Tomorrow, Nov 11, is UPOSATHA day. Uposatha days are days marked by the full and new moons as well as quarter-moons, days that are deemed to be especially conducive for stepping up ones DHAMMA PRACTICE. Excerpt from Lay Buddhist Practice by Bhikkhu Khantipalo: The word Uposatha means entering to stay, in the Buddhist sense, in a vihara or monastery. But it has a long history before Buddhist times as it was the custom of the brahmans who performed the Vedic rites and sacrifices to go to the sacred place away from their homes and families and purify themselves by leading a secluded life for a day and night, returning after the rites were finished. The days when they kept this seclusion were determined by the phases of the moon, the most important being the Full Moon and the New Moon days. Two other days, the quarter-moon days, were also observed. ....A new lunar month always begins (in Buddhist reckoning) with the waxing half-month. The eighth day (usually) of both bright and dark halves is the quartermoon day. In the Buddhas time, various groups of ascetics and wanderers used the traditional Full and New moon days for expounding their theories and practices, while the Buddha allowed bhikkhus to assemble on these days to listen to the recitation of the Patimokkha (the fundamental rules of a bhikkhu) and to teach Dhamma to the lay people who came to their monastery. From that time down to the present, the Uposatha days have been observed by Buddhists, both ordained and laity, in all Buddhist countries. The practice of Buddhists, as known to the writer from Siam — and there are many local variations — is along these lines: Early in the morning lay people give almsfood to the bhikkhus who may be walking on almsround, invited to a laymans house, or the lay people may take the food to the monastery. Usually lay people do not eat before serving their food to the bhikkhus and they may eat only once that day, specially where the bhikkhus practice eating a single meal. In any case, their food is finished before noon. Before the meal the laity request the Eight Precepts (see below), which they promise to undertake for a day and night. It is usual for lay people to go to the local monastery and to spend all day and night there. In different monasteries, of course, the way they spend their time will not be the same and much depends on which aspect of the Dhamma is stressed there: study or practice. ... This is the practice in brief, of entering to stay at (uposatha) a monastery in Asia. Obviously a Buddhist who has no facilities like these in a non-buddhist country must spend his Uposatha differently. Perhaps the first thing to consider is whether it is worth trying to keep the Uposatha days. Why are they kept on the phases of the moon? The origin of the Uposatha days in Buddhist teachings is found in the following story: The occasion was this: The Blessed One was living at Rajagaha on the Vulture-Peak Rock, and at that time Wanderers of other sects were in the habit of meeting together on the Half Moons of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth and the Quarter Moon of the Eighth and preaching about Dhamma. People went to hear about the Dhamma from them. They grew fond of the Wanderers of other sects and believed in them. So the Wanderers gained support. Now while Seniya Bimbisara, king of Magadha was alone in retreat he considered this, and he thought: Why should the venerable ones not meet together too, on these days? Then he went to the Blessed One and told him what he had thought, adding: Lord, it would be good if the venerable ones met together too, on these days. The Blessed One instructed the king with a talk on the Dhamma; after which the king departed. Then the Blessed One made this the occasion for a discourse on the Dhamma and he addressed the bhikkhus thus: Bhikkhus, I allow meetings on the Half Moons of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth and the Quarter Moon of the Eighth. So the bhikkhus met together on those days as allowed by the Blessed One, but they sat in silence. People went to hear the Dhamma. They were annoyed, and they murmured and protested: How can the monks, the sons of the Sakyans, meet together on these days and sit in silence dumb as hogs? Ought not the Dhamma to be preached when they meet? Bhikkhus heard this. They went to the Blessed One and told him. He made this the occasion for a discourse on the Dhamma, and he addressed the bhikkhus thus: Bhikkhus, when there is a meeting on the Half Moons of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth and the Quarter Moon of the Eighth, I allow preaching of the Dhamma. ---------- Some other Suttas that mention the Uposatha: Visakhuposatha Sutta: The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices The Buddha listed eight ways to observe Uposatha. These eight practices are the Five Precepts plus three more: to eat just one meal before noon; to abstain from dancing, singing, wearing jewelry, cosmetics and decorations; and to abstain from sleeping in high, soft beds. These three rules apply to monks all the time, but on Uposatha days, devout laypeople also follow these rules. accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.043.khan.html Muluposatha Sutta: The Roots of the Uposatha The Buddha defines the Uposatha of the Noble Ones as the cleansing of the defiled mind through the proper technique. He then explains that the defiled mind is cleansed through recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, recollection of ones own virtues, recollection of the devas, and recollection of the qualities and behaviour of the Arahats. accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.070.than.html ----------- Some full-moon Uposatha days are particularly significant. Among these are: - Magha Puja, usually called SANGHA DAY, commemorating the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 Arahats in the Buddhas presence. (usually in Feb) - Visakha Puja, usually called VESAK DAY or Buddha Day, commemorating the birth, awakening, and Parinibbāna of the Buddha. (usually in May) - Asalha Puja, usually called DHAMMA DAY, commemorating the Buddhas first sermon, in which he explained the Four Noble Truths. This month also marks the beginning of the annual three-month Rains Retreat (Vassa). (usually in July) - PAVARANA DAY, which day marks the ending of Vassa. In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha. (usually in Oct) -ĀNĀPĀNASATI DAY, commemorating the occasion when the Buddha gave instructions on mindfulness of breathing. (usually in Nov). 2013 Calendar of Uposatha Days accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/uposatha2013.html ----------------------------------------------- TOMORROW IS NOV 11, an UPOSATHA (1st quartermoon) DAY. HOW WOULD YOU PLAN TO SPEND THIS DAY, THAT IS SPECIALLY CONGENIAL FOR DHAMMA PRACTICE? Would you perhaps keep the 5 or 8 precepts? Or would you set aside some time to reflect on the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, perhaps to make a little offering of flowers and lights to the Buddha, or read some dhamma literature? Would you perhaps dedicate some time in the morning or evening to meditation? Would you spend some time cultivating metta, and sending loving thoughts and kind wishes to all beings? However you choose to observe this special day, may you reap the benefits of your meritorious practice - May you obtain peace, happiness, good health, long life, much merit and auspiciousness, and most of all, the insight that leads to liberation!
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:07:42 +0000
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