WAKE UPIn gassho, recite the following: “Waking from sleep, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to awaken to All-Knowledge, gazing upon the ten directions.”
FACE WASHINGGassho-bow to the bathroom altar.
When picking up the toothbrush, “Taking the toothbrush in hand, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to attain the wonderful teaching and be ultimately pure.”
When brushing the teeth, “Brushing the teeth, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to be harmonious and pure in mind, biting through all afflictions.”
When rinsing the mouth, “Using water to rinse the mouth, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to approach the Gate of the Pure Dharma and accomplish liberation.”
When washing the face, “Using water to wash the face, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to obtain the Gate of the Pure Dharma, forever without stain.”
Gassho-bow to the bathroom altar before leaving.
DAWN ZAZENBow to the altar and approach from the left by stepping sideways. Offer fresh water and light the candle. Light a stick of incense, place the foot of the incense to the forehead and offer it to the Buddha, then place it in the incensor. Bow and leave on the right by stepping sideways. Bow to the cushion, turn clockwise, and bow to the room. Sit and turn clockwise, facing the wall. Ring the meditation bell three times to begin and once to end.
DONNING KESAPlace the folded kesa or rakusu on the head and hold hands in gassho while reciting the Verse of the Kesa three times: “How great, the robe of liberation, a formless field of merit. Wrapping ourselves in Buddha’s teaching, we free all living beings.”
MORNING SUTRA CHANTINGTurn to sit facing the altar. Offer incense. Recite seven times, “Gya tei gya tei. Ha ra gya tei. Hara so gya tei. Bo ji sowa ka.”
Eko Text for Morning Sutra Chanting: “Chanting the Heart Sutra Mantra, we dedicate this merit to the pure body of the dharma realm, and to our home's protective spirits. We pray for our family's peace, for their health and longevity, and for the awakening of all beings. Ji ho san shi i shi fu, shi son bu sa mo ko sa, mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.”
Three Prostrations.
TOILETOffer incense to the bathroom altar and bow. “Going to the toilet, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to reject greed, hatred, and ignorance, and cleanse all transgressions.”
When washing the hands, “Using water to wash the hands, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to obtain pure hands to receive and uphold the Buddha-Dharma.”
MORNING MEALBefore eating, perform the five contemplations with hands in gassho: “We reflect on the effort that brought us this food and consider how it comes to us. We reflect on our virtue and practice, and whether we are worthy of this offering. We regard greed as the obstacle to freedom of mind. We regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life. For the sake of enlightenment, we now receive this food.”
After eating, recite in gassho: “Abiding in this ephemeral world like a lotus in muddy water, the mind is pure and goes beyond. Thus we bow to Buddha.” Bow.
AFTER-BREAKFAST COMMUNAL LABOREngage in mindful work to maintain the household.
SHOWER AND DRESS“Bathing the body, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to have hearts and bodies without defilement, pure and bright inside and out.” Bow three times to the bathroom altar.
COMMUTE“Setting out on a road, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to proceed toward the Buddha’s conduct and enter the place of no-reliance.”
WORK PRACTICE"Seeing a person of Right Livelihood, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to attain pure livelihood, and not affect a virtuous manner."
KANKIN SUTRA READINGOffer incense and recite Sutra-Opening Verse: “The unsurpassed, profound, and wondrous Dharma is rarely met with, even in a hundred, thousand, million kalpas. Now we can see and hear it, accept and maintain it. May we unfold the meaning of the Tathagata's truth.”
Read Chapter 1 of The Meaning of Practice and Verification (Shushōgi 修證義): “I. General Introduction
“1. The most important issue of all for Buddhists is the thorough clarification of the meaning of birth and death. If the buddha is within birth and death, there is no birth and death. Simply understand that birth and death are in themselves nirvana; there is no birth and death to be hated nor nirvana to be desired. Then, for the first time, we will be freed from birth and death. To master this problem is of supreme importance.
“2. ◎ It is difficult to be born as a human being; it is rare to encounter the buddha-dharma. Now, thanks to our good deeds in the past, not only have we been born as humans, we have also encountered the buddha-dharma. Within the realm of birth and death, this good birth is the best; let us not waste our precious human lives, irresponsibly abandoning them to the winds of impermanence.
“3. Impermanence is unreliable; we know not on what roadside grasses the dew of our transient life will fall. Our bodies are not our own; our lives shift with the passing days and cannot be stopped for even an instant. Once rosy-cheeked youth has gone, we cannot find even its traces. Careful reflection shows that most things, once gone by, will never be encountered again. In the face of impermanence, there is no help from kings, statesmen, relatives, servants, spouses, children, or wealth. We must enter the realm of death alone, accompanied only by our good and bad karma.
