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Uposatha

An Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) day is a Buddhist day of observance, in existence since the Buddha's time (600 BCE), and still being kept today by Buddhist practitioners.[1][2] The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind," resulting in inner calm and joy.[3] On this day, both lay and ordained members of the sangha intensify their practice, deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through millennia-old acts of lay-monastic reciprocity. On these days, the lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or (as the tradition suggests) the ten precepts. It is a day for practicing the Buddha's teachings and meditation.

Observance days edit

Depending on the culture and time period, uposatha days have been observed from two to six days each lunar month.

Theravada countries edit

In general, Uposatha is observed about once a week in Theravada countries[4] in accordance with the four lunar phases: the new moon, the full moon, and the two quarter moons in between.[5] In some communities, such as in Sri Lanka, only the new moon and full moon are observed as uposatha days.[6]

In Burmese Buddhism, Uposatha (called ဥပုသ်နေ့ ubot nei) is observed by more pious Buddhists on the following days: waxing moon (လဆန်း la hsan), full moon (လပြည့်နေ့ la pyei nei), waning moon (လဆုတ် la hsote), and new moon (လကွယ်နေ့ la kwe nei).[7] The most common days of observance are the full moon and the new moon. In precolonial Burma, Uposatha was a legal holiday that was observed primarily in urban areas, where secular activities like business transactions came to a halt.[7] However, since colonial rule, Sunday has replaced Uposatha as the legal day of rest. All major Burmese Buddhist holidays occur on Uposathas, namely Thingyan, the beginning of Vassa (beginning in the full moon of Waso, around July, to the full moon of Thadingyut, around October). During this period, Uposatha is more commonly observed by Buddhists than during the rest of the year. During Uposatha days, Buddhist monks at each monastery assemble and recite the Patimokkha, a concise compilation of the Vinaya.[8]

Mahayana countries edit

In Mahayana countries that use the Chinese calendar, the Uposatha days are observed ten times a month, on the 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and final three days of each lunar month. Alternatively, one can only observe Uposatha days six times a month; on the 8th, 14th, 15th, 23rd and final two days of each lunar month.[9] In Japan, these six days are known as the roku sainichi (六斎日, Six Days of Fasting).

Names of full moon Uposatha days edit

The Pali names of the uposatha days are based on the Sanskrit names of the nakśatra (Pali: nakkhatta), the constellations or lunar mansions through which the moon passes within a lunar month.[10]

Full Moon Uposatha Day Names
Associated Month Pali Sanskrit Burmese Khmer Sinhala Thai Days
January Phussa Puṣya Pyatho

(ပြာသို)

Buss (បុស្ស) Duruthu Pusaya (ปุศยะ) 30
February Māgha Māgha Tabodwe

(တပို့တွဲ)

Meak (មាឃ) Navam Makha (มาฆะ) 29
March Phagguṇa Phalguṇa Tabaung

(တပေါင်း)

Phalkun (ផល្គុន) Medin (Maedhin) Pholkuni (ผลคุณี) 30
April Citta Chitrā Tagu

(တန်ခူး)

Chaet (ចេត្រ) Bak Chittra (จิตรา) 29
May Visākhā Viśākhā Kason

(ကဆုန်)

Pisak (ពិសាខ) Vesak Visakha (วิสาขา) 30
June Jeṭṭhā Jyeṣṭha Nayon

(နယုန်)

Ches (ជេស្ឋ) Poson Chetta (เชษฐา) 29/30
July Āsāḷhā Aṣāḍhā Waso

(ဝါဆို)

Asath (អាសាឍ) Esala (Aesala) Asarnha (อาสาฬหะ) 30
August Sāvana Śrāvaṇa Wagaung

(ဝါခေါင်)

Srap (ស្រាពណ៍) Nikini Savana (สาวนะ) 29
September Poṭṭhapāda Proṣṭhapāda/Bhādrapadā Tawthalin

(တော်သလင်း)

Phuttrobot (ភទ្របទ) Binara Phattarapratha (ภัทรปทา) 30
October Assayuja Aśvayuja/Aśvinī Thadingyut

(သီတင်းကျွတ်)

Assoch (អស្សុជ) Vap Assavani (อัศวนี) 29
November Kattikā Kāṛttikā Tazaungmon

(တန်ဆောင်မုန်း)

Katdeuk (កត្តិក) Il Krittika (กฤติกา) 30
December Māgasira Māṛgaśiras Natdaw

(နတ်တော်)

Meukesae (មិគសិរ) Unduvap Maruekasira (มฤคศิระ) 29

History edit

The word Uposatha derives from the Muluposatha Sutta (AN 3.70), in which a lay woman Visakha, goes to the Blessed One and says she is observing the Uposatha day. The Buddha replies that there are different Uposatha days, then proceeds to tell her the correct version of the Uposatha day. The Uposatha of the Noble Disciples.

Practice edit

Lay practice edit

On each uposatha day, devout Upāsaka and Upāsikā practice the Eight Precepts,[11] perhaps echoing the Buddha's teaching that laypeople should "imitate" arhats on Uposatha days.[12] The first five of the eight precepts are similar to the five precepts, that is, to refrain from killing living beings, stealing, wrong speech and to abstain from intoxicating drink or drugs,[13] but the third precept is abstinence of all sexual activity instead of refraining from sexual offenses.[14] The eight precepts are similar to the ten precepts observed by novice monks, except that the seventh and eighth precepts for the novices are combined, the ninth novice precept becomes the eighth, and the tenth novice precept (non-acceptance of gold and silver, use of money) is excluded as being impracticable for a lay person.[15] Thus, the final three precepts are to abstain from eating at the wrong time (after midday); to abstain from entertainment such as dancing, singing, music, watching shows, as well as to abstain from wearing garlands, perfumes, cosmetics, and personal adornments; and to abstain from luxurious seats and beds.[16][17]

