Eight Precept Lunar Observance (Sabbath)

Ven. Kantasilo (trans.), Uposatha Sila, written by Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (Ñanavara Thera) (accesstoinsight.org); Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

New [computer generated/manipulated] images [not photos] from Moon (Intuitive Machines/X)

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Lunar Observance Discourse (Uposatha Sutta)

Let's read the words of the Buddha.

Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One [the Buddha] was residing in Jetavana, the monastery of Anathapindika, near Savatthi. At that time the Blessed One, having called all the bhikkhus [meditators, monastics, monks] together, addressed them thus: "Meditators!" The monks answered in assent: "Venerable sir!" (The meditators then prepared themselves for the following teaching.) The Blessed One then gave the following teaching on Uposatha [the Sabbath Day observed each week according to the phases of the moon].

"Meditators, the Lunar Observance (Uposatha) is comprised of eight factors, which the noble (Ariyan) disciple observes, the observance of which brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit.

"Meditators, what is the Lunar Observance which, observed by the noble disciples, brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit?"

1. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine [Dhamma, Teaching, Doctrine-and-Discipline] reflect thus:

Killing is cool in Zionist-Judaism. Just ask Gal.

"'All enlightened ones (arahants), for as long as life lasts, have given up the intentional taking of life (panatipata). The club and sword have been laid down. They have shame (of doing wrong, doing harm) and are compassionate towards all beings.'

"All of you have given up the intentional taking of life, have put down all weapons, are possessed of shame (of doing wrong) and are compassionate towards all beings.

"For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the fully enlightened, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the first factor of the Lunar Observance."

2. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

Amazon's not stealing, Leo. - No, Jeff, yer girl

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, have given up taking what has not been given (adinnadana). 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, are ones who do not take what is not given, are intent on taking only what is given, are not thieves. Your behavior is spotless. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened one, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the second factor of the Lunar Observance."

3. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

But sex and war turn the world we live in.

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, have given up [sexual intercourse or] that which is an obstacle to the supreme-faring (abrahma-cariya). Their practice is like that of a divinity (brahma). They are far from sexual intercourse, which is a practice of lay people.'

"All of you have given up that which is an obstacle to the supreme-faring and behave like a divinity. Your behavior is far from sexual intercourse. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the third factor of the Lunar Observance."

New breathtaking CGI from the Moon

4. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, have given up the telling of lies (musavada = false speech).

• [It is not lies alone but "false speech," which elsewhere is more fully defined as 1) bearing false witness, 2) harsh speech, 3) divisive speech, and 4) idle or frivolous speech, all of which seems to earn it the shorthand label "lying." Full definition at the "Ten Courses of Unwholesome Karma"].

"'They utter only the truth and are intent on the truth [honesty, accuracy, factuality]. Their speech is firm and is composed of reason. Their speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world.'

To deceive the world is a terrible thing.

"All of you have given up the telling of lies. You speak only the truth and are intent only on that which is true. Your speech is firm and with reason. Your speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the fourth factor of the Lunar Observance."

5. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

Nah, it's alright, Man, it's legal and I ani't drunk.

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, have given up the taking of liquor and intoxicants (sura-meraya-majja-pamadatthana), of that which intoxicates, causing carelessness [negligence, heedlessness, leading to regrettable deeds]. They are far from intoxicants.'

"All of you have given up the taking of liquors and intoxicants. You abstain from drink which causes carelessness. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the fifth factor of the Lunar Observance."

6. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

What? But it's morning. Dawn has broken.

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, eat at one time only and given up partaking of food in the evening [eat only during one period of the day, now set between daybreak and noon], but it was not always this way, and Buddhist monastics used to be allowed to eat in the evening until that was deemed too troublesome for donors and alms seekers]. They abstain from food at the 'wrong time' (vikala bhojana).'

"All of you eat at one time only [delimiting the span of time during which to eat not the number of meals, which usually includes breakfast and lunch] and do not partake of food in the evening. You abstain from food at the 'wrong time.' For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the sixth factor of the Lunar Observance."

7. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

What's wrong with lettin' loose?

