Service Positions
See Zendo Protocol for a full description of service.
INO: The Ino is the chant leader who sets the pace of the chanting. The Ino is also the "master of ceremonies" in charge of service, and makes appropriate announcements and directions. The Ino should have some understanding of all the service positions.
DOAN: The bell-ringer for service. At the end of the second Zazen period, the Doan hits the temple bell immediately following the Jikido's single hit on the hanging bell, and tolls during preparation for service. When the haku is ready and the Dennan has distributed the sutra books, the Doan goes into a "run," signaling the officiant that the zendo is ready for service. When the officiant appears in the entryway, the Doan goes into another run, and finishes it with the three hits accompanying the officiant's entrance. A full service guide, annotated with the correct times to ring the different bells, is available for study and practice.
MOKUGYO PLAYER: Keeps time for chanting on the "Fish Drum." The mokugyo player pays attention to the Ino's voice or hand signals for direction as to the pace.
DENNAN: Prepares the altar for service and passes out the sutra books. The Dennan should have the haku (incense box) ready before zazen except for lighting the charcoal. When it is time to prepare for service, the Dennan lights two short "waiting sticks" and offers them at the altar. Then the charcoal is lit in the haku and it is brought out to the altar, held at about eye level, and presented with a bow. The Dennan then distributes the sutra books.
JISHA: The Jisha is the officiant's attendant. When the Doan finishes the first run after tolling during service preparation, the Jisha approaches the altar, bows, and lights a long stick of incense (should be laid out on the altar), bows, and exits to meet the officiant outside the zendo. At the entrance, the Jisha follows the officiant into the zendo and shuts the door. The Jisha goes straight to the altar as the officiant is bowing at the haishiki and stands ready to hand the stick of incense to the officiant. The Jisha stands at the side and waits for the officiant to offer the stick and powdered incense, and then bows together with the officiant and returns to his/her seat. At the end of service, the Jisha makes his/her three bows before others—at the time of the last general dedication ("All buddhas throughout space and time…" etc.) and goes to the door to open it for the officiant's exit.
Technically, the next two are "duties" rather than service positions, since the Jikido and Monitor don't have roles in service:
JIKIDO: The Jikido is the timekeeper for zazen/kinhin. Three hits on the hanging bell signal the start of zazen. Two hits signal kinhin, and one hit signals anything else (when service follows, then the one hit on the hanging bell is immediately followed by a hit on the temple bell, and the Doan begins tolling). When everyone is standing in gassho for kinhin, the Jikido strikes once with the clappers, all bow and turn, and with the next "clap" all go into shashu (hand position for kinhin). Kinhin is ten minutes, roughly divided between slow and fast (although fast may be a little longer to allow for bathroom breaks). A bell signals fast kinhin, and the clappers signal the end of kinhin and return to seats for the next period of zazen. Everyone stands in gassho and the Jikido hits the bell, all bow, and sit down.
MONITOR: The monitor is an experienced practitioner who is in charge of the zendo during zazen. He/she sits facing out and directs latecomers to be seated, as well as attending to any disruptions or unforeseen situations so that others can practice without interruption.
Questions? Contact Kuge by email at spope@csusb.edu or by phone at (909) 862-3174.
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