For lay practitioners who live near a Buddhist temple, the uposatha is an opportunity for them to visit it, make offerings, listen to sermons by monks and participate in meditation sessions. For lay practitioners unable to participate in the events of a local monastery, the uposatha is a time to intensify one's own meditation and Dhamma practice,[18] for instance, meditating an extra session or for a longer time,[19] reading or chanting special Buddhist texts,[20] recollecting[21] or giving in some special way.[19]

Presently, the uposatha vows are mostly associated with Theravāda Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia,[13] but it was a widespread practice in China as well,[22] and is still practiced.[23]

The eight precepts are meant to give lay people an impression of what it means to live as a monastic,[24][25] and the precepts "may function as the thin end of a wedge for attracting some to monastic life."[26] The objective of the eight precepts is different from the five in that they are less moral in nature, but more focused on developing meditative concentration, and preventing distractions.[27] Among the eight precepts, the third precept is about maintaining chastity. Buddhist tradition therefore requires lay people to be chaste on observance days, which is similar to the historical Indian tradition of being chaste on parvan days. As for the sixth rule, this means not having food after midday, in imitation of a nearly identical rule for monks. Fluids are allowed.[28][27] Taiwanese physician Ming-Jun Hung and his co-authors have analyzed early and medieval Chinese Buddhist Texts and argue that the main purposes of the half-day fast is to lessen desire, improve fitness and strength, and decrease sleepiness.[29] Historically, Chinese Buddhists have interpreted the eight precepts as including vegetarianism.[30]

The seventh precept is sometimes also interpreted to mean not wearing colorful clothes, which has led to a tradition for people to wear plain white when observing the eight precepts.[27][31] This does not necessarily mean, however, that a Buddhist devotee dressed in white is observing the eight precepts all the time.[32] As for the eighth precept, not sitting or sleeping on luxurious seats or beds, this usually comes down to sleeping on a mat on the floor. Though not specified in the precepts themselves, in Thailand and China, people observing the precepts usually stay in the temple overnight. This is to prevent temptations at home which break the eight precepts, and helps foster the community effort in upholding the precepts.[33]

Monastic practice edit

On the new-moon and full-moon uposatha, in monasteries where there are four or more bhikkhus,[34] the local Sangha will recite the Patimokkha. Before the recitation starts, the monks will confess any violations of the disciplinary rules to another monk or to the Sangha.[35] Depending on the speed of the Patimokkha chanter (one of the monks), the recitation may take from 30 minutes to over an hour. Depending on the monastery, lay people may or may not be allowed to attend.[19]

Communal reciprocity edit

Describing his experience of Uposatha days in Thailand, Khantipalo (1982a) writes:

Early in the morning lay people give almsfood to the bhikkhus who may be walking on almsround, invited to a layman's 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.... Before the meal the laity request the Eight Precepts [from the bhikkhus] ..., 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 monasteries where] there is more study, [lay people] will hear as many as three or four discourses on Dhamma delivered by senior bhikkhus and they will have books to read and perhaps classes on Abhidhamma to attend.... In a meditation monastery ..., most of their time will be spent mindfully employed – walking and seated meditation with some time given to helping the bhikkhus with their daily duties. So the whole of this day and night (and enthusiastic lay people restrict their sleep) is given over to Dhamma.

Special Uposatha days edit

In Thailand five full-moon Uposatha days are of special significance and are called puja:[36]

  • Visakha Puja or Visakha Uposatha [37] or Vesak ("Buddha Day") is the most sacred Buddhist holiday. It is the anniversary of the Buddha's birth, awakening and parinibbana.[38]
  • Pavarana[40] is the end of the Rains Retreat residence during which time each monk atones before the Sangha for any offense they may have committed.[41]
  • Anapanasati Day[42] is the anniversary of the Buddha's delivering the Anapanasati Sutta. This event is not connected to an Uposatha (Poya) day in Sri Lanka and perhaps is particular to Thailand.[43]
  • Magha Puja or Magha Uposatha[44] ("Sangha Day") is the anniversary of the assembling of 1250 monks in the Buddha's presence during which time he delivered the "Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha."[45]

In Sri Lanka, three full moon Uposatha or Poya days are of special significance.[46]

  • Vesak Poya, which is described above.
  • Poson Poya corresponds to the Jeṭṭhā uposatha, which falls in June. It is of special significance in Sri Lanka because the monk Mahinda, Asoka's son, officially introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka on this day in the 3rd century B.C.
  • Esala Poya corresponds to Āsāḷhā uposatha, the full moon of July, and is described above. This day has special significance in Sri Lanka because it was the day that 56 nobles, headed by Prince Ariṭṭha, became the first Sri Lankans to be fully ordained as a bhikkhus at Cetiyagiri in Mihintale by Mahinda and his companions. It therefore marks the founding of the Lankan Bhikkhu Sangha.[46]

In Tibet and Bhutan, there are four full moon Uposatha days that are of importance[47]

