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| The reddish tinged full moon Blood Moon (Mafleen/flickr.com via rawstory.com) |
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Happy Uposatha (Buddhist lunar observance day)! The full moon and rare lunar eclipse called the "blood moon" are tonight starting at 1:00 am, reaching maximum around 3:00 am PST, Wednesday morning.
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| Keep observance days (moon-faced-buddha) |
It is still being kept today in Buddhist countries, particularly in Theravada Southeast Asia. The Buddha taught that the uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind/heart," resulting in inner calm and joy (Ven. Thanissaro, The Roots of the Uposatha, Mul-uposatha Sutra, AN 3.70).
On this day, lay disciples (upasaka) and Buddhist monks and nuns 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 reaffirm daily practice of the Five Precepts by adopting the special Eight Precepts. It is a day for practicing meditation and the Buddha's teachings.
SUTRA: Roots of the Lunar Observance
Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.); Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) Roots of the Uposatha (AN 3.70)
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| The Buddha in front of the full moon, Thailand (HappySUN/flickr.com) |
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Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi at the Eastern Monastery, the multilevel monastery of Migara's mother.Now at that time -- the uposatha day -- Visakha, the mother of Migara, went to the Blessed One in the middle of the day, bowed, and sat respectfully to one side. Sitting there the Blessed One asked her, "Well now, Visakha, why are you coming in the middle of the day?"
"Venerable sir, today I am observing the uposatha."
"Visakha, there are these three uposathas:
- one of a cowherd
- one of the Jains [Niganthas], and
- the Uposatha of the Noble Ones.
Wednesday's tetrad Blood Moon
Early risers across much of the world are in for a treat on Wednesday morning -- a total lunar eclipse, also known as a “blood moon” due to the coppery, reddish color the moon takes as it passes into Earth’s shadow.
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| Viewed my stolen nude pix? Shame on you! |
The total eclipse is the second of four over a two-year period that began April 15 and concludes on Sept. 28, 2015. The so-called tetrad is unusual because the full eclipses are visible in all or parts of the United States, according to retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak.
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| Lunacy: full frontal team uniform change |
If cloudy skies are a problem, both NASA.gov and Slooh.com will be hosting live Webcasts. NASA’s begins at 3:00 am EDT and Slooh’s at 5:00 am EDT. More
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SUTRA (continued)
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| Jogyesa temple, Seoul (Jochen Hertweck/flickr) |
Just as a cowherd returns cattle to their owners in the evening reflecting, 'Today the cattle wandered to this and that spot, drank here and there and tomorrow will wander to this and that spot, drink here and there' -- in the same way, a certain person observing this day reflecting, 'Today I ate this sort of nonstaple food and that sort of staple food and tomorrow will eat this and that food.' One spends the day with awareness imbued with greed and covetousness.
Such is the uposatha of a cowherd, Visakha. When it is undertaken, it is not of great fruit or great benefit, not of great glory or great radiance.
"And what is the uposatha of the Jains? There are the wandering ascetics called the Niganthas (ones who own or cling to nothing, Jains). They get their disciples to undertake the following practice: 'Here, good person [many Jains, including ascetics, were females], set aside the rod (cudgel, whip, weapon) with regard to beings who live more than 100 leagues to the east... more than 100 leagues to the west... more than 100 leagues to the north... more than 100 leagues to the south.' In this way they get disciples to undertake kindness and sympathy to some beings but not to others.
"On the uposatha day, they also get their disciples to undertake the following practice: 'Here, good person, having stripped off all your clothing, say this: "I am nothing by anything or of anything. Thus there is nothing by anything or of anything that is mine."' But in spite of that, that person's parents know of that person, 'This is our child.' And one knows of them, 'These are my parents.' One's spouses [multiple wives] and children know of that person, 'This is our spouse and parent.' And onee knows of them, 'These are my spouses and children.' And one's workers and slaves know, 'This is our master.' And one knows of them, 'These are my workers and slaves.'
- [SLAVERY, an almost universal practice around the world at various times, did not mean what we consider American-European chattel slave trading based on race, but rather was something anyone could fall into for a time because of debt or circumstance, as the society dictated; the whole word meant something very different that is practiced even today in obcured ways, so one should not think the Buddha, Mahavira the leader of the Jains, Jesus (Christianity), or even Mohammed (Islam) were indifferent or approving of what we call slavery. Their followers may have been, but these founders were much more compassionate and understanding than even their followers usually give them credit for.]
"Thus at a time when one should be persuaded to undertake truthfulness [non-perjury], one is persuaded to undertake falsehood. At the end of the night, one resumes the consumption of one's belongings, even though they are not given back to that person [as if they had never really been renounced and relinquished or, if they had, they are simply misappropriated rather than being granted them again]. This counts as stealing, I tell you. Such is the uposatha of the Jains, Visakha.
"When this uposatha of the Jains is undertaken, it is not of great fruit or great benefit, not of great glory or great radiance.
