Assistant Tenzo... or is it Assistant to the Tenzo?

So, I've been assistant Tenzo four time now since the past Hosan. In case you've forgotten, Tenzo is the name for the cook in a Japanese monastery. The assistant Tenzo's job is to set up the table, and help prepare the meal. Most of the time this means just setting up the table, and not too much preparing the meal.

In order to set up the table, you have to make sure the tables are placed in exactly the right spot. There is a specific corner of a tatami mat in the dining room that is used to place the first table. Once you place the first table, there is a mark on it where the next table should align. The rest follow in this way. After the tables are in their position, the oryoki bowls must be put down. There is a specific order in which the bowls should be place, which is indicated on a chalk board which hangs on the wall to the side of the table. After setting up the oryoki bowls, you need to put out the condiments, and then the side dish plates. These plates must be set out so that the top of the plate still faces forward to the person eating from it. I've found this kind of precision common in Zen, and it is not quite as relaxing as people usually perceive Zen to be. Instead of relaxation, precision and order allow the mind to be at ease. Cluttered house, cluttered mind. Ordered house, peaceful mind - peaceful does NOT mean relaxed.

Since the assistant Tenzo is essentially the Tenzo's bitch, of course he must wash all of the bowls, plates, spoons, etcetera that the Tenzo uses to make the meal. Here at Antai-ji, we don't use soap to wash a vast majority of these preparation utensils... which is kind of disgusting. The only pans and bowls washed with soap are those which contained stuff cooked with oil. Of course all of our plates, chopsticks, and spoons that we use to eat are washed thorougly with soap (and cold water). But the oryoki bowls are of course only washed with water, if you payed any attention to my blot post about how to do oryoki.

As for the oryoki chanting - I've found an English translation of the chants. I'm not going to separate it as I did in the previous post, it will all just run together.

Breakfast Chants

Buddha was born in Kapilavastu,
Enlightened in Magadha,
Taught in Varanasi,
Entered nirvana in Kushinagara.
Now we set out Buddha's own bowls
May we, with all living beings
realize the emptiness of the three wheels,
giver, receiver, and gift.

Vairochana Buddha, pure Dharmakaya;
Locana Buddha, complete Sambhogakaya;
Shakyamuni Buddha, myriad Nirmanakaya;
Maitreya Buddha, next to be born;
All buddhas throughout space and time;
Lotus of the Wondrous Dharma, Mahayana Sutra;
Manjushri Bodhisattva, great wisdom;
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, great activity;
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, great compassion;
All honored ones, bodhisattvas, mahasattvas,
Wisdom beyond wisdom, Maha-prajnaparamita.

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 it as essential to keep the mind free from excesses, such as greed;

We regard this food as good medicine to sustain our life.
For the sake of enlightenment, we now receive this food.

First, this is for the Three Treasures
Next, for the four benefactors;
Finally, for the beings in the six realms
may all be equally nourished.
The first bite is to end all evil.
The second is to cultivate all good.
The third is to free all beings,
May we all realize the Buddha Way

[Abiding in this ephemeral world
like a lotus in muddy water,
the mind is pure and goes beyond
Thus we bow to Buddha]