In China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam there are certain full moon Uposatha days of importance.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ For a description of the contemporary practice of the Uposatha in Thailand, see Khantipalo (1982a), which is also excerpted in this article below. Kariyawasam (1995), ch. 3, also underlines the continuity of the ancient uposatha practice in Sri Lanka: "The poya [Sinhala for uposatha] observance, which is as old as Buddhism itself, has been followed by the Sinhala Buddhists up to the present day, even after the Christian calendar came to be used for secular matters. Owing to its significance in the religious life of the local Buddhists, all the full-moon days have been declared public holidays by the government."
  2. ^ The uposatha day is sometimes likened to the Judeo-Christian notion of the Sabbath. Pali English dictionaries that define "Uposatha" as "Sabbath," are Buddhadatta (2002), p. 63, and PED(Rhys-Davids & Stede,1921-25), p. 151. For an example of the Uposatha being equated with Sabbath by a modern Buddhist master, see Mahasi (undated), p. 2, where he writes: "For lay people, these rules [of discipline] comprise the eight precepts which Buddhist devotees observe on the Sabbath days (uposatha) and during periods of meditation." Harvey (1990), p. 192, also refers to the uposatha as "sabbath-like."
  3. ^ Thanissaro (1997b); Anguttara Nikaya 3.70: Muluposatha Sutta.
  4. ^ , with the full moon being the most important one, followed by the new moon. Each lunar month has eight days after both the new moon and full moon Uposatha days and then either six or seven days after the other two quarter moon Uposatha days. Thus, in relation to the Gregorian calendar's seven-day week, sometimes there are two uposatha days in a week (such as occurred the week of August 17, 2006, when uposatha days fell on August 17 and August 23, 2006) and sometimes there are none (such as occurred the week of January 15, 2006, which fell between uposatha days on January 14 and January 22, 2006). Nonetheless, there are four uposatha days a month and the average solar month's week has one uposatha day.
  5. ^ More specifically, using a Buddhist calendar, Uposatha is observed on the following four days of the lunar month (PTS, 1921-25, pp. 151-2):
    • first (new moon)
    • eighth (first quarter or waxing moon)
    • fifteenth (full moon)
    • twenty-third (last quarter or waning moon)
    According to the Pali English Dictionary (Rhys Davids and Stede, 1921-25, pp. 16, 152), the lunar month's eighth day (that is, the eighth day after the new moon) and twenty-third day (which is the eighth day after the full moon) are called in Pali atthama, which literally means the "eighth," that is, the eighth day of the lunar half-month.
  6. ^ Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), pp. 24, 307 n. 26. Nyanaponika & Bodhi refers to the quarter-moon days as "semi-Uposatha." Harvey (1990), p. 192, states that the uposatha is observed "at the full-moon, new-moon and, less importantly, two half-moon days." He goes on to state: "Except at times of major festivals, observance [uposatha] days are attended only by the more devout, who spend a day and night at their local monastery." Kariyawasam (1995), ch. 3, makes a similar observation in regards to modern Sinhalese society: "The popular practice is to observe [the Eight Precepts] on full-moon days, and, among a few devout lay Buddhists, on the other phases of the moon as well."
  7. ^ a b Melford, Spiro (1970). Buddhism and Society: A Great Tradition and its Burmese Viscittudes. Harper and Row. pp. 214–228.
  8. ^ Buddhism: An Illustrated Review. Vol. 2. Rangoon, Burma: Hanthawaddy Printing Works. 1905.
  9. ^ http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/CE002.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ See Nakshatra, Hindu calendar, Sanskrit English Dictionary by Monier Williams, s.v. 'nakśatra'.
  11. ^ See, for instance, Kariyawasam (1995), Khantipalo (1982b), Ñanavara & Kantasilo (1993) and Thanissaro (1997b).
  12. ^ "The Uposatha Observance Discourse" in Nyanaponika & Bodhi, 1999, pp. 216-18 or, using comparable wording, in Nanavara & Khantasilo, 1993
  13. ^ a b "Religions Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism". BBC. 2 October 2002. from the original on 30 November 2018.
  14. ^ Tucci, Giuseppe; Kitagawa, Joseph M. (27 April 2018). "Buddhism - Popular Religious Practices". Encyclopedia Britannica. from the original on 4 December 2018.
  15. ^ Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), p. 307, n. 26
  16. ^ Keown 2004, p. 22.
  17. ^ Getz 2004, p. 673.
  18. ^ Bullitt (2005); and, Khantipalo (1982a).
  19. ^ a b c Khantipalo (1982a).
  20. ^ Khantipalo (1982a), for instance, suggests reading one of the following:
    • Visakhuposatha Sutta ("Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices," AN 8.43) (Khantipalo, 1982b).
    • Karaniya-metta Sutta ("Discourse on Loving-kindness," Sn 1.8) (Piyadassi, 1999a).
