Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Wolf Moon (Lunar Observance)

Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; EarthSky.org (Jan. 4-5, 2015)
Liberated Buddha statue in front of Moon, Thailand (happySUN/flickr.com)
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)
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.
 
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 One's disciples who have practiced well... More
at

No comments:

Post a Comment