Saba　生饭

The few grains of rice offered at the beginning of meals to the hungry ghosts.

Saiza　斎座

Lunch, the main meal of the monastic day.

Samu　作务

Manual labor in the monastery, a part of training equally important to zazen.

Sando　参堂

To formally enter the zendo as a new member of the monastic community following the completion of niwazume and tangazume.

Sanno　三应

A synonym for inji.

Sanzen　参禅

Formal meditation study with a Zen master. More specifically, the private meetings between master and disciple in which the master instructs the disciple in meditation.

Sarei　茶礼

Occasions when tea is served, both on formally and informally.

Seikan　制间

The monastic off-season. Roughly synonymous with kaisei.

Seichu　制中

The monastic training season. Roughly synonymous with ango.

Senmon dojo　专门道场

A formal Zen training monastery, at which a monk can gain qualification for priesthood. Roughly synonymous with sodo.

Sesshin　摄心

Meditation retreats, generally lasting one week.

Setsu ango　雪安居

The winter training season.

Shichido garan　七堂伽蓝

The classical layout of the Zen monastery with seven buildings. The Sanmon 山门 (Mountain Gate), Butsuden 佛殿 (Buddha Hall), Hatto 法堂 (Dharma Hall), and Hojo 方丈 (Abbot’s Quarters) are aligned on a north-south axis, with the Yokushitsu 浴室 (Bath House) and Kyozo 経蔵 (sutra library) to the east and the Sodo 僧堂 (Monk’s Hall) to the west.

Shijo　止静

The time between the beginning and end of a period of meditation, when silence must be maintained and no moving is permitted.

Shika　知客

The head monk in charge of the administrative section of the monastery, and whose duties involve meeting guests.

Shike　师家

The master of a monastery. Shike is roughly synonymous with roshi.

Shikunichi　四九日

Days which contain a “4” (shi) or a “9” (ku), on which there is head shaving a general cleaning of the monastery, and a bath.

Shin’igi　眞威仪

The formal wear used by unsui during ceremonies.

Shinkin　嚫金

Money received by the monks from the monastery.

Shinto　新到

A new monk; usually refers to monks in their first year at the monastery.

Shitsunai　室内

Lit., “inside the room”—an term for the meditation instruction that takes place between the master and disciple in the sanzen room of the master.

Shokan　初关

Lit., “the first barrier”; the first koan received by a monk.

Shoken　相见

A formal meeting with a Zen master.

Shukin　手巾

The cord that monks wear around their waist.

Shutto　出头

Participation in a ceremony.

Shuya　守夜

The evening fire-watch at the time of kaichin, when one or two monks make the rounds of the monastery buildings and properties to make sure that all fires are out.

Sodo　僧堂

A formal Zen training monastery, at which a monk can gain qualification for priesthood. Roughly synonymous with senmon dojo.

Sonshuku　尊宿

An older priest or an eminent priest.

Sorin　丛林

Another term for sodo.

Sosan　総参

Formal sanzen held on the first, fourth, and seventh evenings of a sesshin, and during which the shika rings the kansho and the monks meet the roshi in order of rank. All monks must participate. Contrasts with dokusan.

Sozarei　総茶礼

A formal sarei that all monks are required to attend. Usually held before important affairs.

Suikai　埀诫

Instructions or warnings from the master or superior monks.

·　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 scroll up