On 8th January 2018, the opening of the Seven-day ritual in the Chan (Zen) meditation hall of Nanoutuo Temple was held at Nanputou Temple. The Most Ven. Ze Wu (the abbot of Nanputou Temple) led the monastics, the practitioners and devotees who put down their work and external events to practice dharma in order to cultivate the mindful Chan meditation. 
  At 8:00 a.m., in order to obtain the blessing of the Triple Gem, Ven Hui Ran (was authorized by Abbot) guided the two rows of the Buddhists and started the purification platform of ritual to worship   the Buddha and kindle the incense of praying. Subsequently, the monistic and practitioners ambulated the meditation hall; and the venerable used the bamboo stick with water to purify the ten directions for the purpose to manifest the meditation hall. Later, Ven. Dao Guang (Hall Lord and manager of the Meditation Hall) explained the rules and regulations of Chan Meditation to the practitioners which is conducive for them to practice the seven days Chan meditation. 
  At 6:00 p.m., the opening of seven-day Chan Meditation was solemnly held in the meditation hall. Having gathered at the meditation hall, the monastics led Chan practitioners and stood on both sides of the shrine of the Buddha. There was an incense board or wood in front of the shrines, the observance of incense master, the chief of the group who put the incense stick on his chest, hit the drum and ring played the tool instrument to lead the four kinds of disciples of Buddhism to welcome the Most Ven. Ze Wu to host the event. The Most Ven. Ze Wu entered the hall with the incense board and began to preach the Dharma: “Once entering the Chan Meditation hall, one must make a bodhicitta vow to become  enlightened or a Buddha and to eliminate the external conditions, without laziness in order to remove the defilement and preserve the truth; achieving the path of liberation, one should apply the mindfulness to subdue the ignorance and understand that everyone has the Buddha nature.  Chan (Zen) is one pointedness of mind and also is tranquility and contemplation of insight. All of you should cherish this special opportunity of practice with gratitude, approach the wise master, comply with rules and regulations, help and learn from each other without differentiation.  It would not waste the effort of the Venerbles and also your previous time or expectation of obtaining concentration and wisdom in Seven-day of Meditation.  Later, the Most Ven. Ze Wu recited the seven verses: “The Buddha is at the Lin Mountain but do not seek or search from far distance; Lin Mountain is in my heart; everyone has a Lin mountain stupa; one should practice in the  Lin mountain stupa.” Having finished recitation, he threw the incense board on the ground and claimed: “Beginning the Seven-day meditation” subsequently the practitioners began the Seven-day of Meditation. 
  The Seven-day Chan Meditation will be held from today till 28th of January; there were three weeks (it means three times of seven-day). The devotees can participate one week to three weeks (one Seven-day or three seven-day). During the process, the venerable would protect and serve the Seven-day Meditation. Firstly, they assist the practitioners to have a proper way according to the Dharma and Vinaya and also make sure the minds of the Chan practitioners are mindful, concentrated, purified and wise. 

  The origination of Chan Seven-day Meditation
  More than two thousand years ago, the Buddha made a vow under the bodhi tree "if I do not attain enlightenment, I would not leave the Diamond Treasure seat” Finally, in the seventh day the Buddha saw sparkling stars and realized the truth of life and universe and attained the perfect enlightenment.
  The patriarch of Chan master Bodhidharma came to East through the sea route. He inherited the symbol of the heart of the Buddha, which was the beginning of the Chinese Chan Buddhism. After the sixth patriarch, one flower with five leaves, the four directions of scholars gathered. The master Baizhang set up the pure disciplinary rules, emphasis on both Chan meditation and agricultural Chan.    A verse state a warming: “One day one does not work and does not eat". The diligence of  Chan Seven-day meditation and realization of Chan are corresponding, later it has spread through many countries. Even today, some of the Chan or Zen Buddhism follow this tradition. 

  All the Chan Sect tradition, after finishing agricultural  work of  every winter do not have other work; therefore, they begin to limit a time for practice to obtain spiritual achievement and every seven-day as one week and it is called Seven-day Chan Meditation. During the process of Seven-day meditation, they practice meditation and ambulate according  to incense to adjust or harmonize the body and mind to develop the wisdom and to build up the right view. (Click to view the topic of Seven-day Chan meditation)