    • Maha-mangala Sutta ("Discourse on Blessings," Sn 2.4) (Narada, 1985).
    • Ratana Sutta ("Jewel Discourse," Sn 2.1) (Piyadassi, 1999b).
    • Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ("Discourse on Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion," SN 56.11) (Thanissaro, 1993).
  21. ^ See, for instance, the "Muluposatha Sutta" (AN 3.70) (Thanissaro, 1997b) regarding Uposatha-specific recollections and Thanissaro (1999) for the general Buddhist practice of recollections. In the Muluposatha Sutta, the Buddha recommends practicing recollection of the Three Jewels as well as of one's own virtue (sila) and of the wholesome qualities that leads to rebirth as a deva. In this sutta, if one spends the Uposatha engaged in such a recollection, then that Uposatha acquires the name of the recollection, such as Dhamma-Uposatha or virtue-Uposatha.
  22. ^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, Baguan zhai.
  23. ^ Harvey 2000, p. 88.
  24. ^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, Aṣṭāṅgasamanvāgataṃ upavāsaṃ.
  25. ^ Tachibana 1992, p. 66.
  26. ^ Whitaker & Smith 2018, Ethics (sīla).
  27. ^ a b c Harvey 2000, p. 87.
  28. ^ Terwiel 2012, pp. 201–2.
  29. ^ Hung, Kuo & Chen 2002.
  30. ^ Watson 1988, pp. 13–4.
  31. ^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, Ugraparipṛcchā.
  32. ^ Terwiel 2012, p. 187, n.16.
  33. ^ See Terwiel (2012, p. 203) and Harvey (2000, p. 87). Only Harvey mentions China, and the sitting.
  34. ^ Rhys Davids & Oldenberg (1881), p. 281.
  35. ^ See, for instance, Buddhadatta (2002), p. 63, and Bullitt (2005).
  36. ^ Bullitt (2005). Bullitt orders these special uposatha days in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, where Magha Uposatha thus starts the calendar year. However, in accordance with Asian lunar calendars, where the new year starts in mid April, Visakha Uposatha is the first special uposatha day of the year. The lunar calendar ordering of these days is maintained in this article for primarily two reasons: Visakha Uposatha is the most important of the uposatha festivals; and, ordering these uposatha days in this manner (i.e., Visakha Uposatha [Buddha Day], Asalha Uposatha [Dhamma Day], Magha Uposatha [Sangha Day]) celebrates the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) in the order in which it is traditionally enumerated. Also see Kariyawasam, ch. 3, "Poya Days," where he identifies the relevance of all twelve full-moon uposatha days in contemporary Sinhala culture.
  37. ^ "Vesākha" (Pali) is the second month of the Buddhist lunar year, usually occurring in the Gregorian calendar's February. In Thailand this day is called 'Visakha Puja.' The word puja means "veneration" or "offering" and in Thailand is suffixed to all Uposatha days. (Pali month names are from the Pali English Dictionary (Rhys Davids & Stede,1921-25, p. 531 s.v. "māsa").
  38. ^ For Mahayana Buddhists, the celebration of the Buddha's birthday is independent of recognitions of his awakening and parinibbana and is celebrated on the waxing moon of the fourth Chinese lunar month.
  39. ^ "Āsālha" (Pali) is the fourth lunar month, usually around July.
  40. ^ Pavarana Day is in the seventh lunar month of Assayuja (Pali), usually in October.
  41. ^ Rhys Davids & Oldenberg (1881), pp. 329-30.
  42. ^ Anapanasati Day is the eighth lunar month of Kattika (Pali), usually in November.
  43. ^ The Anapanasati Sutta ("Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse," MN 118) (Thanissaro, 2006) opens on Pavarana Day in the town of Savatthi where the Buddha declares to an assembly of monks that he is so happy with the assembly's practice that he would stay in Savatthi another month. After that month passes, the Buddha delivers the core instructions of the Anapanasati Sutta, instructions which have guided lay people and monastics to higher achievement for millennia. Thus, given this canonical chronology, Anapanasati Day is celebrated a lunar month after Pavarana Day.
  44. ^ "Māgha" (Pali) is the eleventh lunar month, usually around February.
  45. ^ The three-line Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha (Pali: "Patimokkha Exhortation Verse") (translated in Dhammayut Order in the United States of America, 1994) includes the Buddha's famous dictum: "Not doing any evil, doing what is skillful, purifying one's own mind, this is the Buddha's teaching." This verse is familiar to many Westerners because it is rehashed in the widely popular Dhammapada, chapter XIV, verses 183-85 (Thanissaro, 1997a).
  46. ^ a b See http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html#ch3 Kariyawasam, ch. 3, "Poya Days."
  47. ^ Seagan, Danyel. ".:. Buddhist Calendar .:. ASTRAL TRAVELER .:". www.astraltraveler.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  48. ^ Davis, Edward L. (2009). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 68. ISBN 9780415777162.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

  • "Buddhist Ceremonies: Festivals and Special Days", on www.buddhanet.net
  • "Uposatha Observance Days " on www.accesstoinsight.org.
  • 2016 Calendar of Uposatha Days
  • , by Robert C. Lester (1987), on buddhistgateway.com.
  • "Khmer Chhankitek Calendar", by Robert C. Lester (1987), cam-cc.org
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uposatha, this, article, about, buddhist, observance, ordination, hall, thai, temples, ubosot, sanskrit, upavasatha, buddhist, observance, existence, since, buddha, time, still, being, kept, today, buddhist, practitioners, buddha, taught, that, cleansing, defi. This article is about the Buddhist day of observance For the ordination hall in Thai temples see Ubosot An Uposatha Sanskrit Upavasatha day is a Buddhist day of observance in existence since the Buddha s time 600 BCE and still being kept today by Buddhist practitioners 1 2 The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for the cleansing of the defiled mind resulting in inner calm and joy 3 On this day both lay and ordained members of the sangha intensify their practice deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through millennia old acts of lay monastic reciprocity On these days the lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or as the tradition suggests the ten precepts It is a day for practicing the Buddha s teachings and meditation Contents 1 Observance days 1 1 Theravada countries 1 2 Mahayana countries 1 3 Names of full moon Uposatha days 2 History 3 Practice 3 1 Lay practice 3 2 Monastic practice 3 3 Communal reciprocity 4 Special Uposatha days 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 External linksObservance days editDepending on the culture and time period uposatha days have been observed from two to six days each lunar month Theravada countries edit In general Uposatha is observed about once a week in Theravada countries 4 in accordance with the four lunar phases the new moon the full moon and the two quarter moons in between 5 In some communities such as in Sri Lanka only the new moon and full moon are observed as uposatha days 6 In Burmese Buddhism Uposatha called ဥပ သ န ubot nei is observed by more pious Buddhists on the following days waxing moon လဆန la hsan full moon လပ ည န la pyei nei waning moon လဆ တ la hsote and new moon လက ယ န la kwe nei 7 The most common days of observance are the full moon and the new moon In precolonial Burma Uposatha was a legal holiday that was observed primarily in urban areas where secular activities like business transactions came to a halt 7 However since colonial rule Sunday has replaced Uposatha as the legal day of rest All major Burmese Buddhist holidays occur on Uposathas namely Thingyan the beginning of Vassa beginning in the full moon of Waso around July to the full moon of Thadingyut around October During this period Uposatha is more commonly observed by Buddhists than during the rest of the year During Uposatha days Buddhist monks at each monastery assemble and recite the Patimokkha a concise compilation of the Vinaya 8 Mahayana countries edit In Mahayana countries that use the Chinese calendar the Uposatha days are observed ten times a month on the 1st 8th 14th 15th 18th 23rd 24th and final three days of each lunar month Alternatively one can only observe Uposatha days six times a month on the 8th 14th 15th 23rd and final two days of each lunar month 9 In Japan these six days are known as the roku sainichi 六斎日 Six Days of Fasting Names of full moon Uposatha days edit The Pali names of the uposatha days are based on the Sanskrit names of the naksatra Pali nakkhatta the constellations or lunar mansions through which the moon passes within a lunar month 10 Full Moon Uposatha Day Names Associated Month Pali Sanskrit Burmese Khmer Sinhala Thai DaysJanuary Phussa Puṣya Pyatho ပ သ Buss ប ស ស Duruthu Pusaya pusya 30February Magha Magha Tabodwe တပ တ Meak ម ឃ Navam Makha makha 29March Phagguṇa Phalguṇa Tabaung တပ င Phalkun ផល គ ន Medin Maedhin Pholkuni phlkhuni 30April Citta Chitra Tagu တန ခ Chaet ច ត រ Bak Chittra citra 29May Visakha Visakha Kason ကဆ န Pisak ព ស ខ Vesak Visakha wisakha 30June Jeṭṭha Jyeṣṭha Nayon နယ န Ches ជ ស ឋ Poson Chetta echstha 29 30July Asaḷha Aṣaḍha Waso ဝ ဆ Asath អ ស ឍ Esala Aesala Asarnha xasalha 30August Savana Sravaṇa Wagaung ဝ ခ င Srap ស រ ពណ Nikini Savana sawna 29September Poṭṭhapada Proṣṭhapada Bhadrapada Tawthalin တ သလင Phuttrobot ភទ របទ Binara Phattarapratha phthrptha 30October Assayuja Asvayuja Asvini Thadingyut သ တင က တ Assoch អស ស ជ Vap Assavani xswni 29November Kattika Kaṛttika Tazaungmon တန ဆ င မ န Katdeuk កត ត ក Il Krittika kvtika 30December Magasira Maṛgasiras Natdaw နတ တ Meukesae ម គស រ Unduvap Maruekasira mvkhsira 29History editThe word Uposatha derives from the Muluposatha Sutta AN 3 70 in which a lay woman Visakha goes to the Blessed One and says she is observing the Uposatha day The Buddha replies that there are different Uposatha days then proceeds to tell her the correct version of the Uposatha day The Uposatha of the Noble Disciples Practice editLay practice edit On each uposatha day devout Upasaka and Upasika practice the Eight Precepts 11 perhaps echoing the Buddha s teaching that laypeople should imitate arhats on Uposatha days 12 The first five of the eight precepts are similar to the five precepts that is to refrain from killing living beings stealing wrong speech and to abstain from intoxicating drink or drugs 13 but the third precept is abstinence of all sexual activity instead of refraining from sexual offenses 14 The eight precepts are similar to the ten precepts observed by novice monks except that the seventh and eighth precepts for the novices are combined the ninth novice precept becomes the eighth and the tenth novice precept non acceptance of gold and silver use of money is excluded as being impracticable for a lay person 15 Thus the final three precepts are to abstain from eating at the wrong time after midday to abstain from entertainment such as dancing singing music watching shows as well as to abstain from wearing garlands perfumes cosmetics and personal adornments and to abstain from luxurious seats and beds 16 17 For lay practitioners who live near a Buddhist temple the uposatha is an opportunity for them to visit it make offerings listen to sermons by monks and participate in meditation sessions For lay practitioners unable to participate in the events of a local monastery the uposatha is a time to intensify one s own meditation and Dhamma practice 18 for instance meditating an extra session or for a longer time 19 reading or chanting special Buddhist texts 20 recollecting 21 or giving in some special way 19 Presently the uposatha vows are mostly associated with Theravada Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia 13 but it was a widespread practice in China as well 22 and is still practiced 23 The eight precepts are meant to give