ORYOKI, THE RIGHT AMOUNT

Oryoki' could be translated as “container for receiving the right amount”, exactly the right amount for each person.

In purely practical terms, these are the traditional bowls in which monks and nuns eat all their meals.
In Zen, there is a precise ritual for opening and closing the oryoki.

Eating meals together, in silence to cultivate mindfulness, and using the bowls according to a precise ritual, helps to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and generosity. 

Food eaten in this spirit becomes a perfect gift and supports Zen practice.
 

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