41) 結期持名

　　Organizing a Buddha Recitation Retreat

　　A Buddha Recitation retreat usua ly lasts seven days. If you are in retreat alone [you should see to it that all the basic necessities of life are available.] During the retreat, you should discourage others from moving about in the general area, so as to reserve the entire time for Buddha Recitation.

　　If there are five or six persons who wish to go into retreat together, you should plan to have a retreat attendant, as well as to establish strict rules and affix them to the door. All comings and goings, meals, offerings of flowers and fruits should be handled by the attendant, so that the participants can concentrate on reciting the Buddha”s name throughout the seven-day period.

　　If you are still constrained by family obligations and do not know the pros and cons of serious cultivation, you should not rush into organizing retreats.

　　結期者，結七日爲期也。若獨自結期，可用幹糧、水果、生姜、麻油四種爲食物，爐 香、燈油、蒲團、坐椅、棉衣、風帽、淨桶、草紙八種爲用物，除十二種外，一概不 留，便可七日中不與人來往，暢然念佛也。若有五六人，同發心結期者，則必延請護七師一位，嚴立條規，約束在前，一切起居欲食香花燈果，護七師照應全備，則同七

　　者亦可于七日中至心念佛也，若局于情見，不知修行利害者，未可草率爲之。

　　Commentary

　　Without going on retreat, we may be too occupied with everyday activities, guests and friends to find the necessary peace and quiet for Buddha Recitation. Therefore, we need to go on retreat as an expedient to get away from visitors and daily activities. We should have the necessities of life at hand (to avoid thinking about them), or else seek the help of others, and peacefully recite the Buddha”s name. With this method, the retreat lasts only seven days, but if we have the time and the means, we can organize additional retreats, without limit. Once we have decided to go into retreat, external events should not be a lowed to take control and end the retreat half-way. To end a retreat hastily before the agreed number of days has elapsed is truly regrettable!

　　Be aware that the more eagerly we cultivate, the more we are tested by demons (karmic forces). Therefore, we cannot be wishy-washy, but must have a good under- standing and plan well before acting. Otherwise, we may lose the battle and end in failure – setting ourselves up as objects of ridicule.