An Uposatha Question

[Justin]

I understand that one of the addition precepts on an Uposatha is refraining from high and luxurious beds and couches. Does this rule take effect after waking on the morning of an Uposatha, with the abstinence taking place through that night's sleep until the following morning, or does one need to abstain from a luxurious bed both during the night of sleep preceding an Uposatha as well as the night of? I just want to make sure I understand the precept correctly.

Venerable Dhammanando, your insight would be greatly appreciated!

With metta,
Justin

[Dhammanando]

Hi Justin,

A day is reckoned as being from dawn to dawn, rather than midnight to midnight, so one would begin the avoidance of high or large seats and beds at dawn on the Uposatha day and continue it until the dawn of the day after.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[AlaskanDhamma]

I'm glad I stumbled upon this post, because this is something I didn't even know! So this should be followed by everyone, including laypeople?

[green]

I have a ripped up sleeping bag that I use.

[AlaskanDhamma]

Can someone tell me the story or significance behind this practice? Is there an underlying story or is it just a message of humbling oneself?

[Tex]

Hello, AD, this link may be helpful. In that link is also a link to a bit about the 8 precepts that many lay Buddhists observe on Uposatha days, as opposed to the first five precepts that are observed every day.

Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... satha.html

(You asked if the purpose of that precept is about humbling oneself, I think that may be part of it, but if you look at precepts 6, 7, and 8 -- they're all things that we can get "attached to", things that comfort us or entertain us or somehow make us "feel good", which might distract us from the task at hand, our practice, if we overindulge them. These things are prohibited for monks at all times, whereas we laymen are allowed to eat when we want, enjoy entertainment, and sleep in luxurious comfort, but on Uposatha days we choose to step it up a notch and refrain from those things just as the monks in the Sangha do. That's just my take though.)

[AlaskanDhamma]

So it's specifically about attachment then? Ok. That clears it up. Thank you!