Bhikkhu Khantipalo (trans.), Visakhuposatha Sutra: "Discourse to Visakha on the Lunar Observance with the Eight Practices" (AN 8.43, PTS: A iv 255); Dhr. Seven, Ellie Askew (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
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April 7th's full moon has many names: "Awakening Moon," "Pink," "Seed," "Sprouting Grass," "Pascal," "Egg" (c.f. "Goose-Egg" in Beard 1918), "Fish," "Frog," "Sap," "Spring Moon" (Farmers' Almanac).
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They scared us, "Fear the moon." The Church ruined the calendar, selling us fear-based "improvements." The moon, the planet's timekeeper, is good. It's natural. Just look up and know when things are. And 13 is good, like the 13 lunar months of four weeks each (13x28=364+plus Day Zero, New Year's Day=365). The moon marks the "sabbath" (uposatha) day in Buddhism, a Dharmic tradition.
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| Virtue/merit (good karma) is the way to happiness. |
Thus have I heard. At one time the Exalted One [the Buddha] was staying near Savatthi at the Eastern monastery in the mansion (given by) Migara's mother.
Then Visakha [Note 1], Migara's mother, approached the Exalted One, bowed, and sat respectfully in a suitable place [to one side]. When she was seated the Exalted One said:
"Visakha, when the lunar observance (uposatha) undertaken with its eight component practices [2] is entered on, it is of great (karmic) fruit, of great advantage, of great splendor, of great range.
"Visakha, how is the lunar observance undertaken with its eight component practices that, entered on, is of great fruit, great advantage, great splendor, and great range?
- Awakening Super Moon brightest of 2020 (smithsonianmag.com)
"Herein [3], Visakha, a noble disciple considers:
"'For all their lives enlightened disciples (arhats) dwell having abandoned taking the lives of living beings, refrain from killing living beings, they have laid down their cudgels, laid down their weapons.
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| The golden hued Buddha taught Visakha. |
"'I am one who has laid down my cudgel, laid down my weapon. I am conscientious, sympathetic, full of compassion for the good of all living beings. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'
"It is undertaken by this first practice.
"[One further considers:] 'For all their lives the enlightened disciples dwell having abandoned taking what is not given, refrain from taking what is not given.
"'Instead, they are takers [only] of what is given, those who expect only what is given, themselves become clean without thievery. So today I dwell, for this night and day, having abandoned taking what is not given, refraining from taking what is not given. I am a taker [only] of what is given, one who expects only what is given, and by myself become clean without thieving. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'
"It is undertaken by this second practice.
"[One further considers:] 'For all their lives the enlightened dwell having abandoned erotic (unchaste) conduct.
"'Instead, they are of chaste conduct, living reserved, refraining from sex which is the way of common society. So today I dwell, for this night and day, having abandoned unchaste conduct.
"'Instead, I am of chaste conduct, living reserved, refraining from sex which is the common way of society. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'
"It is undertaken by this third practice. ….
What is the result?
"Visakha, thus indeed is the lunar observance entered on and undertaken with its eight component practices, of great fruit, of great advantage, of great splendor, of great range.
"How great a fruit? How great an advantage? How great a splendor? How great a range?
"Visakha, it is just as though one might have power, dominion, and rulership [11] over 16 great countries abounding in the Seven Treasures [12] — that is to say, Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji, Malla, Ceti, Vansa, Kure, Pancala, Maccha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja. Yet it is not worth a 16th part of the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices.
For what reason? Miserable is rulership over humans compared with celestial (heavenly) bliss.
"Visakha, that which among humans is 50 years is one night and day of the shining ones (devas) of the Four Great Kings, their month has 30 of those days, their year twelve of those months. The lifespan of the shining ones of the Four Great Kings is 500 [figuratively "a large number"] of those heavenly years.
"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance, undertaken with its eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with those shining ones of the Four Great Kings. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.
"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss. …
"Visakha, that which among humans is 1,600 years is one night and day of the shining ones with sway over others' creations (paranimmitavasavatti devas), their month has 30 of those days, their year 12 of those months. The lifespan of those shining ones is 16,000 of those heavenly years.
"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance undertaken with the eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with the these being. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.
"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss.
[The devotee Vasettha, when he heard this discourse, after the Buddha had finished speaking the above verses, exclaimed:]
"Venerable sir, if my dear kin and relatives were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"Venerable sir, if all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers [the four castes] were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day."
[The Buddha replied:] "So it is, Vasettha. If all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"If this world with its shining ones, destroyers, creators (devas, maras, and brahmas), this generation [of humans] with its shamans and Brahmins [wandering ascetics and temple priests], together with its rulers and humankind were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"Vasettha, if these great sal trees were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day, that is to say, if they were [like humans]. What to say of humans!" — [PTS iv. p.259] More
NOTES
What is the result?
