The Bhikkhus Rules
A Guide for Laypeople
by Bhikkhu Ariyesako | 1998 | 50,970 words
The Theravadin Buddhist Monk's Rules compiled and explained by: Bhikkhu Ariyesako Discipline is for the sake of restraint, restraint for the sake of freedom from remorse, freedom from remorse for the sake of joy, joy for the sake of rapture, rapture for the sake of tranquillity, tranquillity for the sake of pleasure, pleasure for the sake of conce...
Uposatha Observance Days
In the West, the Sabbath — either Saturday or Sunday — has been normally the special religious observance day of the week. In Buddhism, which continues to follow the traditional lunar calendar,[1] the day set apart for special religious observance is the fortnightly day of the full and new moons, with the quarter moon days in between.[2] These full and new moon days, called Uposatha Days, are when the bhikkhus gather to listen to a recitation of their Paa.timokkha Rule.
The weekly observance day on the quarter moon day is when lay devotees gather in the local monastery to observe precepts more strictly and listen to and speak about Dhamma. The basic, minimum standard of precepts for practicing lay Buddhists is the Five Precepts. (Such lay people who are following the Buddhas Teaching are know as upaasaka (male) and upaasikaa (female)). [3]However, on the Observance day (or other special occasion), they may decide to train under the Eight Precepts, which brings them closer to how the monk or nun practices.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
"The Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) was the 14th or 15th day of the lunar fortnight (i.e., the full and new moon). It was recognized as an auspicious fast day in Vedic times. These days, as well as the 8th, are reported to have been used by other religious groups during the Buddhas time as suitable occasions to meet and discuss or preach their doctrines. These meetings became very popular and led to the various sects becoming more well known and respected." (HS ch.20)
[2]:
Equivalent to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon, the fifteenth or fourteenth day of the waning moon, and the eighth day of the waxing and waning moons. Until recently, villagers in Buddhist countries still used this calendar in everyday speech, e.g., they would not say, "Today is Monday" but "the third day of the waxing moon."
[3]:
While this form of training is well known in the traditionally Buddhist countries, it is only just starting to be appreciated in the West. For example, the Upasika Training at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. This includes going for refuge to the Triple Gem, taking on the Five Precepts, practicing meditation daily, visiting the monastery and fellow upasikas for mutual support. It should also involve right livelihood, which is to avoid professions that trade in arms, in living beings, meat, alcohol, and poison.
[4]:
"Another frequent classification of training precepts is called the eight constituents of the Observance Day (atthanga samannaagata uposatha) A.I,248; cf. A.I,211). The noble disciple reflects that for all their life the arahants keep these eight standards of conduct so they will follow that example for the Observance Day...." (HS ch.5)