lay people an impression of what it means to live as a monastic 24 25 and the precepts may function as the thin end of a wedge for attracting some to monastic life 26 The objective of the eight precepts is different from the five in that they are less moral in nature but more focused on developing meditative concentration and preventing distractions 27 Among the eight precepts the third precept is about maintaining chastity Buddhist tradition therefore requires lay people to be chaste on observance days which is similar to the historical Indian tradition of being chaste on parvan days As for the sixth rule this means not having food after midday in imitation of a nearly identical rule for monks Fluids are allowed 28 27 Taiwanese physician Ming Jun Hung and his co authors have analyzed early and medieval Chinese Buddhist Texts and argue that the main purposes of the half day fast is to lessen desire improve fitness and strength and decrease sleepiness 29 Historically Chinese Buddhists have interpreted the eight precepts as including vegetarianism 30 The seventh precept is sometimes also interpreted to mean not wearing colorful clothes which has led to a tradition for people to wear plain white when observing the eight precepts 27 31 This does not necessarily mean however that a Buddhist devotee dressed in white is observing the eight precepts all the time 32 As for the eighth precept not sitting or sleeping on luxurious seats or beds this usually comes down to sleeping on a mat on the floor Though not specified in the precepts themselves in Thailand and China people observing the precepts usually stay in the temple overnight This is to prevent temptations at home which break the eight precepts and helps foster the community effort in upholding the precepts 33 Monastic practice edit On the new moon and full moon uposatha in monasteries where there are four or more bhikkhus 34 the local Sangha will recite the Patimokkha Before the recitation starts the monks will confess any violations of the disciplinary rules to another monk or to the Sangha 35 Depending on the speed of the Patimokkha chanter one of the monks the recitation may take from 30 minutes to over an hour Depending on the monastery lay people may or may not be allowed to attend 19 Communal reciprocity edit Describing his experience of Uposatha days in Thailand Khantipalo 1982a writes Early in the morning lay people give almsfood to the bhikkhus who may be walking on almsround invited to a layman s 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 Before the meal the laity request the Eight Precepts from the bhikkhus 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 monasteries where there is more study lay people will hear as many as three or four discourses on Dhamma delivered by senior bhikkhus and they will have books to read and perhaps classes on Abhidhamma to attend In a meditation monastery most of their time will be spent mindfully employed walking and seated meditation with some time given to helping the bhikkhus with their daily duties So the whole of this day and night and enthusiastic lay people restrict their sleep is given over to Dhamma Special Uposatha days editIn Thailand five full moon Uposatha days are of special significance and are called puja 36 Visakha Puja or Visakha Uposatha 37 or Vesak Buddha Day is the most sacred Buddhist holiday It is the anniversary of the Buddha s birth awakening and parinibbana 38 Asalha Puja or Asalha Uposatha 39 Dhamma Day is the anniversary of the Buddha s delivering his first discourse which is collected as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta The three month long Vassa retreat starts the following day Pavarana 40 is the end of the Rains Retreat residence during which time each monk atones before the Sangha for any offense they may have committed 41 Anapanasati Day 42 is the anniversary of the Buddha s delivering the Anapanasati Sutta This event is not connected to an Uposatha Poya day in Sri Lanka and perhaps is particular to Thailand 43 Magha Puja or Magha Uposatha 44 Sangha Day is the anniversary of the assembling of 1250 monks in the Buddha s presence during which time he delivered the Ovada Patimokkha Gatha 45 In Sri Lanka three full moon Uposatha or Poya days are of special significance 46 Vesak Poya which is described above Poson Poya corresponds to the Jeṭṭha uposatha which falls in June It is of special significance in Sri Lanka because the monk Mahinda Asoka s son officially introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka on this day in the 3rd century B C Esala Poya corresponds to Asaḷha uposatha the full moon of July and is described above This day has special significance in Sri Lanka because it was the day that 56 nobles headed by Prince Ariṭṭha became the first Sri Lankans to be fully ordained as a bhikkhus at Cetiyagiri in Mihintale by Mahinda and his companions It therefore marks the founding of the Lankan Bhikkhu Sangha 46 In Tibet and Bhutan there are four full moon Uposatha days that are of importance 47 Chotrul Duchen Saga Dawa Duchen Chokhor Duchen Lhabab DuchenIn China Japan Korea the Philippines and Vietnam there are certain full moon Uposatha days of importance First Full Moon Festival which is celebrated in Buddhist temples and also acknowledges the end of the Lunar New Year 48 Buddha s Birthday VesakSee also editBuddhist calendar Buddhist devotion Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Dhammika Sutta Eight Precepts Five Precepts List of Buddhist festivals Householder Buddhism Patimokkha Poya Sri Lankan full moon holiday Thai lunar calendar VassaNotes edit For a description of the contemporary practice of the Uposatha in Thailand see Khantipalo 1982a which is also excerpted in this article below Kariyawasam 1995 ch 3 also underlines the continuity of the ancient uposatha practice in Sri Lanka The poya Sinhala for uposatha observance which is as old as Buddhism itself has been followed by the Sinhala Buddhists up to the present day even after the Christian calendar came to be used for secular matters Owing to its significance in the religious life of the local Buddhists all the full moon days have been declared public holidays by the government The uposatha day is sometimes likened to the Judeo Christian notion of the Sabbath Pali English dictionaries that define Uposatha as Sabbath are Buddhadatta 2002 p 63 and PED Rhys Davids amp Stede 1921 25 p 151 For an example of the Uposatha being equated with Sabbath by a modern Buddhist master see Mahasi undated p 2 where he writes For lay people these rules of discipline comprise the eight precepts which Buddhist devotees observe on the Sabbath days uposatha and during periods of meditation Harvey 1990 p 192 also refers to the uposatha as sabbath like Thanissaro 1997b Anguttara Nikaya 3 70 Muluposatha Sutta with the full moon being the most important one followed by the new