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| Countless worlds in 31 Planes of Existence |
"How great a fruit? How great an advantage? How great a splendor? How great a range?
"Visakha, it is just as though one might have power, dominion, and rulership [11] over 16 great countries abounding in the Seven Treasures [12] — that is to say, Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji, Malla, Ceti, Vansa, Kure, Pancala, Maccha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja. Yet it is not worth a 16th part of the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices.
For what reason? Miserable is rulership over humans compared with celestial (heavenly) bliss.
"Visakha, that which among humans is 50 years is one night and day of the shining ones (devas) of the Four Great Kings, their month has 30 of those days, their year twelve of those months. The lifespan of the shining ones of the Four Great Kings is 500 [figuratively "a large number"] of those heavenly years.
"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance, undertaken with its eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with those shining ones of the Four Great Kings. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.
"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss. …
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| Full moon, Supermoon, Minneapolis (Wiki) |
"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance undertaken with the eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with the these being. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.
"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss.
"Take no life,
nor take what is not given,
speak no lie,
nor be a drinker of toxic drinks,
refrain from sex and unchaste conduct,
at not at night or out-of-time food,
neither wear garlands
nor indulge with perfume,
and make your bed a mat upon the ground:
This indeed is called the
eight-part lunar observance
taught by the Buddha
gone to disappointment's end.
The radiance of the sun and moon,
both beautiful to see,
follow on from each other,
dispelling the darkness
as they go through the heavens,
illumining the sky
and brightening the quarters
and the treasure found between them:
pearls and crystals
and auspicious turquoises,
gold nuggets and the gold called ore,
monetary gold
with gold dust carried down —
compared with the eight-part
lunar observance,
though they are enjoyed,
are not a 16th part —
as the shining of the moon
in all the groups of stars.
Hence indeed the woman and the man
who are virtuous
enter on lunar observance
having eight parts
and having made merits [14]
bringing forth happiness
blameless they obtain heavenly abodes."
— PTS iv. pp.255-258
[The devotee Vasettha, when he heard this discourse, after the Buddha had finished speaking the above verses, exclaimed:]
"Venerable sir, if my dear kin and relatives were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"Venerable sir, if all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers [the four castes] were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day."
[The Buddha replied:] "So it is, Vasettha. If all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"If this world with its shining ones, destroyers, creators (devas, maras, and brahmas), this generation [of humans] with its shamans and Brahmins [wandering ascetics and temple priests], together with its rulers and humankind were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.
"Vasettha, if these great sal trees were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day, that is to say, if they were [like humans]. What to say of humans!" — [PTS iv. p.259] More
NOTES
1. Visakha: a very generous female lay disciple who, by listening frequently to the Dharma, became a stream-winner (first stage of enlightenment) and who was, perhaps, already a noble disciple (ariya) when this discourse was spoken.
2. Anga: literally, limb; part, component, practice; here meaning practices composing the uposatha or "lunar observance."
3. "Herein": meaning "in the dispensation of the Buddha or Buddha-sasana," the Buddha's instructions or teachings.
4. Lajji: one who has shame or scruples (hiri) about doing harm, and aversion or fear of wrongdoing (ottappa), the two qualities which are called "the world guardians."
5. Saccasandha: "They join the truth" (Commentary).
6. Theta: literally, "firm, established," that is, in the experience of ultimate truth.
7. Paccayika: truth that has been seen by perceiving its conditional arising.
8. Buddhist monastics do not eat from midday until the following dawn.
9. "High beds" refers to beds that are soft and luxurious.
10. Large beds means those in which two people can sleep.
11. Rajjam: lit., "kingship," but meaning generally great authority.
12. The Seven Treasures: gold, silver, pearl, crystal, turquoise, diamond, and coral.
13. If calculated in human years, the devas or shining ones of the Four Great Kings live 9,000,000 years; shining ones of the World of the Thirty-Three 36,000,000 years; of the Yama 144,000,000 years; of the Tusita 576,000,000 years; of the Nimmanarati 2,304,000,000 years; of the Paranimminitavasavatti devas the life is 9,216,000,000 years. Humans can live at most one day in the life of the devas of the World of the Thirty-Three. It is worth reading the story in the Dhammapada Commentary (Buddhist Legends, Harvard Oriental Series, Vol. 29, reissued by the Pali Text Society, London, 1969), called "Husband-Honorer," which brings to life this comparative time scale.
14. Merit (puñña): good karma, which purifies and cleanses the mind/heart of the doer, such as the practice of the three ways of merit-making: giving, moral conduct (keeping precepts), and meditation.
- See AN 3.70, AN 10.46, Ud 2.10, "Uposatha Observance Days"
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