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Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:10 am
by dhammapal
I’ve got a bad cold today so I took the evening meal because I was sick. I was wondering about whether to use a high bed because I was sick, then found that I actually felt better if I got up and sat in meditation posture (on a special Alexander Technique forward-sloping chair). There was a strong tendency for my posture to collapse so I made maintaining the sitting posture the whole meditation (“Just Sitting”). Then I realized I could meditate on the sound of the breathing (rather than the sensations in my throat) in order to breathe well.

Thanks for listening.

With metta / dhammapal.

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:28 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Sadhu! Incidentally, today is the Full Moon Uposatha - Pavāraṇā Day. Congratulations to Manapa as he is taking anagarika precepts today! Sukhitaa hontu!

Uposatha - New Moon

Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 12:14 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Tomorrow is the New moon uposatha. I don't know if I'll be observing having been sick on and off for a month but for anyone else who might I wanted to let you all know. May you all meet with success. Sukhitaa hontu!

Tomorrow: Full Moon - Ānāpānasati Day

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:52 pm
by Khalil Bodhi
Hey everyone,

Tomorrow is an uposatha day, Ānāpānasati Day in fact. Here's a little information for those of you interested in observing:

At the end of one rains retreat (vassa), the Buddha was so pleased with the progress of the assembled monks that he encouraged them to extend their retreat for yet another month. On the full-moon day marking the end of that fourth month of retreat, he presented his instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati), which may be found in the Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) — The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing.

Last Quarter Mooon Uposatha

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:23 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Tomorrow is the last quarter moon uposatha day according to the Thai Dhammayut calendar. May all who observe obtain great fruit and benefit. Sukhitaa hontu!

New Moon Uposatha

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:41 pm
by Khalil Bodhi
Hello All,

Today is the New Moon uposatha (according to the Thai Dhammayut calendar). May all who are observing reap great fruit and benefit! Sukhitaa hontu!

First Quarter Moon Uposatha

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:24 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Hello All,

Today is the first quarter moon uposatha day. Please find links to suttas about the uposatha below and may your day be a frutiful one! Sukhitaa hontu!

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... 1.vaka.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... 3.khan.htm

Full Moon Uposatha

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:41 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Hello All,

Sorry for the late notice but today is the Full Moon Uposatha. May those who are observing gain great fruit and benefit. If anyone uses Facebook we have an online club dedicated to observing the uposatha regularly. Bhikkhu Cintita posts a weekly uposatha contemplation there as well and many have found it to be a useful tool in their practice. The link is here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1 ... 279&ref=ts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sukitaa hontu!

First Quarter Moon - Uposatha

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:05 pm
by Khalil Bodhi
Hello All,

Tomorrow is the First Quarter Moon - Uposatha observance. For those of you who might not yet know it is a time to recommit yourself to practice through undertaking the 8 precepts and putting mre attention on dana, sila and samadhi. Anyway, I wish everyone (observant and non) true happiness and I'l be around (virtually) for moral support. Sukhitaa hontu!

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:59 am
by dhammapal
Today is Uposatha Full Moon. I live with my parents and fast in the afternoon once a month. I had told my Dad (and he gives me a holiday from the washing up) but Mum didn't know and got upset because she was going to cook vegetarian pasta for me. If I had my time again I would have postponed my fasting to tomorrow (Sydney Australia is 19 hours ahead of California anyway). And I later found out that my Dad's friend is coming over tonight for a chat so I won't be able to do silent walking meditation.

Last Quarter Moon Uposatha

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:46 am
by Khalil Bodhi
Hello all,

For anyone who is interested, today is the uposatha. Here is the Uposatha Sutta for your reference:
Thus have I heard:

At one time the Blessed One was residing in Jetavana, the monastery of Anathapindika, near Savatthi. At that time the Blessed One, having called all the bhikkhus together, addressed them thus: "Bhikkhus!" The bhikkhus answered in assent: "Lord!" (The bhikkhus then prepared themselves for the following teaching.) The Blessed One then gave the following teaching on Uposatha.

"Bhikkhus. Uposatha is comprised of eight factors which the Ariyan disciple observes, the observation of which brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit.

"Bhikkhus. What is the Uposatha which, observed by the Ariyan disciples, brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit?"

1. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, have given up the intentional taking of life.[1] The club and sword have been laid down. They have shame (of doing evil) and are compassionate toward all beings.'

"All of you have given up the intentional taking of life, have put down all weapons, are possessed of shame (of doing evil) and are compassionate toward all beings. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the first factor of the Uposatha.

2. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, have given up taking what has not been given.[2] 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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the second factor of the Uposatha.

3. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring.[3] Their practice is like that of a 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 Brahma-faring and behave like a Brahma. 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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the third factor of the Uposatha.

4. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, have given up the telling of lies.[4] They utter only the truth and are intent on the truth. Their speech is firm and is composed of reason. Their speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world.'

"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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the fourth factor of the Uposatha.

5. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, have given up the taking of liquors and intoxicants,[5] of that which intoxicates, causing carelessness. 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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the fifth factor of the Uposatha.

6. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, for as long as life lasts, eat at one time only and do not partake of food in the evening. They abstain from food at the 'wrong time'."[6]

"All of you eat at one time only 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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the sixth factor of the Uposatha.

7. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

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

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

8. "Bhikkhus. Ariyan disciples in this Religion reflect thus:

"'All arahants, 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 arahants, and the Uposatha will have been observed by you. This is the eighth factor of the Uposatha.

"Bhikkhus. The Uposatha is comprised of these eight factors which the Ariyan disciple observes, and it is of great and glorious fruit and benefit."

Thus the Blessed One spoke on the Uposatha. The bhikkhus were delighted and rejoiced at his words.
And here is a link: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .vaka.html

May we all attain great fruit and benefit form our prcatice! Rakkhantu sabba-devataa!

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:15 pm
by Ytrog
I will not observe it today. I'm still recovering from an illness.

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:54 pm
by Khalil Bodhi
Ytrog wrote:I will not observe it today. I'm still recovering from an illness.
Get well soon!

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:40 pm
by Ytrog
Thanks :smile:

Re: Uposatha Observance Club

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:17 pm
by JimKai
Hello,

I requested to join the group, hopefully you will accept!

I don't have a local sangha to observe Uposatha with, so looking forward to this very much!
:namaste: