MONASTIC ROUTINE. 307 



In the morning, after offering the sacred food, incense, and butter- 

 incense, a conch-shell is blown, on which all the 

 Morning muster for monks must come out of their chambers (gra-shag). 

 On the second blast all collect in the Great Assem- 

 bly Hall, and during this entry into the hall the Provost Marshal 

 (chho5-A-hrimba) stands beside the door with his rod in hand. All 

 the monks seat themselves in Buddha fashion, each on his own mat. 

 The monk's feet must not project and his clothes must not hang down 

 or rest upon the mat. Each must face straight to his front with eyes 

 fixed on the tip of his nose. And the most solemn silence must be 

 observed. The slightest breach of these rules is promptly punished 

 by the rod of the Provost Marshal or, in the case of the younger 

 novices, by the sKu-^nyer. 



When all have been properly seated, then two or three of the most 



inferior novices who have not passed their examin- 



Semce of tea. ation and who occupy back seats, rise up and serve 



out tea to the assembly,^ each monk producing from his breast pocket 



his own cup and having it filled up by these novices. 



^^ Grace before drink- ggfore drinking it all must wait for the Um-dse to 



say the Grace, in which all the assembly joins. 



A usual grace is — 



" We humbly beseech Thee ! that we and our relatives through- 

 out all of our life-cycles may never be separated from the Three Holy 

 Ones ! May the blessing of The Trinity enter into this drink ! " 



Then sprinkling a few drops on the ground with the tips of the 

 fore and middle fingers : — 



"To all the dread locality demons of this country, we offer this 

 good Chinese tea ! Let us obtain our wishes ! And may the doctrines 

 of Buddha be extended ! " 



The tea is then drunk and the cup is refilled two or three times. 



The service of tea is succeeded by soup named "<?sol-jamthugpa," 

 and served by a new set of the novice underlings. 



Service of soup. ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ gjj^^ ^j^^ Um-dse, joined by all 



the monks, chants the "thug-pai ?«chhod-pa," or "the Sacrificial 

 Offering of the Soup." Three or four cups of soup are supplied to 

 each monk. The hall is then swept by junior monks. 



The Um-ds6 then inspects the magic circle (t?Kyil-Akhor)'' to see 



that it is correct, and this ascertained he commences 

 Ma?sl*'''"'"°" "^ the celebration. He always heads the service, the 



rest of the congregration repeating it word by word 

 closely after him and using a Psalter. This service consists of the 



' Nol ayman is allowed to serve out the monks' food. The lay servants bring it to the 

 outside door of the building and there deposit it. 

 - For its description, vide Chapter V, page 320. 



