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Upasika Precept Renewal Day
(written by Paul Catasus)

We hope you can join us at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery on this occasion for a day of community, Dhamma study, meditation, and renewal. The North American Upasika community will be holding the ninth annual Upasika Renewal Day. All are welcome to attend. We are fortunate to have both Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno in attendance to lead the day's activities.

This session is titled Devotional/Ritual: Chanting, and will focus on chanting in our spiritual lives, using the “Salutation to the Triple Gem and a Passage of encouragement” from Abhayagiri’s morning chanting (http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/main/book/288/). Teachings will address the role of chanting in general, including chanting in one’s daily pracatice, Pali pronunciation, harmonizing and chanting in a group, and a discussion on the meaning of this particular chant.

For those who have already taken the Upasika vows (see below), this will provide an opportunity to gather as an assembly of upasika (female lay practitioners) and upasaka (male lay practitioners) and to publicly renew our commitments to this practice as a group. For those who would like to make this commitment for the first time, you are also invited to do so. And for those who choose not to make formal commitments, you are most welcome to join with us in celebrating spiritual friendship and Dhamma practice.

"Old" upasikas wishing to participate in the renewal ceremony may contact me (Paul Catasus) at crashsf(at)pacbell(dot)net. Individuals wishing to take Upasika vows for the first time are requested to contact the monastery at (707) 485-1630 or use our contact form. For all those planning to take the Upasika vows, please bring a simple offering of candles, flowers, and incense with you.

We hope you will also plan to join us for the morning meal, beginning at 11:00 am. Please bring a dish to share if you wish. If you'd like to carpool, please feel free to utilize the "upasika@yahoogroups.com" email group as a means of contacting others planning to attend.

Schedule:

11:00am Meal Offering
1:00pm Upasika Renewal Ceremony and Page 2 of 6

Study Session
5:30pm Tea (optional)



Since this is a special day in the year for members of the Upasika community either to renew their commitment to this training, or to formally undertake the training for the first time, it might be helpful to re-visit the outline of its purposes and guidelines. In this way those who have already made a commitment to this pattern of practice will have an easy reference point, while those to whom this might all be new will have a chance to consider some of the ways in which Dhamma practice can be established and deepened.

Purpose

To enhance individual practice and increase self-discipline through making a formal commitment to spiritual training.

To deepen both the intellectual and experiential understanding of the Dhamma.

To have more supportive contact with like-minded people and the ordained Sangha.

To be better equipped to communicate the Teachings to others.

Guidelines: To...

Undertake to live by the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts, with the Theravada Forest Tradition as the focus of one's practice.

Attend regular gatherings with other Upasikas, either at the Monastery or in your own homes.

Visit the Monastery and formally take the Refuges and Precepts at least quarterly.

Observe the Uposatha Days of the full and new moon in some fashion appropriate to your living situation.

Practice meditation daily.

Find some time each year to go on retreat.

Attend at least one festival day or communal gathering at the Monastery each year.

Cultivate a basic working knowledge of the Teachings.

Support the Sangha according to your means and abilities.

Keep to the training for Page 3 of 6

at least one year after having made the formal commitment.

If someone is interested in making such a formal commitment for a year, they should come to Abhayagiri on this Upasika Renewal Day, or they can arrange to come at some other time which is convenient both to themselves and to the monastery. So far the ceremony has usually taken the following form: The person who wishes to make the commitment as an Upasika prepares a small tray of traditional offerings - candles, flowers and incense - ideally having acquired these themselves beforehand. At the beginning of the afternoon session (1:00 pm) there is a sitting meditation period; after this the individual(s) come forward to the ajahn, offer their tray, bow three times and say: "My name is Mary Q. Person and I wish to request the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts". After any new people have made their individual requests to undertake the commitment, the group of Upasikas who are renewing their commitment will present a tray of their combined offerings and make the request together. The ajahn then gives the Refuges and Precepts to the whole group. Thus there is both an element of making an individual determination, and also that of a communal aspiration as well. After this the afternoon study session begins.

People should also be aware that everyone is most welcome to attend Upasika Days, whether they have made a formal commitment or not. There is no 'in' and 'out' group or exclusivity of any kind (and no "secret teachings" for an inner circle!). These opportunities to draw closer to the teachings are offered freely, and the occasion to make a public statement of one's intentions and aspirations is simply made available to support those who find such skillful means helpful to them.

Hope to see you on April 5th!

For directions on getting to the monastery click here.


The Uposatha Observance

From the Book of the Eights, Anguttara Nikaya


When, O monks, the Uposatha observance is complete in eight factors, it Page 4 of 6

is of great fruit and benefit, luminous and pervasive. And how is the Uposatha observance complete in the eight factors which make it of great fruit and benefit, luminous and pervasive?

1) Here, monks, a noble disciple reflects thus: “As long as they live, the arahants abandon the destruction of life and abstain from it; with club and weapon laid aside, they are conscientious and kindly and dwell compassionate towards all living beings. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise. I will imitate the arahants in this respect, and the Uposatha observance will be fulfilled by me.” This is the first factor it possesses.

2) Further, they reflect: “As long as they live, the arahants abandon the taking of what is not given and abstain from it; they accept only what is given, expect only what is given, and dwell with honest hearts devoid of theft. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the second factor it possesses.

3) “As long as they live, the arahants abandon incelibacy and live the celibate life, remote from sexuality, refraining from the practice of sexual intercourse. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the third factor it possesses.

4) “As long as they live, the arahants abandon false speech and abstain from it; they are speakers of truth, adherents of truth, trustworthy and reliable, no deceivers of the world. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the fourth factor it possesses.

5) “As long as they live, the arahants abandon wines, liquors and intoxicants, which are the basis of negligence, and abstain from them. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the fifth factor it possesses.

6) “As long as they live, the arahants eat only in one part of the day and refrain from eating at night, and from untimely meals. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the sixth factor it possesses.
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7) “As long as they live, the arahants abstain from dancing, singing, attending musical performances and unsuitable shows, and from adorning themselves by wearing jewelery and garlands, and applying perfumes. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the seventh factor it possesses.


8) “As long as they live, the arahants abandon the use of high and luxurious beds and seats and abstain from them; they make use of a low resting place, either a small bed or a straw mat. Today I too, for this day and night, will do likewise.” This is the eighth factor it possesses.

When, monks, the Uposatha observance is complete in these eight factors, it is of great fruit and benefit, luminous and pervasive.

(A 8.41)