Daily Rules (read by the Jikijitsu at the beginning of Osesshin)

  1. Doing sanzen is of the utmost importance in following the way. At any time sanzen may be requested. Always inform the Jikijitsu and/or Jisha of your comings and goings.

  2. Enter the Zendo with Gassho, and when leaving, the hands should be in Shasshu. When moving in the Zendo, observe the set rules. Do not pass back and forth in front of the altar of Monju-Bosatsu, and do not walk near the Tan in a way that will disturb people’s meditation.

  3. There should be no coming and going during a period of Zazen except for the times of sanzen. Going to the toilet is only to be done in the intervals between Zazen. Refrain from unnecessary coming in and out and no speaking unless necessary.

  4. There will be no absence from Kinhin, dragging of Zori, or detaining of the walking. If Kinhin is impossible due to injury or illness, report it to the Jikijitsu and stand in front of your Tan during Kinhin.

  5. The Keysaku is to be used without fail when someone is sleeping, but also if they are not sitting correctly even if they are awake. When receiving the keysaku, Gassho and do teito. To raise even one egoistic thought from the person with the Keysaku or to have thoughts of anger from the person receiving the Keysaku is forbidden.

  6. The two daily sareis may not be refused. Food remaining from the sareis must never be thrown away.

  7. To make your tanbuton, tatami, or desk untidy is forbidden, nor may writing materials be kept out. Never crumble up your zazen clothes on your tanbuton, and leaving through the back door in an improperly dressed condition is forbidden.

  8. Even at times of unsupervised sitting, it is forbidden to purposely sit sleepily or to sit leaning against the wall. Even if your back and shoulders become tired from sitting, it is forbidden to use the Keysaku personally.

  9. Going into town or unnecessarily spending time in the administrative quarters is forbidden. If there is some unavoidable business, report first to the Jikijitsu or Jisha. Going into town is only permitted on free days.

  10. During morning and evening sutras, the keysaku may be used with one hit on the right shoulder to those who are continually sleeping.

  11. After Kaichin, Yaza should be begun quickly with no unnecessary turning on of lights or wandering around visiting. This is not a time for doing anything but Yaza. Do not read the sutras or do prostrations out of unison, and there is to be no whispering at these times.

  12. No traveling to far places is permitted during the time of training except to a parent or parent priest funeral.

  13. When a new arrival enters the Zendo, they will do their prostrations before Monju-Bosatsu, then go and do gassho and bows to the head of the Tan and the head monk. After that, the new arrival goes to the Jisha’s place and waits. Following the Jisha’s announcement of the new arrival, they go to the place assigned to them.

  14. During Takuhatsu, don’t let your hands dangle or warm them inside your koromo. Also forbidden is dragging of zoris, talking among each other, and interrupting those who intend to give offerings to monks of good deportment. If you meet traffic on the way, allow it to go by, following the traffic rules for stopping and going, without forgetting monk-like behavior at any time.

  15. If you become sick, tell the head monk and Jisha. Leave the Zendo and retire to the sick room until you recover. While in the sick room, no reading, writing, telling jokes, or extraneous business is allowed. Three days are given for recovery, after which entry to the Zendo must be made once again as a new arrival, with prostrations to Monju-Bosatsu and bows to the head of the Tan and head monk, and announcement by the Jisha.

  16. Keep these rules in complete detail. If any person does not observe them, they will be considered an obstruction to the Zendo and will be interrupting the others’ purifying training. A meeting should be held immediately to decide what to do about them. Therefore, it is for the everlasting preservation of this monastery’s training that these rules be continued and valued accordingly.

Daily Rules (read by the Jisharyo before Osesshin)

  1. Sanzen is the matter of utmost urgency in our practice. Yaza practice should be observed the same as in the Zendo. It is said from ancient times that the state of mind of Zazen in action brings us more than 10,000 times that of sitting Zazen. Even when we feel tired and have difficulty concentrating, we should continue with this in mind.

  2. Above everything else, take extremely good care of all fire.

  3. Never be late to any of the sangha’s activities: Zazen, morning and evening sutras, samu, and other group ceremonies. If you are busy and can’t be on time for meals, always eat without fail at the second sitting. Noisy jihatsu use, noisy soup eating, and loud pickle crunching are not allowed. The Tenzo’s actions should be careful and considered without unnecessary activities.

  4. Takuhatsu and samu should be done as a group and in unison. When there is some reason why participation is impossible, the Roshi should be told.

  5. No coming and going into others’ rooms is permitted, nor is unnecessary conversation about things other than the training schedule. Don’t interrupt others’ Zazen in action. Each person’s room is an extension of the Zendo. If you have to discuss something, return as soon as the business is finished without spending unnecessary time.

  6. Going to town is generally forbidden. If there is some unavoidable reason, tell the Roshi when you leave and return. Activity that is not appropriate, careless, and distracts from or is absent of concentration should not be displayed in public. Wherever you go, your deportment should be the same as during practice in the temple.

  7. After Kaichin, go directly and quickly to your room and get ready for Yaza. Don’t linger or put on lights for no special reason. No other work or conversation should go on at this time. Always keep your futon and clothes clean and tidy.

  8. Tools of the administration area, kitchen, and samu, all tools of Sogenji including buildings and tatamis, should be treated with great care and, after every use, returned to their original place. People of old taught us that tools and other things of the group should be protected as our own eyes.

  9. Footwear should never be left untidy. Always line up shoes like departing ships so that they can be put on and moved in immediately. Don’t walk around noisily inside or outside.

  10. Please pay attention to each of these details, carefully and sincerely observing your own activity and behavior. Doing this, we can understand each other’s minds compassionately and develop our practice in the great way.