Although the modern work-week can make the lunar scheduling of these day-long retreats impractical, there are ways they can be integrated into weekends or other days off from work. In this way, anyone interested can, at regular intervals, trade the cares and complexities of everyday life for the chance to master renunciation as a skill integral to the serious pursuit of happiness in the truest sense of the word.
And isn’t that an intelligent trade?
From: Trading Candy for Gold: Renunciation as a Skill By Thanissaro Bhikkhu
After practicing seven precepts on Uposatha Days around June/July, I have given up playing pop music the rest of the week too. It was “superb” pop music but I decided that listening to it had undesirable long-term side-effects.
I came across a fun little piece of technical support (link below) that could serve as a refreshing break when doubting our practice or comparing ourselves to others. I don’t know about you but certainly one benefit I find when taking on the Uposatha Precepts is the mind shouts just a wee bit louder. Meaning I’ve a better chance at observing some of my habitual thoughts as they rise above the everday distractions I call ”life”.
To access this technical support, click *here* and go follow the link on the upper right side of the window called “software for the heart”.
I asked a trusted monk about this whole issue and he echoed the sentiments of Ajahn Lee in that it’s better to be practicing well then simply following rites and rituals. He did end in saying that there is a place for certain rules and observances and not to simply throw them out, but that the real issue is whether or not we are practicing in line with the Dhamma. Also, in terms of clinging to rites and rituals, he also brought up a valid point in that even the act of having a view point about rites and rituals is a form of clinging. I never saw it from that side before. Best of luck to everyone in their practice. I hope what I have said here is of some benefit.
Ajahn Lee touches upon the Uposotha observance in his book “The Craft of The Heart” which is available on Access To Insight. A layperson asks him some questions on the precepts and one thing he says is, “So if we’ve hit the good right on the nose, what does it matter if we’ve hit the wrong day?” I guess it’s hard to dispute with the likes of someone like Ajahn Lee so if I came off as being too rigid before then I apologize.
For what it’s worh, I found this in Access to Insight under the title Upasatha Observance Days
The calendar of Uposatha days is calculated using a complex traditional formula that is loosely based on the lunar calendar, with the result that the dates do not always coincide with the actual astronomical dates. To further complicate matters, each sect within Theravada Buddhism tends to follow a slightly different calendar.
Embracing without clinging.... room there for everyone who seek to keep the observance as well as the spirit of the observance.
I gave this a lot of consideration when I decided I was ready to deepen my commitment by observing the Uposatha days. I think different factors come into play for different people depending on their circumstances. If you belong to and practice with a group that holds the observance on a particular day, like Sunday or whatever, that makes it easy. I don’t think the actual day is written in stone, in fact it varies in different countries and traditions. The practice itself is most important.
I practice alone. And basically there is no convenient day for me. I had to re-evaluate what “convenient” meant. Oh no! It meant easy, it meant my way. That was a problem. After quite a bit of changing days around, trying to craft a schedule that worked, I finally found that the traditional calendar suited me. Not at all easier or more convenient, but more comfortable, if that makes any sense. On these days I’m not flying solo but feel supported and encouraged.
I believe that we can “embrace” without “clinging“. But it’s crucial to understand the difference.
I can understand what you are saying about having a consistent practice and about how this could be a way of clinging. To be honest I don’t have an answer for you about that. I personally think having a consistent practice would be the most important thing, but one shouldn’t throw out tradition either. All of the uposotha precepts are perfectly doable, not always convienent, but doable. As we start out on the path I think it’s a good thing to cling to the precepts and to the conventional way of doing things, but that’s just my opinion. If you have a consistent practice then that is an admirable thing. It’s tough to have a consistent practice in the lay life for sure, especially when the ways of the world and the ways of our unawakened hearts are still so steeped in defilement. Best of luck to you in your practice.
I admit that it is challenging to follow all of the Uposotha precepts on every observance day, but it is something to aspire to and something that turns one towards the Dhamma. One of Ajahn Mun’s favorite Dhamma themes according to Thanissaro Bhikkhu was to “Practice the Dhamma according to the Dhamma.”
Justin
Yes, you have valid points to be sure. However, in my mind I am asking the question: Is it more valuable to try and keep to a calendar that may or may not afford you the opportunity to practice - just because it is tradition - or to keep to a calendar that will afford you regular and consistent practice? The Suttas show in many places the Buddha uttering the phrase: “there are these four kinds of clinging. What four? Clinging to sensual pleasures, clinging to views, clinging to rules and observances, and clinging to a doctrine of self.” (See MN 11, SN 12)
It is clear that there is a point in practice somewhere where we are clinging to rules and observances, where is that point? Could it be here?
