Thich nu Tinh Quang: UPOSATHA DAYS

20240101

UPOSATHA DAYS

The Uposatha is a time to intensify one's own meditation and Dharma practice, for instance, meditating an extra session or for a longer time, reading or chanting special Buddhist texts, recollecting or giving in some special way.

See the 2024 moon phases, below.

For lay practitioners, the Uposatha is a time to intensify one's meditation and Dharma practice. For example, meditating for an extra session or a longer time, reading or chanting special sutras, eating only vegetarian, and practising Dana.

The Eight Precepts are for upāsakas and upāsikās who wish to practice Buddhism more strictly than through adherence to the five precepts.

The Buddha gave teachings on how the five precepts are to be practised.

I undertake to abstain from causing harm and taking life (both human and non-human), and to abstain from eating meat.
I undertake to abstain from taking what is not given (for example stealing, displacements that may cause misunderstandings).
I undertake to abstain from sexual activity.
I undertake to abstain from wrong speech: telling lies, deceiving others, manipulating others, using hurtful words.
I undertake to abstain from using intoxicating drinks and drugs, which lead to carelessness.

New Moon		First Quarter		Full Moon		Third Quarter		Duration
1249							Jan 3	10:30 pm	29d 12h 25m
1250	Jan 11	6:57 am	Jan 17	10:52 pm	Jan 25	12:54 pm	Feb 2	6:18 pm	29d 11h 02m
1251	Feb 9	5:59 pm	Feb 16	10:00 am	Feb 24	7:30 am	Mar 3	10:23 am	29d 10h 01m
1252	Mar 10	5:00 am	Mar 17	12:10 am	Mar 25	3:00 am	Apr 1	11:14 pm	29d 9h 20m
1253	Apr 8	2:20 pm	Apr 15	3:13 pm	Apr 23	7:48 pm	May 1	7:27 am	29d 9h 01m
1254	May 7	11:21 pm	May 15	7:48 am	May 23	9:53 am	May 30	1:12 pm	29d 9h 16m
1255	Jun 6	8:37 am	Jun 14	1:18 am	Jun 21	9:07 pm	Jun 28	5:53 pm	29d 10h 20m
1256	Jul 5	6:57 pm	Jul 13	6:48 pm	Jul 21	6:17 am	Jul 27	10:51 pm	29d 12h 16m
1257	Aug 4	7:13 am	Aug 12	11:18 am	Aug 19	2:25 pm	Aug 26	5:25 am	29d 14h 42m
1258	Sep 2	9:55 pm	Sep 11	2:05 am	Sep 17	10:34 pm	Sep 24	2:49 pm	29d 16h 54m
1259	Oct 2	2:49 pm	Oct 10	2:55 pm	Oct 17	7:26 am	Oct 24	4:03 am	29d 17h 58m
1260	Nov 1	8:47 am	Nov 9	12:55 am	Nov 15	4:28 pm	Nov 22	8:27 pm	29d 17h 34m
1261	Dec 1	1:21 am	Dec 8	10:26 am	Dec 15	4:01 am	Dec 22	5:18 pm	29d 16h 05m
1262	Dec 30	5:26 pm

ZEN TEACHING STORIES

“MAYBE” Once upon a time, on a fine fall morning, an old farmer went out to tend his animals and crops. At first light, the farmer was dismayed to see his fence had been crushed by a falling tree during the night. All three of the farmer’s prized horses had disappeared. The other villagers moaned in sympathy: “Whatever will you do?” they asked the farmer. “This is terrible,” they all cried, shaking their heads sadly, “and right before harvest time, too.” “Your harvest will rot in the field. What will your family eat this winter? How will you get your crop in without horses?” one of the villagers asked the old farmer. “Maybe,” was the farmer’s only reply as he returned to his chores. Later on that morning, the farmer heard the sound of hooves and, looking up, saw his three horses had returned! What was more, the three horses had two wild horses running with them. Soon, the villagers were heard to express their delight at the farmer’s good fortune. “What a wonderful thing to have happen!” the other villagers cried. “What a wealthy man you will be with this new stock of animals!” “Maybe,” was all the old farmer would reply. After lunch that day, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the wild horses to the saddle. Suddenly, the wild horse threw the son to the ground. Running to his injured son, the farmer found his son’s leg badly broken. The neighbors were soon around to give their opinions. “What a terrible calamity,” the villagers said. “What a disaster.” “Now you really won’t be able to get your crop in, without a strong son to help you. He will take months to heal. Whatever will you do now?” the other villagers asked the farmer in despair. The farmer would only shrug and say: “Maybe.” Later that afternoon, military officials rode into the tiny village, with a great clattering of weapons and jostling of horses. Looking grim and serious, the soldiers announced an official conscription. Every young and able man was to be drafted into service that very day. The farmers son, having just been injured, was left behind, even as other sons and husbands were taken. No one in the village could believe the old farmer’s good fortune. And not everyone was entirely happy about it. “Surely the most tremendous good fortune has smiled upon you today,” the villagers grumbled. “How can anyone be so lucky?” But the old farmer would only reply, “Maybe.”