“4. Avoid associating with deluded people in this world who are ignorant of the truth of causality and karmic retribution, who are heedless of past, present and future, and cannot distinguish good from evil. The principle of causality is obvious and impersonal; for inevitably those who do evil fall, and those who do good rise. If there were no causality, the buddhas would not have appeared in this world, nor would Bodhidharma have come from the west.
“5. The karmic consequences of good and evil occur at three different times. The first is retribution experienced in our present life; the second is retribution experienced in the life following this one; and the third is retribution experienced in subsequent lives. In practicing the way of the buddhas and ancestors, from the start we should study and clarify the principle of karmic retribution in these three times. ◎ Otherwise, we will often make mistakes and fall into false views. Not only will we fall into false views, we will fall into evil births and undergo long periods of suffering.
“6. ◎ Understand that in this birth we have only one life, not two or three. How regrettable it is if, falling into false views, we are subject to the consequences of evil deeds. Because we think that it is not evil even as we do evil, ● and falsely imagine that there will be no consequences of evil, ● there is no way for us to avoid those consequences.”
Recite Universal Transference of Merit: “May this merit extend universally to all, so that we together with all beings realize the Buddha way. Ji ho san shi i shi fu, shi son bu sa mo ko sa, mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.”
MIDDAY ZAZENSit in an upright posture, facing the wall. Ring the meditation bell three times to begin and once to end.
MIDDAY SUTRA CHANTINGChant seven times: “On boro-n sowaka. On amirita ayudadi sowaka.”
Eko Text for Midday Sutra Chanting: “Chanting the Compliant Heart Mantra of the Victor, we dedicate this merit to the Three Jewels, and to the good fortune of our household. We pray for a peaceful home, a stable lay practice, and auspicious conditions for all. Ji ho san shi i shi fu, shi son bu sa mo ko sa, mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.”
MIDDAY MEALBefore eating, perform the five contemplations with hands in gassho: “We reflect on the effort that brought us this food and consider how it comes to us. We reflect on our virtue and practice, and whether we are worthy of this offering. We regard greed as the obstacle to freedom of mind. We regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life. For the sake of enlightenment, we now receive this food.”
After eating, recite in gassho: “Abiding in this ephemeral world like a lotus in muddy water, the mind is pure and goes beyond. Thus we bow to Buddha.” Bow.
WORK PRACTICE"Seeing a person of Right Livelihood, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to attain pure livelihood, and not affect a virtuous manner."
COMMUTE“Setting out on a road, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to proceed toward the Buddha’s conduct and enter the place of no-reliance.”
LATE-AFTERNOON ZAZENLight the candle and offer incense, if not already done. Sit upright, facing the wall. Ring the meditation bell three times to begin and once to end.
EVENING SUTRA CHANTINGOffer incense and chant seven times: “Shi do nī, o kya rā, mi ri shū, ho ri to ra yā, ni ke rī.”
Eko Text for Evening Sutra Chanting: “Chanting the Surangama Heart Mantra, we dedicate this merit to the pure body of the dharma realm, to the myriad spirits, and to our kitchen deity. We pray for a safe and peaceful household and for the flourishing of the Dharma through our actions. Ji ho san shi i shi fu, shi son bu sa mo ko sa, mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.”
EVENING MEALSpend this time mindfully sharing food with family. Be present in their lives. Follow with a thorough cleaning of the kitchen together.
FAMILY TIMEBe thoroughly present with each member of the family.
FACE WASHINGGassho-bow to the bathroom altar.
When picking up the toothbrush, “Taking the toothbrush in hand, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to attain the wonderful teaching and be ultimately pure.”
When brushing the teeth, “Brushing the teeth, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to be harmonious and pure in mind, biting through all afflictions.”
When flossing the teeth, “Flossing the teeth, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to draw out the hair's breadth between heaven and earth.”
When rinsing the mouth, “Using water to rinse the mouth, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to approach the Gate of the Pure Dharma and accomplish liberation.”
When washing the face, “Using water to wash the face, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to obtain the Gate of the Pure Dharma, forever without stain.”
Gassho-bow to the bathroom altar before leaving.
EVENING ZAZENSit in an upright posture, facing the wall. Ring the meditation bell three times to begin and once to end.
FOUR VOWSBeings are numberless; I vow to free them. Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them. Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them. The buddha way is unsurpassable; I vow to realize it
SAFETY WATCHPatrol the household to ensure all locks are secured, windows are closed, and lights and appliances are off.
SLEEP PRACTICERecite with hands in gassho: “Going to sleep, the Bodhisattva inspires all beings to have bodies that attain peace and hearts without disturbance.” Sleep on the right side in lion’s posture. Count breaths to 100, then backwards, until asleep.