At 5 a.m., the monks change from their robes into more pragmatic work clothes. Some of them mop, wax and clean the inside of the monastery, while others attend to the gardens outside. Harris usually took this time to return to his room and study the teachings of the Buddha. At 7 a.m., the monks leave the monastery, often by subway or train, for their begging rounds. This is to be an exercise in humility as each monk finds a spot in a chosen neighborhood and makes what Harris describes as a sort of wailing sound.
Willing residents respond by giving money to the monks.
By 10 a.m., the monks are back at the monastery, preparing for lunch, which consists of rice soup and another pickle. Finally, at 11 a.m. eight hours after their day started the monks are given some free time. At 7 p.m., the monks begin private sessions with the Zen Master to review the Koan. This is a series of 1700 classical statements that must be discussed and interpreted. Ultimately, the Zen Master will determine whether or not the monk has transcended the rational mind and moved into the intuitive mind, for it is there that the individuals can get in touch with themselves and have a chance for enlightenment.