"And what is the Uposatha of the Noble Ones? It is the cleansing of the defiled heart/mind through the proper technique. And how is the defiled mind/heart cleansed through the proper technique?
The Technique
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| The Buddha teaching (Nippon_newfie/flickr) |
"'Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in [liberating] knowledge and [proper] conduct, well-gone [and welcome, thus a "wayfarer"], wise with regard to this world, unexcelled as a trainer of persons fit to be tamed, a teacher of devas [divine shining ones, whether living in woodlands or in space] and human beings, awakened, blessed.'
"As one is recollecting the Tathagata, one's heart/mind is calmed, and joy arises. The defilements of his mind/heart are abandoned, just as when the head [hair] is cleansed through the proper technique. And how is the head cleansed through the proper technique?
"Through the use of cosmetic paste and [absorbent] clay and the appropriate human effort. This is how the head is cleansed through the proper technique. In the same way, the defiled heart/mind is cleansed through the proper technique.
"And how is the defiled mind/heart cleansed through the proper technique? In this case the disciple of the noble ones recollects the Tathagata... As one is recollecting the Tathagata, one's heart/mind is cleansed, and joy arises; the defilements of the mind/heart are abandoned.
"One is thus called a 'disciple of the noble ones' undertaking the supreme-observance (brahma-uposatha). One lives with Brahma [the "Supreme," a class of "gods" in Buddhist cosmology, whose glory and status is based on the merit of mastering the jhanas to various degrees, see The 31 Planes of Existence, here used as a synonym for the supremely enlightened Buddha].
"It is owing to Brahma that one's heart/mind is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever defilements there are in the mind/heart are abandoned. This is how the defiled heart/mind is cleansed through the proper technique.
"[Again, the Uposatha of the Noble Ones] is the cleansing of the defiled mind/heart through the proper technique. And how is the defiled heart/mind cleansed through the proper technique?
Recollecting (Mindfulness, Remembering)
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| Begin with breath, move on to body (BN) |
"The disciple of the noble ones [furthermore] recollects the [noble] Sangha [those enlightened by following the Dharma expounded by the Buddha] in this way...
"The disciple of the noble ones recollects one's own virtues in this way: '[They are] unbroken, untainted, unspotted, unsplattered, liberating, praised by the wise, untarnished, conducive to concentration.'
"As one is recollecting one's virtue, one's heart/mind is calmed, and joy arises; the defilements of the mind/heart are abandoned, just as when a mirror is cleansed through the proper technique.
"And how is a mirror cleansed through the proper technique? Through the use of oil and ashes and chamois and the appropriate human effort. This is how a mirror is cleansed through the proper technique.
"In the same way, the defiled heart/mind is cleansed through the proper technique. And how is the defiled mind/heart cleansed through the proper technique?
"The disciple of the noble ones recollects one's own virtues... As one is recollecting virtue, one's heart/mind is cleansed, and joy arises; the defilements of the mind/heart are abandoned. One is thus called a 'disciple of the noble ones' uposatha undertaking virtue.
"One lives with virtue. It is owing to virtue that one's heart/mind is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever defilements there are in the heart/mind are abandoned. This is how the defilements are cleansed through the proper technique.
"[Again, the Uposatha of the Noble Ones] is the cleansing... [And what is the proper technique?]
Recollecting the Devas
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| Surrounded by angels (devas), the birth of Siddhartha (Rainer Lott/Steffi Esch/flickr) |
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| Devas in space, like Sakka and asuras |
"Whatever confidence/conviction (faith, saddha) they were endowed with that -- when falling away from this life -- they re-arose there [in those superior planes of existence], the same sort of confidence/conviction is present in me as well.
"Whatever virtue they were endowed with that -- when falling away from this life -- they re-arose there, the same sort of virtue is present in me as well.
"Whatever learning [and consequent right view] they were endowed with that -- when falling away from this life -- they re-arose there, the same sort of learning is present in me as well.
"Whatever generosity they were endowed with that -- when falling away from this life -- they re-arose there, the same sort of generosity is present in me as well.
"Whatever wisdom they were endowed with that -- when falling away from this life -- they re-arose there, the same sort of wisdom is present in me as well.'
"As one is recollecting the devas, one's heart/mind is calmed, and joy arises; the defilements are abandoned, just as when gold is cleansed through the proper technique.
"And how is gold cleansed through the proper technique? Through the use of a furnace, salt, red chalk, a blow-pipe, tongs, and the appropriate human effort. This is how gold is cleansed through the proper technique.
"In the same way, the defiled mind/heart is cleansed through the proper technique. [And what is the proper technique?] The disciple of the noble ones recollects the devas...
"As one is recollecting the devas, one's heart/mind is cleansed, and joy arises; the defilements are abandoned. One is thus called a 'disciple of the noble ones' undertaking the Deva-Uposatha. One lives with the devas. It is owing to the devas that one's mind/heart is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever defilements there are are abandoned. This is how the defiled mind/heart is cleansed through the proper technique.
