candle out with stretched arms making a circling motion away and back to your body. When you are back off of your toes side step to the right twice then proceed up the side of the bowing seat with arms outstretched, keeping behind the celebrant. When you reach the altar go up on your toes as before and hand the incense/candle to the celebrant. Having done so side step, bow then return to starting place, go up on toes again. Then do your six bows in situ. Stay in place to assist celebrant i.e. give them chair if needed for Ancestral Line etc.

Assistant chaplain;

Do same as chaplain except on other side. When crossing over chaplain goes in front of Assistant chaplain.

EVENING SERVICE

Precenting;

The differences for precenting evening service are that the incense offering comes first. 3 bows follow and the scripture is spoken. All else is the same. There is no Founders ceremony following the ceremony.

Chaplaining;

No difference essentially, to Short morning service.

FESTIVALS

Precenting;

The main things to concentrate on for Festivals is leading singing which few present maybe familiar with and also singing (or speaking ) the offertory alone.

Gongs etc. are the same as in other ceremonies. Incense offering first, then a longish gap before secong gong when celebrant side steps. Depending on Festival, numbers of bows can differ but usually 3. There are tings to indicate when circumambulation starts.

You will asked well in advance if you can and wish to do it. Therefore can rehearse well before hand. There is always a rehearsal before we start so any last minute questions can be gone over then.

Chaplaining;

The essentials are the same as other ceremonies. The main differences are that the chaplain will also help with the food offering, and put a pure leaf in their mouth for this part.

Assistant chaplain;

if there is an assistant chaplain, they will assist also with food offering and mirror the chaplain.

VESPERS

To sing vespers the main thing to know is that it is sung slightly slower than for the morning. Not funereal but slightly slower. At the end the Makura Om gets less loud and sort of fades away at the end.

OFFERING INCENSE FOR MEDITATION

The same as for ceremonial. Stand to side of centre of altar when offering candle/incense. Return to starting point. No need to go up on toes as it is not a ceremony and you won’t be handing to celebrant.

This class is designed to allow first timers, as well as those wishing to brush up their skills, some background into what ceremonial essentially is, and how that can help us in our daily practice. How can we practice meditation in daily life? If we can grasp what it is we are doing the actual practical side of it falls into place and enables us to be more adept because it is not an isolated skill.

Those elements of practice that mean we can listen more deeply and let go of those opinions which hinder our ability to follow, are studied, and we can see their importance in allowing ourselves to be less hide bound and stiff. Do we follow the form or the teaching is in evidence, and we can learn to follow more deeply the inner call.

Ceremonial is a living experience which subtly changes each time we do it. We are all part of the ceremony and are not mere observers. If we can enter fully into it then we can go deeper in our practice, and see how we can draw on that in our daily life. It is our willingness to offer that allows us all to step forward into the unknown and trust something deeper than ourselves.

Whether your job is precenting or chaplaining, you are learning to assist and follow the celebrant as well as your heart. When we are working together harmoniously it really shows letting go in practice and is a joy to experience.

SHORT MORNING SERVICE

Precenting;

Starts with two sets of three bows. Celebrant steps onto bowing seat. Start ring down as they bow. Seven steady evenly spaced hits of the signal gong, leading to the ring down. Two sets of one hit ending with one set of two hits. Repeat. As celebrant starts to rise from floor start second set. Repeat.

Watching celebrant, when they are ready, i.e. settled, strike large gong for incense offering. As they step aside and bow hit gong once more and then again as they bow on bowing seat.

Go straight into intoning Scripture of Great Wisdom , (on F ), and lead the singing. After intoning strike gong for incense offering, only striking gong again as celebrant walks onto bowing seat and makes monjin. Carry on with the scripture until you need to strike the gong for the second incense offering. There is a second asterisk, but don’t follow this but hit the gong again when the celebrant stands back on the seat and makes monjin.

At end of scripture go straight in to offertory, (on F), then Ancestral Line. The AncestraL Line is intoned on one note and shouldn’t have a discernible gap between names. Take a breath when you need one but preferably during Daiosho rather than the name.

Go straight into short offertory and three homages. This is followed by six bows as before and three gratitude bows. Wait for celebrant to be ready then as he starts to bow hit gong, then as he steps back and bows strike gong and once again. Celebrant goes straight to Founders Shrine alone. After Founders Ceremony celebrant starts to leave room stopping to bow to Precentor,(and chaplain, if there is one), you return bow, celebrant leaves. You lead bows in all directions to finish off. 3 Strikes of signal gong , bowing left, right and centre.

Chaplaining;

Start by standing below the bowing seat to the left, holding an unlit stick of incense or lit candle, (ask the celebrant what they would like). During the bows stay still without joining in bows.

When the large gong is struck go up on your toes holding the incense or candle out with stretched arms making a circling motion away and back to your body. When you are back off of your toes side step to the right twice then proceed up the side of the bowing seat with arms outstretched, keeping behind the celebrant. When you reach the altar go up on your toes as before and hand the incense/candle to the celebrant. Having done so side step, bow then return to starting place, go up on toes again. Then do your six bows in situ. Stay in place to assist celebrant i.e. give them chair if needed for Ancestral Line etc.

Assistant chaplain;

Do same as chaplain except on other side. When crossing over chaplain goes in front of Assistant chaplain.

EVENING SERVICE

Precenting;

The differences for precenting evening service are that the incense offering comes first. 3 bows follow and the scripture is spoken. All else is the same. There is no Founders ceremony following the ceremony.

Chaplaining;

No difference essentially, to Short morning service.

FESTIVALS

Precenting;

The main things to concentrate on for Festivals is leading singing which few present maybe familiar with and also singing (or speaking ) the offertory alone.

Gongs etc. are the same as in other ceremonies. Incense offering first, then a longish gap before secong gong when celebrant side steps. Depending on Festival, numbers of bows can differ but usually 3. There are tings to indicate when circumambulation starts.

You will asked well in advance if you can and wish to do it. Therefore can rehearse well before hand. There is always a rehearsal before we start so any last minute questions can be gone over then.

Chaplaining;

The essentials are the same as other ceremonies. The main differences are that the chaplain will also help with the food offering, and put a pure leaf in their mouth for this part.

Assistant chaplain;

if there is an assistant chaplain, they will assist also with food offering and mirror the chaplain.

VESPERS

To sing vespers the main thing to know is that it is sung slightly slower than for the morning. Not funereal but slightly slower. At the end the Makura Om gets less loud and sort of fades away at the end.

OFFERING INCENSE FOR MEDITATION

The same as for ceremonial. Stand to side of centre of altar when offering candle/incense. Return to starting point. No need to go up on toes as it is not a ceremony and you won’t be handing to celebrant.