..续本文上一页nds to zazen mudra. Do not tense your shoulders but move your head to the side and pull long hair out of the way.

　　If you would like to be hit on the lower back, raise your hands in gassho and lean right forward.

　　To request a brief massage, do a tea ceremony bow with hands on knees.

　　When the leader has finished, gassho. The leader walking the kyosaku may adjust your posture.

　　Sutras.

　　(Ino speaks, other leaders demonstrate.)

　　1) To request a sutra book, hands are at gassho.

　　2) When you use the book, hold it well up with your three middle fingers outside and thumb and little finger inside.

　　3) When you are not using the book, lay it on the mat beside you, not on the floor.

　　4) Most of the chants are recited with hands in gassho. For the first day or two, watch the leaders.

　　Teisho. (Tanto speaks)

　　There will be a teisho every afternoon. The Jiki will say, "Prepare for Teisho" and everyone stands at their place. When the weather is fine, we will sit under the chestnut tree. Carry your zafu across and wait for the Ino”s signals. During the talk, sit formally in zazen position until it is indicated you may sit comfortably.

　　Dokusan. (Tanto speaks)

　　It is important to meet the Teacher in dokusan. Dokusan is a chance for creativity and mutual deepening. The Teacher”s intention is to guide us towards realisation of our essential nature, not to judge us.

　　Dokusan is a time to ask questions about our practice. You don”t have to have a reason to go. Say what is in your heart. If you have nothing to say, that”s all right. Tell the Teacher you have nothing to say. This is your presentation.

　　Dokusan is completely confidential. The Teacher does not discuss it with anyone else and it is requested that you keep your side private. The teaching given to you may be harmful medicine for someone else.

　　(Jisha speaks.)

　　On the first and last days of sesshin, everybody goes to dokusan in turn, tapped by the Jisha. This is called sosan. The Jisha will say, "Sosan - please wait until you are tapped." When you are tapped, take your zafu to your place on the verandah. The Jisha will ring the bell for sosan.

　　At other times, the Jisha will call "Upstairs dokusan" or "downstairs dokusan". Stay seated until the Teacher rings the bell, the Jisha does an accelerando, the Teacher rings again, and finally the Jisha rings twice, the signal for dokusan to begin. You may leave the dojo at this point and take your place in the line outside.

　　You may also leave the dojo for dokusan when kinhin starts, at the end of kinhin, when you hear Jisha”s two bells, or when somebody else comes back from dolusan. This helps to cut the coming and going to a minimum.

　　If you are a cook or a leader and you cannot wait in the dokusan line, stand next to the person standing. If it”s you at the head of the line and one of the leaders or a cook stands beside you, let them go in first.

　　When the person in front of you leaves the dokusan line, take up the bell-stick and wait for the Teacher”s bell. When you hear it, ring the bell twice, pick up your zafu and shoes and move to the edge of the verandah. Continue your practice while you wait. When you next hear the Teacher”s bell, leave your zafu behind and set off for the hojo with your hands in kinhin position. Leave your shoes on the verandah and step into the room. Do a full bow at the threshhold, close the door and turning to the Teacher, do a full bow, then sit down in front of the Teacher in any formal zazen position. (Not full bows for apprentice teachers)

　　Give your practice - "I am doing Mu" or "My practice is counting my breath" - whatever.

　　Leaving dokusan (Jisha speaks)

　　1) When the teacher rings the bell, do a tea ceremony bow as you sit.

　　2) Stand up and gassho, then move towards the door, which you open, and make a full bo…

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