Myokaku-ji Regulations of 1413
Translated by Jeffrey Hunter, Ph.D.
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1. No person shall worship at Shinto shrines belonging to other sects.
Exceptions are made when one visits the shrine on a tour, for pleasure,
or on official business.
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2. No person shall give alms to monks who slander the Dharma. Exceptions
are when gifts are given in conformity with normal social conventions
and customs.
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3. No person shall give alms directly from slanderers, even though it
may be expedient to receive them directly with the purpose of enticing
them to accept the Dharma.
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4. A householder who worships and offers alms at Shinto shrines and thus
commits slander must be admonished severely. If after three
remonstrances he is still engaged in slander, he shall be expelled from
the community regardless of whether he is a major or minor supporter, or
how closely related he is to the remonstrator.
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5. If a husband is a believer but his wife is not, he must try to
convert her tirelessly. If after three years she is still not a
believer, both the husband and wife must be expelled from the community.
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6. If one witnesses or hears about a monk or householder acting in a
slanderous manner, and does not reveal that information to the
community, he shall be judged as an accomplice to the slanderous act he
has witnessed or heard about.
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7. Any person who harbors doubt about this ordinance should be advised
time and time again until he casts away all heresy and takes refuge in
the Truth. Any insertion of private thoughts or new meaning into the
ordinance is a serious offence against the Dharma.
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8. No monk shall have any dealings with a householder who has been
expelled from the community. Exceptions are when personal business
matters are involved.
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9. Monks shall discard all money cast into the offertory box.
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