The Lunar Observance (sutra): Blood Moon

Dhr. Seven and Amber Larson (trans.), Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly (AN 8.41)

The Moon in eclipse goes red, but a tetrad of events? (goingglobaleastmeetswest)

Blood moon means something's about to change. The Hagee says so! (phoenixaquua)

 
Bad Lunar Observing

Look, omens in the sky! (endoftheworld)

The world will end tonight under the blood moon... (but will resume in the next sub-moment almost, but not exactly, the same; every sub-moment is that way: arising, turning, and passing away).

One day it will not resume in only a slightly different way, but that is as yet far away.

OMG, the Bible says so!

At that time of destruction with seven suns, the world evaporates and overheats, presumably with cosmic rays and an uncountable number of interacting neutrinos.

While the world yet remains, how should one observe the lunar days? These are Eight Precepts observed weekly by lay Buddhists as an intensive temporary practice (for one full day) on the new moon, quarter moon, half moon, and full moon.

The Good Lunar Observance

The Moon (Luna, Chandra) goes through phases (melissahardytrevenna)

  

Another moon every week

Thus have I heard. At one time the [Buddha] was residing in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's hermitage, near the city of Savatthi. Having called together the monastics, he addressed them: "Meditators!"

They answered in assent, "Venerable sir!" (This allowed them to prepare themselves to hear the following sutra). The Blessed One then taught them this Dharma regarding the lunar observance (uposatha).

 

"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of eight factors observed by the noble disciple. Their observation brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit. 

"Meditators, what is the lunar observance observed by noble disciples that brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit?"

"Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma-and-Discipline reflect in the following way:

Life

All beings desire to live (kyivpost.com)

1. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up the intentional taking of life (killing). The cudgel and sword have been laid aside. They dread (doing harm) and are instead compassionate toward all beings.'

 

"All of you have given up the intentional taking of life... For this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the first factor.

• See karma (deeds); sila (virtue)

Stealing

It's not stealing if dictators do it? (Olle)

2. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up taking what has not been given (stealing). They take only what is given, are intent on taking only what is given. They are not thieves. Their behavior is spotless.'

 

"All of you have given up the taking of what has not been given... For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened... This is the second factor.

Sex

Let's split! - I'm behind you and ready to slip.

3. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring (supreme life). Their [passionless] practice is like that of a brahma. They are far from sexual practices [even further from sexual misconduct], which is a practice of ordinary lay people.'

 

"All of you have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring and behave like a brahma. Your behavior is far from sexual practices. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the third factor.

 
Speech

No, I said no strings attached (SH).

4. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up false speech [musavada: perjury, backbiting, tale bearing, idle chatter]. They utter only the truth and are intent on the truth. Their speech is firm and composed of reason. Their speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world.'

 

"All of you have given up false speech. You speak only the truth and are intent only on what is true. Your speech is firm and full of reason. Your speech does not waver from the world's mainstay. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fourth factor.
 
Intoxication

Getting high can end up low (cracked.com)

5. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up the taking of intoxicants causing carelessness. They are far from intoxication.'
 

"All of you have given up the taking of intoxicants. You abstain from (drinking alcohol and) intoxicants that cause carelessness. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fifth factor.
 
Eating

Snacking is cheating and the way to be fat.

6. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, eat at the proper time and not outside of it [taken to mean between dawn and noon]. They abstain from food at improper times (vikala bhojana).'
 

"All of you eat at the proper time only and do not partake of food after. You abstain from food at improper times. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the sixth factor."
 

Distractions

If an ad says so, it must be good.

7. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments and the watching of [distracting] entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. Nor do they deck themselves in jewelry, ornaments, or perfume.'
 

"All of you have given up these things, which are stumbling blocks to the wholesome. You do not deck yourselves in jewelry, ornaments, or perfume. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the seventh factor."
 
Beds

I love sleeping with my "knitted boyfriend" body pillow. He's my yarn creation.

 
8. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up using large or high beds. They are content with simple accommodations (low beds or bedding made of grass).'
 

"All of you have given up using large or high beds. You are content with simple accommodations. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the eighth factor."
 

"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of these eight factors, which thenoble observes, and it is of great and glorious fruit and benefit."
 

So said the Blessed One spoke on the night of the lunar observance, and the monastics were delighted and rejoiced at his words. Questions and Answers