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Inviting the Bell – The Noble Eightfold Path
Before inviting the bell, stand in front of the bell, bow once, join your palms and recite the gatha, then hold the bell inviter, tap lightly once and breathe (the gatha: “Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness, I send my heart along with the sound of the bell. May all who hear it awaken from forgetfulness and transcend the path of sorrow and pain”). When the assembly is settled, invite the bell three times, each sound accompanied by three breaths with the gatha “Listen, listen. This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home.” (a total of nine breaths), then place the inviter down and enter meditation. At the end of sitting meditation, do the same: bow to the bell, breathe and recite the gatha, tap the bell lightly, then invite one large bell, breathing three times before putting down the inviter. At mealtime, for the first three bell sounds, take three breaths with each, then invite the wooden fish two or three times (tap lightly for the first sound), invite the community to bow and proceed to walking meditation.
On the day of reciting the precepts (uposatha – Bố-tát) and the ceremony for transmitting the precepts to bhikshunis, the steps include:
- Inviting the preceptor (a nun master or bhikshuni preceptor) and the karmadana, teaching master
- The karmadana asks the preceptees questions (about their past, their aspiration to practice, etc.)
- Making a formal request to receive the precepts before the council of elders
- The karmadana transmits the precepts, bestows the Four Requisites and the Eight Reverent Rules (Bát kỉnh pháp)
- Practicing the precepts, reciting and maintaining harmony in the community.
These ceremonies emphasize the spirit of reverence (the bell is a Bodhisattva), harmony of the Sangha, and the ability to transform forms (such as the Eight Reverent Rules) to suit the needs of practice today.