moon Each lunar month has eight days after both the new moon and full moon Uposatha days and then either six or seven days after the other two quarter moon Uposatha days Thus in relation to the Gregorian calendar s seven day week sometimes there are two uposatha days in a week such as occurred the week of August 17 2006 when uposatha days fell on August 17 and August 23 2006 and sometimes there are none such as occurred the week of January 15 2006 which fell between uposatha days on January 14 and January 22 2006 Nonetheless there are four uposatha days a month and the average solar month s week has one uposatha day More specifically using a Buddhist calendar Uposatha is observed on the following four days of the lunar month PTS 1921 25 pp 151 2 first new moon eighth first quarter or waxing moon fifteenth full moon twenty third last quarter or waning moon According to the Pali English Dictionary Rhys Davids and Stede 1921 25 pp 16 152 the lunar month s eighth day that is the eighth day after the new moon and twenty third day which is the eighth day after the full moon are called in Pali atthama which literally means the eighth that is the eighth day of the lunar half month Nyanaponika amp Bodhi 1999 pp 24 307 n 26 Nyanaponika amp Bodhi refers to the quarter moon days as semi Uposatha Harvey 1990 p 192 states that the uposatha is observed at the full moon new moon and less importantly two half moon days He goes on to state Except at times of major festivals observance uposatha days are attended only by the more devout who spend a day and night at their local monastery Kariyawasam 1995 ch 3 makes a similar observation in regards to modern Sinhalese society The popular practice is to observe the Eight Precepts on full moon days and among a few devout lay Buddhists on the other phases of the moon as well a b Melford Spiro 1970 Buddhism and Society A Great Tradition and its Burmese Viscittudes Harper and Row pp 214 228 Buddhism An Illustrated Review Vol 2 Rangoon Burma Hanthawaddy Printing Works 1905 http ftp budaedu org ebooks pdf CE002 pdf bare URL PDF See Nakshatra Hindu calendar Sanskrit English Dictionary by Monier Williams s v naksatra See for instance Kariyawasam 1995 Khantipalo 1982b Nanavara amp Kantasilo 1993 and Thanissaro 1997b The Uposatha Observance Discourse in Nyanaponika amp Bodhi 1999 pp 216 18 or using comparable wording in Nanavara amp Khantasilo 1993 a b Religions Buddhism Theravada Buddhism BBC 2 October 2002 Archived from the original on 30 November 2018 Tucci Giuseppe Kitagawa Joseph M 27 April 2018 Buddhism Popular Religious Practices Encyclopedia Britannica Archived from the original on 4 December 2018 Nyanaponika amp Bodhi 1999 p 307 n 26 Keown 2004 p 22 Getz 2004 p 673 Bullitt 2005 and Khantipalo 1982a a b c Khantipalo 1982a Khantipalo 1982a for instance suggests reading one of the following Visakhuposatha Sutta Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices AN 8 43 Khantipalo 1982b Karaniya metta Sutta Discourse on Loving kindness Sn 1 8 Piyadassi 1999a Maha mangala Sutta Discourse on Blessings Sn 2 4 Narada 1985 Ratana Sutta Jewel Discourse Sn 2 1 Piyadassi 1999b Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Discourse on Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion SN 56 11 Thanissaro 1993 See for instance the Muluposatha Sutta AN 3 70 Thanissaro 1997b regarding Uposatha specific recollections and Thanissaro 1999 for the general Buddhist practice of recollections In the Muluposatha Sutta the Buddha recommends practicing recollection of the Three Jewels as well as of one s own virtue sila and of the wholesome qualities that leads to rebirth as a deva In this sutta if one spends the Uposatha engaged in such a recollection then that Uposatha acquires the name of the recollection such as Dhamma Uposatha or virtue Uposatha Buswell amp Lopez 2013 Baguan zhai Harvey 2000 p 88 Buswell amp Lopez 2013 Aṣṭaṅgasamanvagataṃ upavasaṃ Tachibana 1992 p 66 Whitaker amp Smith 2018 Ethics sila a b c Harvey 2000 p 87 Terwiel 2012 pp 201 2 Hung Kuo amp Chen 2002 Watson 1988 pp 13 4 Buswell amp Lopez 2013 Ugraparipṛccha Terwiel 2012 p 187 n 16 See Terwiel 2012 p 203 and Harvey 2000 p 87 Only Harvey mentions China and the sitting Rhys Davids amp Oldenberg 1881 p 281 See for instance Buddhadatta 2002 p 63 and Bullitt 2005 Bullitt 2005 Bullitt orders these special uposatha days in accordance with the Gregorian calendar where Magha Uposatha thus starts the calendar year However in accordance with Asian lunar calendars where the new year starts in mid April Visakha Uposatha is the first special uposatha day of the year The lunar calendar ordering of these days is maintained in this article for primarily two reasons Visakha Uposatha is the most important of the uposatha festivals and ordering these uposatha days in this manner i e Visakha Uposatha Buddha Day Asalha Uposatha Dhamma Day Magha Uposatha Sangha Day celebrates the Triple Gem Buddha Dhamma Sangha in the order in which it is traditionally enumerated Also see Kariyawasam ch 3 Poya Days where he identifies the relevance of all twelve full moon uposatha days in contemporary Sinhala culture Vesakha Pali is the second month of the Buddhist lunar year usually occurring in the Gregorian calendar s February In Thailand this day is called Visakha Puja The word puja means veneration or offering and in Thailand is suffixed to all Uposatha days Pali month names are from the Pali English Dictionary Rhys Davids amp Stede 1921 25 p 531 s v masa For Mahayana Buddhists the celebration of the Buddha s birthday is independent of recognitions of his awakening and parinibbana and is celebrated on the waxing moon of the fourth Chinese lunar month Asalha Pali is the fourth lunar month usually around July Pavarana Day is in the seventh lunar month of Assayuja Pali usually in October Rhys Davids amp Oldenberg 1881 pp 329 30 Anapanasati Day is the eighth lunar month of Kattika Pali usually in November The Anapanasati Sutta Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse MN 118 Thanissaro 2006 opens on Pavarana Day in the town of Savatthi where the Buddha declares to an assembly of monks that he is so happy with the assembly s practice that he would stay in Savatthi another month After that month passes the Buddha delivers the core instructions of the Anapanasati Sutta instructions which have guided lay people and monastics to higher achievement for millennia Thus given this canonical chronology Anapanasati Day is celebrated a lunar month after Pavarana Day Magha Pali is the eleventh lunar month usually around February The three line Ovada Patimokkha Gatha Pali Patimokkha Exhortation Verse translated in Dhammayut Order in the United States of America 1994 includes the Buddha s famous dictum Not doing any evil doing what is skillful purifying one s own mind this is the Buddha s teaching This verse is familiar to many Westerners because it is