Overview

The Jisharyo is called the back gate of the zendo, always walking behind the group, keeping an eye on how everyone is doing. They are responsible for:

  • Ensuring no one is late or missing.
  • Being informed if someone needs to be absent or has special needs (e.g., cold, medicine, chair in the zendo, socks, etc.).
  • Keeping everything running smoothly so everyone can focus on zazen.
  • Taking care of practical tasks like opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, and ensuring rules are followed, especially for beginners.

Procedure for Kokuho and Setsuryo (Beginning and Ending Ceremony of Sesshin)

  • Roshi enters and sits down. The Jikijitsu starts the period. After one extra bell, get up and go to the altar, bow, take one cup, and leave the zendo to fetch water. Quickly return to the altar, bow, place the filled cup on the stand, bow again, and return to your seat.

Before Choka

  • Wake everyone up with a rattle around the building and outside, according to the time announced (different for summer and winter).
  • Turn on the lights in the Zendo, put out Roshi’s mat and purple cushion, and fill two cups with water.
  • Fill the cup on the altar with water.
  • About 10 minutes before Choka, light the candle, incense stick, and charcoal (light in the back room and carry it to the altar), and open the incense box (lid goes on the left side, leaning on the side of the bottom).

Procedure for Baito

  • During Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, leave the Zendo.
  • Add hot water to the pickled plum baito in three teapots.
  • Prepare three teapots and three water dumping jars (you can return to the Zendo and join in the chanting).
  • After three prostrations, the Jikijitsu announces BAITO, and everyone sits on their knees.
  • When everyone is settled, Jisha 1 does 2 TAKU, and the Jikijitsu answers with one bell.
  • All three Jishas take their teapot and jar, bow inside the Zendo, walk up to the altar, and bow towards it.
  • Jisha 1 takes a cup from the altar, empties the water into the jar, pours tea into the cup, places it on the altar.
  • Jisha 3 places the teapot and jar at the beginning of the middle row, takes the purple cushion out into the hallway, then returns to the middle row and takes the teapot.
  • Jisha 2 places the teapot and jar on the left side of the altar, folds the mat, and takes the teapot.
  • All three Jishas bow together, serve tea to their row, and continue serving all rows.

Itaten

  • When Roshi leaves the Zendo after Baito and zazen, leave the Zendo ahead of him. Roll the altar table into the center, light a candle and incense stick.
  • After the last sutra at night, leave ahead of Roshi, roll the altar table into the center, light a candle and incense stick, and hand out sutra papers as people come into the entrance.

During Kinhin (Walking Meditation)

  • Watch for who is going to the toilet. Once everyone is back in the Kinhin line, do Gassho to the Jikijitsu to notify.
  • Open windows as needed to maintain good air quality in the Zendo.
  • Before each meal:
    • Help identify the kitchen helpers so they leave 30 minutes before the meal.
    • Open the door to the eating hall when everyone gets up for the meal.
    • Guide people to their seats.
    • After the meal, help identify the kitchen helpers so they can stay behind and clean up.

During Daily Cleaning

  • Every day, change the flowers on the altar, leaving the big pine but adding a small natural flower. The previous day’s flowers can be placed in another vase in the tea room.
  • Clean the incense burners on the altar and by the Jikijitsu.
  • Prepare the sarei and offerings for the next day, if needed.
  • Some other sangha members will vacuum or wipe the Zendo.

Kinhin Before Lunch

  • One Jisha goes to the kitchen to receive food on a plate. The Jisha takes it back to the Zendo, lights one incense stick in the back burner, and offers the food on the altar while reading a sutra. After the sutra, they take the plate away. (Not during Samu Sesshin.)

After Lunch - Set up for Teisho

  • Put Roshi’s white cushion in front of the big window facing the room.
  • Place a mat in front of the altar with a purple cushion.
  • Place the name plate IHAI on the altar.
  • Fill two cups on the altar with water.
  • 10 minutes before teisho, light the candle, charcoal, and incense stick.
  • During the third Daihishu Sutra, when Roshi sits on the white cushion, bring the book stand in, bow, and place it before him.

After Teisho

  • During the sutra after teisho, pick up the book stand again.
  • During Kinhin after teisho, return Roshi’s cushion, take out the purple cushion, fold the mat, empty the cups with water on the altar, and clean the incense burners on the altar before Choka.

Procedure for Sarei (Offering Tea and Candy)

  • Before the last period of the day (around 9 pm), go to the kitchen and prepare tea. For 70 people, you need almost 4 teapots of tea.
  • Prepare the candy in advance (during morning cleaning or at a suitable time).
  • Place candy and tea on the rolling table and quietly bring it to the Zendo entrance.
  • Sit down on your cushions (only the Jisha is allowed to leave and return during a period of zazen).
  • When Roshi returns to the Zendo after Sanzen, the period ends.
  • Three Jishas get up, with Jisha 3 getting three candy trays.
  • Jisha 3 goes to the altar, bows, places one candy on the altar plate, and bows again.
  • Jisha 3 then goes to the Jikijitsu, bows, gives one tray to Jiki, bows again.
  • Jisha 3 goes to Roshi, bows, gives one tray to him, bows again, and then bows to the first person of the middle tan, gives the third tray, and announces the donator of the candy.
  • Jisha 1 and 2 get teapots and jars, go to the altar, bow together, place jars down next to the altar.
  • Jisha 1 (on the Jikijitsu side) bows, takes a cup from the altar, pours some tea in, places it back, and bows.
  • Meanwhile, Jisha 2 waits, and Jisha 3 places the teapot and jar at the beginning of the middle tan.
  • All three Jishas bow together, then serve the tea in their respective rows.
  • After serving, pick up the candy boxes and place them on the rolling table outside.
  • All three Jishas wait at the door, facing the altar, for a sign from the Jikijitsu to begin the next serving.
  • All three Jishas walk toward the altar together and bow.
  • Jisha 1 empties the cup, dries it, and returns it upside down. Meanwhile, Jisha 2 puts down the teapot and out the mat.
  • All Jishas return their tea pots and jars to the table and exit the Zendo.

General Rules

  • No socks, caps, or scarves in the Zendo.
  • No mobile devices inside or outside the Zendo.
  • Maintain an upright posture during Teisho.