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1. Monks place their bowl sets before them, sit in the half-lotus position, and line up their bowls and utensils.
2. Once the bowls are lined up, the wooden clapper announces the beginning of the meal. First, a monk with a large pot pours water into each monk's rice bowl. Holding the large rice bowl in both hands, a monk signals "enough" by gently swaying the bowl from side to side. He then pours the water into his water bowl.
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3. The monk then accepts the appropriate amount of rice and side dishes from the monks who bring them around. In order to guarantee that everyone eats equally, no one takes large amounts. Overeating is also considered an impediment to mental clarity.
4. When all the food is distributed, the sound of the bamboo clapper announces the Meal Chant to be recited in unison:
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"I contemplate on where this food came from
And whether I am worthy of accepting it.
I take this meal not out of greed
But as medicine to heal my body
So that I may succeed in my quest."
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5. While the monks recite the Meal Chant, an offering bowl is passed around the room. Each monk uses his spoon to scoop out about seven grains of rice to add to the offering bowl.
This is a symbolic offering of at least a few grains of rice to others throughout the universe.
6. When about half of the monks have finished, the bamboo clapper sounds again, and the monk at the end brings out boiled rice water for everyone.
Monks receive this in their large rice bowls, and if a monk is still eating, he can move the remaining rice to his soup bowl and then receive the rice water in the rice bowl.
7. Each monk then pours a small amount of water from the rice bowl to the soup bowl and cleans the bowl by manipulating any leftover piece of radish or kimchi with his chopsticks.
He then drinks the water. The same is done with the other bowls, one at a time.
8. When everyone is finished, the bamboo clapper sounds again, and a monk brings around clean water again.
No matter how clean the bowls have been made with the rice water, they should be rinsed again, this time with the clean water and a finger.
9. Each monk then dries his bowls and utensils with the small towel, and then wraps everything in the wrapping cloth. Everything returns as it was before the meal.
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