"'All enlightened one, for as long as life lasts, have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments and the watching of [base] entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. Nor do they bedeck themselves with ornaments, flowers, or cosmetics.'

"All of you have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments and the watching of [base] entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. You do not bedeck yourselves with ornaments, flowers, or cosmetics. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the seventh factor of the Lunar Observance."

8. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Doctrine reflect thus:

"Large" means with space for more than one.

"'All enlightened ones, for as long as life lasts, have given up lying on large or high beds. They are content with low beds or bedding made of grass.'

"All of you have given up lying on large or high beds. You are content with low beds or beds made of grass. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the enlightened ones, and the Lunar Observance will have been observed by you. This is the eighth factor of the Lunar Observance."

What is enough to sleep on and be healthy?

"Meditators, the Lunar Observance is comprised of these eight factors, which the noble disciple observes, and it is [karma] of great and glorious fruit and benefit."

Thus the Blessed One spoke on the Lunar Observance. The meditators were delighted and rejoiced at his words. CONTINUED (EXPLANATION OF SUTRA WITH Q&A)

• Unedited source: Uposatha Sila: Eight-Precept Observance (accesstoinsight.org)

Me 'n My Buddha: Our Search for Liberation

Simpsons; Harry Nilsson "Me and My Arrow"; Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

The Simpsons: Lisa's path to Buddhism

Richard Gere, are you peeking?

(Manda Flax) The famous American TV show The Simpsons, which has run longer and more successfully than any other, except maybe Survivor, once had an episode called "My Way or the Highway to Heaven." It was Season 30, Episode 3, and here's a clip. Lisa was already a Buddhist from way back, even before Bart went Zen.

My Way or the Highway to Heaven (plot)

In heaven, God and St. Peter are visited by the Buddha, who encourages them to open heaven to other religions.

Back on earth, in Sunday School, Lisa tells her class that besides redemption and good works (wholesome karma), there is The Bodhisattva's Way of Enlightenment. She then shares a story she calls “The Princess not affiliated with Disney, unless we are now owned by Disney.”

In Lumbini, outside the Shakya Kingdom during the 6th century BCE, a spoiled princess Siddmartha (a female version of Buddhism's founder Siddhārtha) remained dissatisfied despite having it all. She sought a Middle Way between extreme austerities and decadence.

Carl, shouldn't we be chanting? - Yes, Lenny.

She ventured out of the palace disguised as a poor boy. In search of scholars she goes to Kathmandu U. but frustratingly finds the university a party school.

Being void of ideas, she opts instead to sit under a Bodhi Tree until she awakens enlightened.

Meanwhile, back in heaven, St. Peter notices that Lisa is a good person, a good Buddhist, and God agrees that “all the good souls are welcome.”

Lisa should do yoga, too. Right, Homer? - Huh, what, Marge?

Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg (KCRW FM)

Life Examined (kcrw.com, 6/25/23); Crystal Q., Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Sharon Salzberg was 18 when she left New York to travel in India in search of Truth.

Tara Brach on the transformative power of radical compassion (mindful.org)

AUDIO: American Buddhist teachers Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg  (KCRW FM)

Who is psychologist Tara Brach?

Tara Brach on meditation, emotional healing, spiritual awakening (thoughteconomics.com)

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Dr. Tara Brach, Ph.D. (born May 17, 1953) is an American psychologist, author, and Buddhist meditator.

She is a guiding teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C. (IMCW). Brach also teaches Buddhist meditation at centers for meditation and yoga in the United States and Europe, including Spirit Rock Meditation Center near San Francisco, California; the Kripalu Center; and the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies.

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Tara Brach talks: audio and video (tarabrach.com)

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Brach is an Engaged Buddhist, specializing in the application of Buddhist teachings like mindfulness meditation for emotional healing.

She has authored several books on these subjects, including Radical Acceptance, True Refuge, and Radical Compassion. More

Release feelings of unworthiness with Tara Brach in this Calm Masterclass (blog.calm.com)

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Who is awakened American Sharon Salzberg?

Key to meditation: "Begin again."

Sharon Salzberg (born August 5, 1952) is a Buddhist teacher and New York Times bestselling author. She teaches meditation practice in the West.

