There is a period in the monastic life, exclusively set apart
for mental discipline, and not interrupted by any manual labour
except such as is absolutely needed. It is known as great “Sesshin”
(_Chê-hsin_)[f143][7.24] and lasts a week, taking place once a
month during the season called the “Summer Sojourn” and the “Winter
Sojourn.” The summer sojourn begins in April and ends in August, while
the winter one begins in October and ends in February. “Sesshin” means
“collecting or concentrating the mind.” While this period is lasting,
the monks are confined at the Zendo, get up earlier than usual, and
sit further into the night. There is a kind of lecture every day
during the period. Text books are used, the most popular of which are
_The Hekiganshu_ and _Rinzairoku_,[7.25] the two being considered the
most fundamental books of the Rinzai School. _The Rinzairoku_ is a
collection of sermons and sayings of the founder of the Rinzai Zen
sect. _The Hekiganshu_, as has been noted elsewhere, is a collection
of one hundred Zen “cases” or “themes” with critical annotations
and poetical comments. It goes without saying that there are many
other books used for the occasion. To an ordinary reader, such books
generally are a sort of _obscurum per obscurius_. After listening to a
series of lectures, he is left in the lurch as ever. Not necessarily
that they are too abstruse, but that the reader is still wanting in
insight into the truth of Zen.
The lecture is a solemn affair. Its beginning is announced by a bell,
which stops ringing as soon as the master appears in the hall where
what is known as “Teisho”[f144][7.26] takes place. While the master is
offering incense to the Buddha and to his departed master, the monks
recite a short dharani-sūtra called _Daihiju_,[f145] which means “the
dharani of great compassion.” Being a Chinese transliteration of the
Sanskrit original, mere recitation of the Sutra does not give any
intelligent sense. Probably the sense is not essential in this case,
the assurance is sufficient that it contains something auspicious and
conducive to spiritual welfare. What is more significant is the way in
which it is recited. Its monotone punctuated with a wooden time-keeper
known as “mokugyo,” (Wooden Fish), prepares the mind of the audience
for the coming event. After the Dharani which is recited three times
the monks read in chorus generally the exhortatory sermon left by the
founder of the monastery. In some places nowadays Hakuin’s “Song of
Zazen” is often chanted. The following are translations of Hakuin and
of Musō Kokushi,[f146] whose last exhortatory sermon is one of the most
popular.