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[Last updated: 30 March 1992]
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This document describes organizational details of sesshin (a Zen meditation
retreat) as practiced by members of the Sydney Zen Center of the Diamond Sangha
tradition

                TRADITIONAL EVENING CLOSING CEREMONY

Jiki and Jisha leave dojo as third repetition of Great Vows begins.  At end of
Great vows, Jiki on drum and Jisha on bell signal the time thus.  If it is
before 9 p.m., Jiki hits drum 8 times, and Jisha signals which third of the
8th hour it is, e.g. if l0 to 9, with three bells.  Each bell denotes 20
minutes. If it is after 9 p.m., Jiki hits drum 9 times. and Jisha indicates
what third it is with the bell.
            
         JIKI AND JISHA SHOULD BE AWAY AND SEPARATE, AS THOUGH
                 ANSWERING EACH OTHER ACROSS A SPACE.

JIKI (On drum)      X X X X X X x X      (if before 9 pm)

                             X X X X X X X x X   (if after 9 p.m.)

JISHA (On bell)           O  O  O             (if last third)

                                       O                 (if lst third)

                      REPEAT FOR TOTAL OF THREE TIMES,
                    WITH FIVE SECOND INTERVALS BETWEEN.
                                         
JIKI (On han)             X X x X

JISHA       I beg to urge you, everyone - life and death
               is a grave matter - all things pass quickly awayyyyyyyyyy.......
               Each of you must be completely alert,  never neglectful,
               never indulgenttttttttt.............


JIKI (han)      X X X X X X X  (7 at 5 second intervals)

                     Accelerando (about l5 seconds)

                     X X X X X        (5 at 5 second intervals)

                     Accelerando (about l5 seconds)

                     X X X              (3 at 5 second intervals)

                     Accelerando (about l5 seconds)

                     X X X         (5 seconds)
JISHA (Bell)        O
INO (Bell)            O
JIKI AND JISHA RETURN TO DOJO.              
                           END OF SESSHIN CEREMONY

JIKI:        Sit facing in (when sosan nearly finished)

TANTO:   Tanto walks the stick to close the dojo and prepares incense
               for teacher, ie two half sticks lit and one long standing by.
            
               Teacher enters, offers incense, 3 bows.  Downstairs dojo joins
               upstairs dojo.

TEACHER: Offers closing words for sesshin.

JIKI:        Hands out sutra books.

INO:        Leads Heart Sutra and End of Sesshin dedication, then 4 Vows.

               Musical offering, then 3 bows.

TANTO:   Tells sangha what is to happen.  Form circle for tea, leaving spaces
               for leaders.   Tea and sharing follows, depending on      
               the time available.  Sesshin photo at end of tea.

JISHA;    Announces clean-up leaders and teams to start work straight after
              group photograph has been taken,  in spirit of silence. 

COOK:     Announces lunch on han. (Lunch may be served prior to cleaning
              up, depending on the time.)

(Gatha for bell-of-mindfulness ringer:  BODY, SPEECH & MIND IN PERFECT
ONENESS, I SEND MY HEART ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF THE BELL,
MAY THE HEARERS AWAKEN FROM FORGETFULNESS AND TRANSCEND ALL
SUFFERING AND DISTRESS.

Gatha for those who hear the bell: 
 LISTEN, LISTEN, THIS WONDERFUL SOUND BRINGS ME BACK TO MY TRUE SELF.)
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