In 1974, she co-founded the Insight Meditation Society outside Boston, in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow teachers Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein. Her emphasis is on insight meditation (vipassanā) and loving-kindness (mettā).

She has been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades, with methods originating in Theravada Buddhism.

I meditate. Mind wanders. Begin again.

Her books include Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (1995), A Heart as Wide as the World (1999), Real Happiness - The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program (2010), which was on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2011, and the follow-up Real Happiness at Work (2013).

She runs the Metta Hour podcast and contributes monthly to a column On Being. More

Quotes: Buddhist and Ancient Roman (video)

While the Buddha didn't say this as such, the sentiment is certainly a good one and true.

Ancient philosophers' life lessons people wished they knew sooner

(Quotes) Jan. 3, 2023. This livestream is made from the best quotes in the world and we expect these life quotes to make us change our attitude to the world. These quotes are worth noting or taking screenshots of to save them in a collection for inspiration. On this quotes stream, quotes are broadcasting 24/7. #quotes 

Top 30 Buddha quotes on life that can teach us beautiful life lessons

(Words of Wisdom) Jan. 8, 2021 Gautam Buddha (the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama) was one of the greatest enlightened persons on earth. Here are some of the best quotes attributed to him -- even though many were never said by him but are beautiful or strange translations of something he did say. In any case, they can teach us some valuable life lessons. #words_of_wisdom_channel

• wordsofwisdomquotes.com
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Sutra: Advice to Rahula at Mango Stone

Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Ambalatthika-Rahulovada Sutra: "Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone" (MN 61, Mi 414), based on Ven. Thanissaro (trans.), Wisdom Quarterly

Family: Rahula, the Buddha, and Ananda

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One (the Buddha) was staying near Rajagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.

At that time Ven. Rahula [the Buddha's son, a monastic* in training at age 7 (Comy.)] was staying at the Mango Stone. Then the Blessed One, arising from his meditative seclusion in the late afternoon, went there. Ven. Rahula saw him approaching from afar and set out a seat and water to wash his feet.

The Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared for him and washed his feet. Ven. Rahula, bowed and sat respectfully to one side.

Then the Blessed One, having left a little bit of water in the water dipper, said to Ven. Rahula: "Rahula, do you see this small amount of water remaining in the dipper?"

"Yes, venerable sir."

"That's how little of a monastic* there is in anyone who feels no shame at telling a deliberate lie."

Having tossed away the little leftover water, the Blessed One said to Ven. Rahula: "Rahula, do you see how this small amount of water is tossed away?"

"Yes, venerable sir."

"Rahula, whatever there is of a monastic in anyone who feels no shame at telling a deliberate lie is tossed away just like that."

Having turned the water dipper upside down, the Blessed One said to Ven. Rahula: "Rahula, do you see how this water dipper is turned upside down?"

"Yes, venerable sir."

"Rahula, whatever there is of a monastic in anyone who feels no shame at telling a deliberate lie is turned upside down just like that."

Having turned the water dipper right side up, the Blessed One said to Ven. Rahula: "Rahula, do you see how empty and hollow this water dipper is?"

"Yes, venerable sir."

"Rahula, whatever there is of a monastic in anyone who feels no shame at telling a deliberate lie is empty and hollow just like that.

"Rahula, it's like a royal elephant: mighty, of good pedigree, accustomed to battle, its tusks like chariot poles. Having gone into battle, it uses its forefeet and hindfeet, its forequarters and hindquarters, its head and ears, its tusks and tail. But it keeps protecting its trunk. The elephant trainer notices and thinks:

"'This royal elephant has not given up its life to the king.' But when the royal elephant...having gone into battle, uses its limbs and his trunk, the trainer notices and thinks: 'This royal elephant has given up its life to the king. There is nothing it will not do.'

"In the same way, Rahula, when anyone feels no shame in telling a deliberate lie, there is no harm (wrong), I tell you, he will not do. Thus, Rahula, train yourself, 'I will not tell a deliberate lie even in jest.'

"What do you think, Rahula, what is a mirror for?"

"For reflection, venerable sir."