rehashed in the widely popular Dhammapada chapter XIV verses 183 85 Thanissaro 1997a a b See http www accesstoinsight org lib authors kariyawasam wheel402 html ch3 Kariyawasam ch 3 Poya Days Seagan Danyel Buddhist Calendar ASTRAL TRAVELER www astraltraveler com Retrieved 26 March 2018 Davis Edward L 2009 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture Taylor amp Francis p 68 ISBN 9780415777162 Bibliography editBuddhadatta Mahathera A P 2002 Concise Pali English Dictionary Delhi Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 81 208 0605 0 Bullitt John T 2005 Uposatha Observance Days Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org ptf dhamma sila uposatha html Dhammayut Order in the United States of America 1994 A Chanting Guide Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org lib authors dhammayut chanting html Buswell Robert E Jr Lopez Donald S Jr 2013 Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism PDF Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 15786 3 archived PDF from the original on 12 June 2018 Dutt Sukumar 1988 Buddhist Monks and Monasteries of India Their History and Their Contribution to Indian Culture Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 978 81 208 0498 2 Getz D A 2004 Precepts in Buswell Robert E ed Encyclopedia of Buddhism Macmillan Reference USA Thomson Gale pp 673 5 ISBN 978 0 02 865720 2 Harvey Peter 1990 An introduction to Buddhism Teachings history and practices 1st ed Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 31333 3 Harvey Peter 2000 An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics Foundations Values and Issues PDF Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 511 07584 1 archived from the original PDF on 2019 04 12 retrieved 2018 12 05 Hung Ming jung Kuo Cheng deng Chen Gau yang July 2002 佛教的 過午不食 No food after midday precept sic Vikala Bhojana Veramani in Buddhism Buddhism and Science 3 2 51 64 ISSN 1607 2952 archived from the original on 4 December 2018 retrieved 5 December 2018 Kariyawasam A G S 1995 Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka The Wheel Publication No 402 404 Kandy Sri Lanka Buddhist Publication Society Retrieved 2007 10 22 from Access to Insight 1996 transcription at http www accesstoinsight org lib authors kariyawasam wheel402 html Keown Damien 2004 A Dictionary of Buddhism Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 157917 2 Khantipalo Bhikkhu 1982a Lay Buddhist Practice The Shrine Room Uposatha Day Rains Residence The Wheel No 206 207 Kandy Sri Lanka Buddhist Publication Society Also transcribed 1995 and available on line at http www accesstoinsight org lib authors khantipalo wheel206 html Khantipalo Bhikkhu trans 1982b Visakhuposatha Sutta The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices AN 8 43 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka an an08 an08 043 khan html Mahasi Sayadaw undated Practical Vipassana Exercises Buddha Dharma Education Association Available on line at http www buddhanet net pdf file mahasit1 pdf Nanavara Thera Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya amp Bhikkhu Kantasilo trans 1993 Uposatha Sila The Eight Precept Observance Thailand The Office of the Secretary of the Supreme Patriarch Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org lib authors nanavara uposatha html Narada Thera trans 1985 Maha mangala Sutta Blessings Sn 2 4 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka kn snp snp 2 04 nara html Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi trans and ed 1999 Numerical Discourses of the Buddha An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya Walnut Creek CA Altamira Press ISBN 0 7425 0405 0 Piyadassi Thera trans 1999a Karaniya Metta Sutta The Discourse on Loving kindness Sn 1 8 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka kn snp snp 1 08 piya html Piyadassi Thera trans 1999b Ratana Sutta The Jewel Discourse Sn 2 1 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka kn snp snp 2 01 piya html Rhys Davids T W amp Hermann Oldenberg trans 1881 Vinaya Texts Part I Oxford Clarendon Press Available on line at http www sacred texts com bud sbe13 sbe1313 htm The chapter on the Uposatha Second Khandhaka The Uposatha Ceremony and the Patimokkha is available at http www sacred texts com bud sbe13 sbe1313 htm The chapter on Pavarana Day Fourth Khandhaka The Paravana Ceremony is available at http www sacred texts com bud sbe13 sbe1315 htm Rhys Davids T W and William Stede The Pali Text Society s Pali English Dictionary 1921 25 Pali Text Society London Chipstead The entry on Uposatha is available on line at 1 A general on line search engine for the PED is available at http dsal uchicago edu dictionaries pali Tachibana S 1992 The Ethics of Buddhism Curzon Press ISBN 978 0 7007 0230 5 Terwiel Barend Jan 2012 Monks and Magic Revisiting a Classic Study of Religious Ceremonies in Thailand PDF Nordic Institute of Asian Studies ISBN 9788776941017 archived PDF from the original on 19 August 2018 Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans 1993 Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion SN 56 11 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka sn sn56 sn56 011 than html Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans 1997a Buddhavagga Awakened Dhp XIV Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka kn dhp dhp 14 than html Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans 1997b Muluposatha Sutta The Roots of the Uposatha AN 3 70 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka an an03 an03 070 than html Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans 1999 The Ten Recollections A Study Guide Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org lib study recollections html Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans 2006 Anapanasati Sutta Mindfulness of Breathing MN 118 Available on line at http www accesstoinsight org tipitaka mn mn 118 than html Watson Burton 1988 Buddhism in the Poetry of Po Chu i The Eastern Buddhist 21 1 1 22 JSTOR 44361818 Whitaker J S Smith D 2018 Ethics Meditation and Wisdom in Cozort Daniel Shields James Mark eds The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 106317 6External links edit Buddhist Ceremonies Festivals and Special Days on www buddhanet net Uposatha Observance Days on www accesstoinsight org 2016 Calendar of Uposatha Days The Rituals and Festivals of the Buddhist Life by Robert C Lester 1987 on buddhistgateway com Khmer Chhankitek Calendar by Robert C Lester 1987 cam cc orgLay Theravada Buddhist Practices viewtalkedit DAILY PRACTICES UPOSATHA OTHER3 Refuges 5 Precepts Offerings Bows Meditation Chanting Giving 8 Precepts Support of Monastics Pilgrimage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uposatha amp oldid 1175614079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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