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones reflects in this way: 'As long as they live, the enlightened one (arhats) -- abandoning the taking of life (killing) -- abstain from the taking of life. They dwell with [weapons] laid down, scrupulous, merciful, full of concern (compassion) for the welfare of all living beings.
The Special Occasion Eight Precepts
"'Today I too, for this day and night [beginning the morning of the lunar observance for 24 hours] -- abandoning the taking of life -- abstain from the taking of life. I dwell with my rod laid down, my knife laid down, scrupulous, merciful, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. By means of this factor I emulate the enlightened ones, and my uposatha will be observed. [The same is said for all of the Eight Precepts:]
- [abandon the taking of life, or encouraging anyone to violate this precept, and abstain from it],
- abandon the taking of what is not given and abstain from it,
- abandon sexual activity and refrain from it [for this period],
- abandon false speech and abstain from false speech (instead speaking the truth, holding to the truth, firm, reliable, not deceivers of the world),
- abandon intoxicants and abstain from intoxicants,
- abandon eating at improper times and live on one [substantial] meal a day (abstaining from food at night, refraining from food at the wrong time of day [reckoned as being from noon until dawn the next day].
- abandon dancing, singing, music, watching [distracting] shows, wearing garlands, beautifying themselves with perfumes and cosmetics.
- abandon high and luxurious seats and beds and abstain from using them.
"Such is the Uposatha of the Noble Ones, Visakha. When this Uposatha of the Noble Ones is undertaken, it is of great fruit and great benefit, great glory and great radiance.
"And how is it of great fruit and great benefit, of great glory and great radiance?
16 Territories
"Suppose that one were to exercise rule and sovereignty over these 16 great lands [clan territories, janapadas] replete with the seven treasures -- that is, over the Angas, Maghadans, Kasis, Kosalans, Vajjians, Mallas, Cetis, Vansans, Kurus, Pañcalas, Macchas, Surasenas, Assakas, Avantis, Gandharans, and Kambojans [notice that no mention is made of the great Shakyans, the Scythians, outside of India in neighboring Indo-Scythia west of Gandhara and Kamboja]:
"It would not be worth one-sixteenth part [a common expression, interesting here insofar as it seems literal, but it actually means "a trifling amount"] of this uposatha endowed with eight factors. Why is that?
"Rulership over human beings is a meager thing when compared with celestial (heavenly) bliss. [For one thing, the average lifespans in those superior worlds and planes of existence are much longer than the human lifespan on Earth, which is variable and at times is only 10 years and at others is said to be 80,000 years in a cyclical Declining and Golden Ages].
Lifespans in space (heavens)
"Fifty human years are equal to one day and night among the Devas of the Four Great Sky Kings. Thirty such days and nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. [This translation seems doubtful or revised based on contemporary views because 28 days would make up a month, and 13 such months would make up a year (28x13=364) using the ancient Indian/Scythian/Asian lunar calendars and precise way of reckoning astronomical and astrological calculations].
Five hundred such celestial years constitute the lifespan among the Devas of the Four Great Sky Kings. Now, it is possible that a certain man or woman -- from having observed this uposatha endowed with eight factors -- on the breakup of the body, after death, might be reborn among the Devas of the Four Sky Great Kings.
"It was with reference to this that it was said, 'Rulership over human beings is a meager thing when compared with celestial bliss.'
"A human century is equal to one day and night among the Devas of the Thirty-Three. Thirty such days and nights make a month...[and so through the celestial worlds of the various Sensual Sphere planes, which pale in comparison to the lifespans in the Fine-Material and Immaterial Spheres, which can reach 80,000 aeons]. More
One abstains from killing or taking what is not given
From perjury, falsehood, or being a drinker of strong drink
From incelibacy, from being an eater at improper times,
Not sporting garlands, cosmetics, or scents
But sleeping instead on a mat, sitting on humble seats --
For this eight-factored uposatha has been proclaimed
By the Enlightened One as leading to the end of all suffering.
The Moon and Sun, both fair to see,
Shed radiance wherever they go.
They chase away darkness as they move through space,
Brightening the sky, illuminating all quarters.
Within their range is found manifold wealth
Within their range is found manifold wealth
Pearl, crystal, beryl, lucky-gem, platinum, nugget-gold,
And refined-gold called hataka.
Yet they -- like the light of all the stars combined
when compared to the Moon --
Are not worth 1/16th of the eight-factored uposatha.
So whoever -- be it man or woman --
Is endowed with the virtues of this eight-factored gem,
Having done meritorious deeds that produce bliss,
Is beyond reproach and goes to a celestial state.
Is beyond reproach and goes to a celestial state.
- Also see AN 8.43, AN 10.46, Ud 2.10, "Uposatha Observance Days" in the Path to Freedom Pages
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