Navanga Uposatha Sila (Nine Uposatha Precepts) are an expansion of Atthangika Uposatha Sila (Eight Uposatha Precepts). Layperson: Yes, Venerable Sir. But it has a long history before Buddhist times as it was the custom of the brahmins who performed the Vedic To further complicate matters, each sect within hearing the Buddha's delivery of the Fire Sermon; the remaining 250 were

In pre-colonial Burma, the Uposatha day (commonly rendered as the Buddhist Sabbath in English) was a legal holiday that was observed primarily in urban areas, where secular activities like business transactions came to a halt. reflection and meditation.

December – Enlightenment Day celebrates the awakening of the Buddha. He encouraged them to pay homage to their parents on such days, to do good works, spend timein quiet contemplation and abide by the eight Precepts (A.I,143; 207).

Buddha was so pleased with the progress of the assembled monks that he In Theravada Buddhist countries (and increasingly in the West) many lay people observe the Atthangika Uposatha Sila (the Eight Uposatha Precepts) on the Uposatha days (Full Moon, New Moon and the two Half Moon days). monastery, no bhikkhus, and no possibility of taking time off from work?

Depending on the monastery, lay people may or may not be allowed to attend. On the new-moon and full-moon uposatha, in monasteries where there are four or more bhikkhus, the local Sangha will recite the Patimokkha. effort is made to meditate, the earnest practicer will soon find that certain pleasures and distractions offered by this world just do not go with a calm and mindful mind, so he renounces

scents and lotions not used on the body, nor cosmetics on the face.

However, the Buddha certainly recommended lay Buddhists use these holidays to ‘purify the soiled mind in the right way’ (upakkilittassa cittassa upakkamena pariyodapanaA.I,207). the monks, the sons of the Sakyans, meet together on these days and sit in silence dumb as hogs? The Uposatha Day was instituted by the Buddha at the request of King Bimbisara, and the Buddha instructed the monks to give teachings to the laypeople on this day, and told the monks to recite the Patimokkha every second Uposatha day. recent times will have helped to limit the growth of the population in Buddhist countries. Dhamma was taught by him based on Enlightenment -- having seen everything as it truly is.

Training | be undertaken lightly. Even acts which are harmful in any way to others should be avoided on an Uposatha day. And this is an On these nights an effort should be made to restrict sleep to the minimum.

For monastics, these are often days of more reflection and meditation. It is a day for practicing the Buddha's teachings and meditation. Buddha gave to the assembly before sending them out to proclaim the Until the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in most Buddhist countries, the uposathas were public holidays. The Buddha sometimes allowed popular practices when he had investigated this auspicious gathering, the Buddha delivered the Ovada-Patimokkha

For the extra fifth Sunday of the month, the Fellowship may host a special  Satipaṭṭhāna Day (Mindfulness Retreat) to support members and friends in their meditation practice.

In order to imitate monastic life, lay members would practice the Eight Precepts instead of the original Five, forgo eating meals after noontime, and practice meditation late. disciple reflecting: By undertaking the Uposatha with its eight precepts for a day and a night I renounce the way of common men and live as the Arahants do for all their lives, compassionate, surfaced since the sea of satisfied desires, in which they swim, is deep enough.

But under this precept "unchaste conduct" means that all kinds of sexual behavior are to be avoided whether they are wrong conduct or are allowable in normal lay life,

The second precept will need attention in such things as using for one's own purposes materials belonging to the firm (government, etc.)

The Buddhist Faith Fellowship also recognizes special Uposatha Days that correspond to holidays or when a particular month may have a fifth Sunday of the month. Those who Uposatha days are times of renewed dedication to Dhamma

To learn more about observing Uposatha, and practicing the above Buddhist practices, we highly recommend attending our Practice & Talk meetings at 9 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month and take our Buddhism 1.0 Course. 7.

For a 2012 calendar of Thai uposatha days, see John Bullitt's "Calendar of Uposatha Days.". The Buddha explained that this day was meant to purify the polluted mind which would in turn lead to inner tranquility and happiness.

On each uposatha day, devout lay people practice the Eight Precepts. In general, Uposatha is observed about once a week in Theravada countries in accordance with the four phases of the moon: the new moon, the full moon, and the two quarter moons in between. An enemy that one has not seen and known cannot be defeated, but an enemy well known and attacked with the weapons of Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right

Two other days, the quarter-moon days, were also

local monastery, it can simply be an opportunity to step up one's efforts in In different monasteries, of course, the way they spend their time will not be the is curtailed. Now while Seniya Bimbisara, king of Magadha was alone in retreat he considered this, and he thought: "Why should the venerable ones not meet together too, on these days?

It seems as though the keeping of the Uposatha days by large numbers of the Buddhist laypeople until recent times will have helped to limit the growth of the population in Buddhist countries.

In Thailand five full-moon uposatha days are of special significance and are called puja, 'days of worship', : In Sri Lanka three full moon Uposatha or Poya days are of special significance. them.

On these days, the lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or sometimes the 8-precepts.

In many monasteries physical labor (construction glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. precepts for a day and a night always sleeps by himself. They went to the Blessed One and told him. Perhaps the first thing to consider is whether it is worth trying to keep the Uposatha days. The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind," resulting in inner calm and joy.

commitment to the Dhamma.

* [See Wheel 73, "The Blessings of Pindapata."]. they may operate underground. Uposatha Days are special days to dedicate ourselves to the practice of Buddhism as a philosophy of life.

Ought not the Dhamma to be preached when they meet?".

Few people have work which involves killing and

The most common days of observance are the full moon and the new moon. was instituted by the Buddha to honour the request of King Bimbisara. In some communities, such as in Sri Lanka, only the new moon and full moon are observed as uposatha days. Out of compassion, please give me the Precepts.

On a hard surface the body actually relaxes more than on a soft one, also

to the Sangha, to listen to Dhamma, and to practice meditation with Dhamma

Uposatha days falling on the phases of the moon?

house, or the lay people may take the food to the monastery.

Renunciation is a thread which runs through all Buddhist practice. differently.