[Oryoki] Oryoki Training Videos - and support materials

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

Here are the first two Oryoki training videos. The first is just a quick welcome. The other is a how to prepare your bowls to get them ready to begin our session.

Welcome

How to prepare your Oryoki bowls

Note that these videos, and future videos, are works in progress. By the time we get through the training I am sure I will have ideas as to how to improve the provided information.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

This is the sewing document which gives the dimensions for the cloths, instructions for sewing the utensil case and how to iron the lap cloth.

The Oryoki Set english in cm.pdf

I'll add more as we go.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Jundo]

Hi Guys,

This is very wonderful!

Let me drop in that, even if one has not sewn or procured some of the "official" cloths and such, substitutions can be made, especially temporarily.

For example, a mailing envelope (especially one that opens at the top) can serve for awhile as the utensil case. A man's handkerchief can be the drying cloth, a clean pillow case can be the bowl wrapping cloth.

Also, a piece of letter sized paper, especially if a bit thicker like school construction paper, is an excellent Hattan, and a little piece of wood or the like, even a piece of thick cardboard, about the size and shape shown in the video more or less, is a good water board.

That can keep you going perfectly equipped as a beginner for practice.

Oryoki is a wonderful art, a dance of great power. I know that you will benefit from it.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Shinshi]

Those are excellent points Jundo. We did cover that a bit in the first session and I working on a new video on this topic. I should be done in the next week or so.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[IanSmith]

Hello Shinshi
Many thanks for your video, it was very informative. I look forward to the next. May I ask a question regarding the
material colour. I have some dull dark blue cotton which I would like to use, is this OK.
Gassho
Ian
SatLah

[Shinshi]

Hi Ian,

Well, Jundo gets the final call but this is my take on this. It kind of depends on how "correct you want to be" and "correct" by whose standards.

I would say I would like to decrease the barriers to participation so they are as small as possible. So dark blue sounds fine.

At the other end, San Francisco Zen Center says that lay folks must have only white cloths. Colors are only for priests.

In "Practices at a Zen Monastery" Tsugen Narasaki wrote that the color of the wrapping cloths should follow the nyohoe guidelines - he wrote a "blended color".

We can see what Jundo says, but I am ok with a dark blue.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Jundo]

At the other end, San Francisco Zen Center says that lay folks must have only white cloths. Colors are only for priests.

That is San Francisco's own invention, and is not Japanese tradition. SFZC does the same on Rakusu colors too, also not Japanese tradition. They like to make color signals for ranks and things over there. So, pay no attention to that custom.

As to the "dark blue," well, I suppose it depends how bright and shiny it is. Avoid generally bright and shiny colors in Zen items. However, my Oryoki cloths are a rather dark greyish-blue. If it is kind of a bland dark blue, I believe that is a "broken color."

Koun has this confusing definition ...

The color was what is referred to as a “broken” color. I’ve heard this defined in various (and sometimes contradicting) ways, but basically, a broken color is not a primary color, and not black or white–it is a color with its own internal, natural variation, like cloth that’s been rubbed over time. ... Broken, subdued color. “Broken” means that it’s not too perfect, that it has variations and texture. We see broken color in cloth that has been rubbed thin over time, or washed over and over. We see it in lots of weaves that, on close inspection, are actually made of threads of different colors (though it looks, at a glance, like a single color). Cloth that is perfectly red, perfectly black, etc. doesn’t have this effect. And it’s no accident that a lot of synthetic materials are less likely than natural ones to take on that broken look. “Subdued” just means not glaring, not too bright. If someone wears a hot pink shirt, you can’t help but think, at least for a second, “Wow, that’s really pink.”

A little page from Soto Zen's Komazawa University just says, "broken color (not a bright, attractive primary color)"

So, if not too "blue-blue," and a rather dark blue ... I think it is fine. Wash it with time, and it will become grayish too.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

I am going to use this space to post new videos. We now have the entire sequence - lets call this version 0.5. I am going to make a new set next week because I want to change the placement of the waterboard, utensil case, and drying cloth to put it even more inline with the in person version.

All of the steps in these videos is correct (unless noted - only one thing I think) the only thing I want to is changing the location of the above. I realized I had done it this way for a number of years due to lack of space. So I am going to try and change that.


Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 1 (Opening the Bowls)

Treelead Oryoki Training Videos - Part 2 (Serving) - I forgot to bow before picking up the small bowl. There is a note in the video where this happens.

Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 3 (To Begin Eating)

Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 4 (Seconds)

Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 5 (Dry Cleaning The Bowls)

Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 6 (Washing the Bowls)

Treeleaf Oryoki Training Videos - Part 7 (Final Video)

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

Here are the dimensions for all of our Oryoki materials. They seem to vary a bit but these are as close as I can find as a standard.

Wrapping Cloth
53.5cm x 53.5cm (21inches x 21 inches)

Lap Cloth
75cm x 35.5cm (29 1/2 inches x 14 Inches)

Utensil Case
40.5cm x 7.5cm (16 inches x 3 inches) This is measured from case unfolded, top tip to bottom edge.

Drying Cloth
33cm x 33cm (13 inches x 13inches)

Spatula (Setsu)
21cm x 2cm, about 0.3 cm thick (8.27 inches x 0.78 inches, about 0.12 inches thick )
(Oryoki PDF : 8 1/2 1 1/8 wide at bottom7/8 at the top and 1/8 inch thick)

Placemat (Hattan)
33cm x 24cm (13 inches x 9.45 inches)

Waterboard (Mizuita/Suiban)
21cm x 7cm, about 0.5cm thick (8.27 inches x 2.75 inches, about 0.2 inches thick )

Gassho, Shinshi

Sat-Lah

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

Adding some documentation. Please view these as drafts. They still need some work moving forward.

The first is a write up of the full sequence including chanting. The chanting were everyone chants is in bold. The chants that only the Ino will do are in red.

Here is Word Document Version
Oryoki Sequence Draft (12-28-25).docx

And here is a pdf.
Oryoki Sequence Draft (12-28-25).pdf


This has each sections listed, and the chanting that happens in each. This is sort of a chanting only cheat sheet.

Oryoki Quick Chanting Reference Draft (9-26-25).docx
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cpasqk9q7ume97ga27wvh/Oryoki-Quick-Chanting-Reference-Draft-9-26-25.docx?rlkey=qajf2ywqboq0ppefndejp4pba&st=xhnhpx1 o&dl=0

pdf version
Oryoki Quick Chanting Reference Draft (9-26-25).pdf


Gassho,

Shinshi

[michaelw]

Thank you for these videos.
I am watching as catch up so a couple of questions.
Are there specific sizes for the three bowls and should they all match ?
Bowl sets seem quite expensive especially if you search under Oryoki set.
If I collect these separately from charity shops would that cause offense?
Is the small Hungry Ghost bowl included in the set or would that be added with serving bowls?
Apologies if these are covered elsewhere just not run across them yet.

Gassho
MichaelW
satlah

[Kotei]

Hello,
as Shinshi is effected by the weather in the US and facing power outages (I hope it will be solved, soon), I'll give it a try.

The three bowls should fit into each other, not leaving too much room in between, so the smaller one is not too small.
Ideally, the small one will be able to hold the water, that is used to clean the bowls. You start with the large one and transfer the water in the smaller ones, one after the other, during cleaning.
Perfectly fine to collect them somewhere. Maybe try to match the size approximately to those in the videos.
They shouldn't be too heavy - during the ceremony, they are lifted just with the two thumbs pressing from the inside of the bowl outwards.
That is not possible, when either too heavy, or the walls not steep enough.
Sometimes there are good deals on sites like etsy. Although, be careful with the cheap varnished ones made of mango wood. With some of those, the varnish still smells like newly varnished, when adding a hot liquid.

For the small bowl for the Hungry Ghost offerings, just use something you have around. It is less than 10 grains of rice.
There is no official recommendation, as it is an adaptation, we did because of the nature of our online meal.
In a brick and mortar place, the rice grains would be put on the end of the setsu (cleaning stick) and collected during the meal.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Shinshi]

Hi Michael,

Kotei, of course, did a wonderful job of answering your question. I'll just add, first and foremost, don't let having the "correct" materials stand in your way of coming to Oryoki. No one is going to kick you out for the wrong size bowls! Just put together the best set you can and start with that.

I have been kind of searching out the least expensive Oryoki materials I can find. I found these on Amazon for about $8.00. They are a little deep but nest well and are lightweight. They were called Crisp Prep Bowl Set - 3-Piece Plastic Mixing Bowls With Lids

bowls 1.jpg
bowls 2.jpg

If you need other ideas let me know.

The main idea is to come and participate with all of your heart. You are most welcome to participate in the ceremony using whatever materials you have.

Gassho, Shinshi

[michaelw]

Shinshi et al

Thanks for that. I found a video by Jundo from thirteen years ago with two bowls and an egg cup.
Life seemed simpler back then.

Gassho
MichaelW

satlah