Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; EarthSky.org (Jan. 4-5, 2015)
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| Liberated Buddha statue in front of Moon, Thailand (happySUN/flickr.com) |
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| Italy via Osservatorio Astronomico U. di Siena. |
Tonight, the moon is full. This full moon falls on January 5, 2015 at 4:53 UT.
Although the moon turns full at the same instant worldwide, the clock
time -- and possibly the date -- differs by time zone.
For the mainland
United States, the moon reaches the crest of its full phase on this Sunday evening on January 4 at 11:53 pm EST, 10:53 pm CST, 9:53 pm MST or 8:53 pm PST.
The January 2015 full moon is the first full moon after the December
21 solstice. In North America, we often this full moon the Wolf Moon,
Old Moon, or Moon After Yule.
Astronomically speaking, the moon is full at the moment that it’s most opposite the sun in its orbit (180o from the sun in celestial or ecliptic
longitude). For general reference, however, we can say the moon is full
all night tonight, lighting up the nighttime from dusk until dawn. More
Moon-Days: Lunar Observance
Ven. Thanissaro (trans) edited by Wisdom Quarterly, "The Roots of the Lunar Observance," Muluposatha Sutra (AN 3.70)
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| Pointing at Moon (thedailyenlightenment.com) |
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi at the Eastern Monastery, the palace of Migara's mother.
Now at that time -- the lunar observance (uposatha) day -- Visakha,
Migara's mother, went to the Blessed One in the middle of the day, bowed, and sat respectfully to one side. The Blessed One said to her: "Well now, Visakha, why are
you coming in the middle of the day?"
"Today I am observing the uposatha, venerable sir."
"Visakha, there are these three uposathas. What are the three? The Cowherd's Uposatha, the Jains' Uposatha, and the Noble Ones' Uposatha.
"And what is the first? Just as
when returning cattle to their owners in the evening, the cowherd
reflects: 'Today the cattle wandered to that spot and this, drank at
this spot and that. Tomorrow they will wander to that spot and this,
will drink at this spot and that' -- in the same way, a certain person observing the uposatha reflects, 'Today I ate
this sort of food and that sort of food. Tomorrow I
will eat that sort of food and this sort of food.' One
spends the day with consciousness imbued with that covetousness, that greed. Such is the observance 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 that of the Jains? There are some wandering ascetics called the Niganthas
(those free of possessions, thought to refer to the Jains). They get their disciple to undertake the following practice:
'Here, disciple, lay down the rod 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.' So they get their disciple to undertake harmlessness and sympathy
to some beings but not to others.
"On the lunar observance day they get their disciple to undertake the
following practice: 'Here, disciple, 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."' Yet in spite of
that, one's parents know of that person, 'This is our child.' And that person knows of
them, 'These are my parents.' Spouses and children know, 'This is our spouse and parent.' And that person knows of them,
'These are my spouses and children.'
One's workers and slaves know, 'This is our master.' And one knows of them, 'These are my
workers and slaves.' Thus at a time when one should be persuaded to
undertake truthfulness, one is persuaded to undertake falsehood. At the
end of the night, one resumes the consumption (use) of one's belongings, even
though they are not given back. This counts as stealing, I tell
you. Such is the lunar observance of the Jains, Visakha. When this observance of
the Jains is undertaken, it is not of great fruit or great benefit, not
of great glory or great radiance.
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| The finger is not the Moon (sun-faced...) |
"And what is the Noble Ones' Uposatha? It is the cleansing of
the defiled mind/heart through the proper technique. And how is the defiled
mind cleansed through the proper technique?
"The disciple of
the noble ones recollects the Wayfarer (Tathagata) in this way: 'Indeed, the Blessed One
is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge and proper
conduct, well-gone, a knower of the world, unexcelled as a
trainer for those persons fit to be tamed, teacher of devas and
humans, enlightened, blessed.'
As one is recollecting the Wayfarer, one's mind is calmed, and joy arises. The defilements of mind/mind are
abandoned, just as when the head is cleansed
through the proper technique. And how is the head cleansed through the
proper technique?
Through the use of cosmetic paste, clay, and
appropriate human effort. This is the
proper [effective] technique for how the head is cleansed. In the same way, the defiled mind/heart is cleansed through
the proper technique. And how is the defiled mind cleansed through the
proper technique?
The disciple of the noble ones
recollects the Wayfarer... As one is recollecting the Wayfarer, one's
mind is cleansed, and joy arises. The defilements of mind/heart are
abandoned. One is thus called a disciple of the noble ones undertaking
the supreme lunar observance (Brahma-Uposatha).
One lives with Brahma [literally, the "supreme," in this case not Maha Brahma but the Buddha]. It is owing to
Brahma that one's mind/heart is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever
defilements there are in one's mind are abandoned. This is how the defiled
mind/geart 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 mind/heart
cleansed through the proper technique?
"The disciple of
the noble ones recollects the Dharma in this way: 'The Dharma is
well-expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen here and now, timeless (unaffected by time),
inviting investigation, pertinent, to be realized by the wise for
themselves.'
As one is recollecting the Dharma, one's mind/heart is calmed, and
joy arises. The defilements of one's mind/heart are abandoned, just as when the body is cleansed through the proper technique. And how is the body cleansed through the proper technique?
Through the use of scouring balls and bath powder and
appropriate human effort. This is the
proper technique for how the body is cleansed. In the same way, the defiled mind/heart 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 the Dharma... As one is recollecting the Dharma, one's mind/heart is
cleansed, and joy arises. The defilements of one's mind/heart are abandoned. One
is thus called a disciple of the noble ones undertaking the
Dharma-Uposatha. One lives with Dharma. It is owing to Dharma that one's
mind is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever defilements there are
in one's mind/heart are abandoned. This is how the defiled mind/heart 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 mind/heart
cleansed through the proper technique?
"The disciple of
the noble ones recollects the [Noble] Sangha [the community of lay and monastics who have attained stream entry or better] in this way: 'The Sangha of the Blessed
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