"In the same way, Rahula, bodily, verbal, and mental actions (deeds, karma) are to be done with repeated reflection.

"Whenever you want to do a bodily action, reflect on it: 'This bodily action I want to do, would it lead to my harm, the harm of others, or both? Would it be an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-harm, the harm of others, or to both, that it would be an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do.

"But if on reflection you know that it would not cause harm...it would be a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any bodily action of that sort is fit for you to do.

"While you are doing a bodily action, reflect on it: 'This bodily action I am doing, is it leading to self-harm, to the harm of others, or to both? Is it an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it is leading to self-harm, to the harm of others, or to both...give it up.

"But if on reflection you know that it is not...you may continue with it.

"Having done a bodily action, reflect on it: 'This bodily action I have done, did it lead to self-harm, to the harm of others, or to both? Was it an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?'

"If, on reflection, you know that it led to self-harm, to the harm of others, or to both, it was an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then confess it, reveal it, lay it open to the Teacher or to a knowledgeable companion in the supreme [monastic] life. Having confessed it...exercise restraint in the future.

"But if on reflection you know that it did not lead to harm...it was a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then stay elated and joyful, training day and night in skillful mental states.

• [The same is then said for verbal and mental actions.]

"Rahula, all those Brahmins and [wandering ascetic] monastics in the course of the past who purified their bodily, verbal, and mental actions did it through repeated reflection on their bodily, verbal, and mental actions in this way.

"All those Brahmins and monastics in the course of the future who will purify their bodily, verbal, and mental actions will do it through repeated reflection on their bodily, verbal, and mental actions in this way.

"All those Brahmins and monastics at present who purify their bodily, verbal, and mental actions do it through repeated reflection on their bodily, verbal, and mental actions in this way.

"Thus, Rahula, train yourself: 'I will purify my bodily actions through repeated reflection. I will purify my verbal actions through repeated reflection. I will purify my mental actions through repeated reflection.' This is how to train yourself."

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Rahula delighted in the Blessed One's words. More

*NOTE: Throughout ancient cultures, the terminology of music was used to describe the moral quality of people and actions. Discordant intervals or poorly tuned musical instruments were metaphors for wrongdoing (harm). Harmonious intervals and well-tuned instruments were metaphors for good. In Pali, the term sama ("even") described a tuned instrument. There is a famous passage (AN 6.55) where the Buddha reminds Sona Kolivisa — who had been over-exerting himself in his spiritual practice — that a lute sounds appealing only if the strings are neither too tight nor too loose but "evenly" tuned. This image has special resonance with the Buddha's teaching on the Middle Way, which avoids the two extremes of sensual indulgence and self mortification. It also adds meaning to the term samana ("monastic" or "wandering ascetic"), which the texts frequently mention as being derived from sama. The word samañña ("evenness," the characteristic or quality of being in tune) also means the quality of being a monastic: The true monastic is always in tune with what is proper and good.

• See also: MN 62, MN 147

Why in the heck would I let go?! (video)

Fearless Soul (YouTube, Aug. 28, 2018); Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

How to move on, let go, and leave the past in the past (powerful speech)

(Fearless Soul) If I want to let go and know that it's good to let go, but I can't let go, what can I do? One thing is to listen to or read this: TRANSCRIPT.

It's a monkeypot trap! Let go ASAP! Now!!!

"Let it go. The things that have happened in the past... the things that aren’t happening right now... Let it go. If you want to be free, stop locking yourself into the prison of your past. If you want to see the light... Stop holding yourself in the darkness of your past."

Speakers: VIDEO ONE: Tyrone Stokes. VIDEO TWO: Oprah Winfrey, Eckhart Tolle, William Hollis CREDITS: Video ONE: Filming by: Adele Brodskaja. Cast: Jonathan Salem. Achraff E. Lucy Wrede, Catalina Nunez. Assistance: Thomas & Zoe d’Aboy. VIDEO TWO: Footage from StokHub Speech is "BEST REVENGE."

Download or stream speeches by Fearless Soul now on iTunes, Spotify, GooglePlay, AmazonMP3, Apple Music, Worldwide MP3 Download. 

Official website: iamfearlesssoul.com, facebook.com/iamfearlesss..., twitter.com/911well, twitter.com/iamfearlesssoul, instagram.com/iamfearless.... Listen to Fearless Soul every day by phone: iTunes, Spotify,  GooglePlay, AmazonMP3, Apple Music, Worldwide MP3 Download. Loved this? Please share it and spread the message on social media. #LetGo #MoveOn #OprahWinfrey

Ajahn Chah: When we don’t want anything

Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org) via Ven. Sujato, Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

But I'm a spiritual consumer. I need experiences!

Mental activity is like a deadly venomous cobra. If we interfere not with a cobra, it simply goes its own way.

Even though it may be extremely venomous, we are not affected by it. We neither go near it nor take hold of it, so it doesn't bite us. The cobra does what's natural for a cobra to do. That's the way it is.

If we are wise, we'll leave it alone. Likewise, we let be that which is not good: We let it be according to it's own nature.

We also let be that which is good. We don't grasp at and grab on to liking and disliking, just as we wouldn't interfere with a cobra.

Relax. It's okay. Nothing is under control.

One who is wise will have this kind of attitude towards the various moods that arise in the mind/heart.

When goodness arises, we let it be good. We understand its nature. In the same way, we let be the not-good. We let it be according to its nature.

We don't take hold of it because we don't want anything. We don't want evil. We don't want good. We neither want heaviness nor lightness, happiness nor suffering.

When our wanting is at an end, peace is firmly established.

Burmese recycling: don't abuse, reuse (video)

Thida Nathalie, ThaBarWaWEB, L.A./Rangoon; Burma VJ (HBO); Editors, Wisdom Quarterly

Don't Abuse, Reuse

What could be made out of bamboo?

(Episode 3, June 20, 2020) One of the initiatives at the Thabarwa Nature Center in Los Angeles is to collect used goods and other donated items and ship them to Burma (Myanmar) by sea. One shipping container returns, and another is sent. The last one arrived just before the Water Festival.

Then the coronavirus lockdown was announced in Burma. Sayadaw Ottamasara had to stay in Burma indefinitely. But no crisis is too large. He began giving Dharma talks to calm the locals and the foreign volunteers. Then he started a new initiative to come up with a better alms food container.

He begins collecting discarded plastic water bottles to reuse them, as well as to manage waste and keep food separated better. Fifteen of the 17 daily almsround routes are cut off. And group size is restricted to just five.

It's an incredible feat what is accomplished, watching the innovation and speed of the main Thabarwa Center in Thanlyin, Burma, in outer Rangoon (Yangon Division). Sayadaw is at the helm, and 4,000 residents with special needs are fed, protected, and cared for. Unique initiatives develop daily.

Pacifica Free Speech Radio Los Angeles (KPFK.org 90.7 FM) recycles.

What about good deeds, merit? Boring!

Tan Jeff (Abbot Thanissaro, Wat Metta); Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Charitable giving is one way of letting go.

Of all the concepts central to Buddhism, merit (punna) is one of the least known and least appreciated in the West.

This is perhaps because the pursuit of merit seems to be a lowly practice, focused on getting, whereas higher Buddhist practice focuses on letting go.

Because we in the West often feel pressed for time, we don’t want to waste it on lowly practices, and instead want to go straight to higher levels.

Yet, the Buddha repeatedly warns that the higher levels cannot be practiced in a stable manner unless they develop on a strong foundation...

Karma: Would cash help conventional things?

In the course of developing a wise sense of self in the pursuit of merit, one is already learning how to let go of unwise ways of “selfing”* as one learns to overcome stinginess, apathy, and hard-heartedness through the development of giving, virtue, and good will.

• [*Though in an ultimate sense, “self” is illusory and unreal, in conventional terms it is very real, and we need to get a grip before we can hope to successfully embark on the Enlightened One's path to freedom.]

The teachings on [the impermanent, disappointing, and impersonal nature of all things, referred to as the Three Universal Characteristics of Existence known as:]

1. anicca
2. dukkha
3. anatta

simply carry this same process of “de-selfing” for the sake of an even truer happiness to a higher pitch.