It’s very skillful to keep to a regular practice regardless of whether it is on the traditional Uposotha days or not. I differ with you in that I don’t think it is necessary to change the way we observe them in the west because of our calender. Sunday would certainly be more convienent for most of us, but isn’t the Dhamma partly about going against the grain of the world anyway? I admit that it is challenging to follow all of the Uposotha precepts on every observance day, but it is something to aspire to and something that turns one towards the Dhamma. One of Ajahn Mun’s favorite Dhamma themes according to Thanissaro Bhikkhu was to “Practice the Dhamma according to the Dhamma.” Another thing he used to say when confronted by people trying to change aspects of Buddhist practice to conform to modern customs was, “The customs of people everywhere are the customs of people with defilements.” He wanted people to practice in line with the Buddha and his noble sangha, not in line with modern thinking and opinion. One doesn’t have to look far at certain modern interpretations of Buddhism to see how far away from the Dhamma and Vinaya some have gotten. I mean no disrespect in my opinion here, just my perspective. I wish you well in your practice.
Just recently at the Vihara that I regularly attend here in Tampa, we had this very discussion regarding Uposatha days, and the difficulty in observing them in modern times due to our current calendar (versus the lunar calendar found in the time of the Buddha). I came away with the opinion that we should probably recognize that very fact: that we are operating on a different calendar and in a different cultural context than the one that the Buddha lived in, so we might do well to adapt in a way that would keep the spirit and continue to observe Uposatha days once weekly, but on Sundays - a day much more conducive to our culture - rather than according to the moon. Is there really any difference? Afterall, isn’t attaching ourselves to the idea that we need to adhere to these training rules on certain days an unhealthy attachment to ritual?
It is important to remember that the practice of Uposatha days is just a tool - a training rule - to make is easier to do what is skillful and on a regular basis. People are apt to fall into negligence without such a tool to follow, as it is hard for people to have the self discipline to practice here or there when they have the time. It is not a divine mandate to be followed.
There is a story that the Deva’s of the four quarters would receive news about how many people on earth were observing the Uposatha days and rejoice or lament depending on the news. If you take this story literally, it provides a pretty strong basis for following the Buddhist calendar, because you would want the Deva’s to rejoice at the sight of so many people living the Dhamma. However, I am willing to be that these Deva’s are smart enough to realize that the world all has different calendars and that they would receive news on more than just this one day a week.
If you have the means to observe the traditional Uposatha, by all means do, just in case. If not - just make sure you have a regularly scheduled practice - thats the important part.
I realize I’ve taking a bit of time in replying, have been very busy. One nice thing about this Forum’s style of sharing is one can visit and reply with no time restraints and continuity remains in tact. This works well for folks like moi who might go for months with out responding.
The Uposatha day practice is one I find extreemly valuable and knowing there are others out there, like yourself and Antony, also partaking in a sustainable way is a lovely support. Thanks for sharing that you undertake these eight precetps on the Uposatha days.
Working and modifying these precepts in a way that encourages us to sustain them as we train and strengthen seems wise:
Here’s a little verse I sometimes hum to myself. It helps me feel less burdend by a habit to do everything as if there’s an ending result with no beginning and no middle to it, heh, heh, heh . . .
“Wisely reflecting, I use precepts,
not for fun, not for pleasure, not for righteous indignation,
only for the maintenance and nourishment of this training,
for keeping it healthy, for helping with the Holy Life; thinking thus,
I will allay craving without projection onto others,
so that I may continue to live blamelessly and at ease”
Thank you for this topic. Observing Uposatha is a gift I am not able to consistantly observe due to work. My difficulty is observing :
Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon).
So I follow the 7 other Precepts as diligently as I can. For several years prior to moving back to Phoenix I had an office at home and was able to schedule my own hours which made Uposatha Observance easier.
I’m really benefiting from observing Uposatha Day (eight precepts minus high bed).
I am 6’5” and only 160 pounds and I thought a drawback of fasting after noon once a week would be losing weight, but I visited my doctor today and I have gained 5 pounds! I heard of a Malaysian monk who was underweight before ordaining and said that practicing metta and worrying less helped him put on weight.
Thanks for listening, and for creating this thread on Uposatha Observance.
With metta / Antony.
PS I’m still working on putting aside my oversleeping in the morning. My doctor said I should do it gradually though. And being a night owl could be in my genes (in the stone age someone had to guard the campfire at night!). Sleeping less may help me put on weight.
PSS Sakula, how was the retreat with Thanissaro Bhikkhu? He is my favorite Dhamma teacher.
Observing 7 precepts on Uposatha Day once a week is helping me start new habits for the rest of the week, particularly getting up early in the morning (which is easy the morning after fasting on Uposatha Day).
A Typical Retreat Day at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
05:00 Wake-up bell
05:30 Chanting and meditation
07:00 Breakfast
07:45 Working Meditation
08:30 Meditation (sitting and walking)
11:00 Lunch
13:30 Meditation (sitting and walking)
17:00 Hot drinks
19:30 Chanting, meditation and talk
21:30 Sleep
I’ve decided to retire earlier at night and wake up earlier. This will give more time for meditation both at night and in the morning.
The p is unaspirated (i.e. there’s no h sound in it); if you try making a sound about halfway between a p and a b it will be about right. Or ask an Indian friend to demonstrate the Hindi word for ‘five’.
The o is long as in ‘go’.
The s is the same as in English.
The a is like the u in ‘hut’.
The th is like the t in tan (not like the th in ‘than’ or ‘thank’.
Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu
I’m still confused. Can someone send a link to an audio Dhamma talk on the Uposatha Observance?
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