The Lunar Observance (sutra): Blood Moon

Dhr. Seven and Amber Larson (trans.), Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly (AN 8.41)

The Moon in eclipse goes red, but a tetrad of events? (goingglobaleastmeetswest)

Blood moon means something's about to change. The Hagee says so! (phoenixaquua)

 
Bad Lunar Observing

Look, omens in the sky! (endoftheworld)

The world will end tonight under the blood moon... (but will resume in the next sub-moment almost, but not exactly, the same; every sub-moment is that way: arising, turning, and passing away).

One day it will not resume in only a slightly different way, but that is as yet far away.

OMG, the Bible says so!

At that time of destruction with seven suns, the world evaporates and overheats, presumably with cosmic rays and an uncountable number of interacting neutrinos.

While the world yet remains, how should one observe the lunar days? These are Eight Precepts observed weekly by lay Buddhists as an intensive temporary practice (for one full day) on the new moon, quarter moon, half moon, and full moon.

The Good Lunar Observance

The Moon (Luna, Chandra) goes through phases (melissahardytrevenna)

  

Another moon every week

Thus have I heard. At one time the [Buddha] was residing in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's hermitage, near the city of Savatthi. Having called together the monastics, he addressed them: "Meditators!"

They answered in assent, "Venerable sir!" (This allowed them to prepare themselves to hear the following sutra). The Blessed One then taught them this Dharma regarding the lunar observance (uposatha).

 

"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of eight factors observed by the noble disciple. Their observation brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit. 

"Meditators, what is the lunar observance observed by noble disciples that brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit?"

"Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma-and-Discipline reflect in the following way:

Life

All beings desire to live (kyivpost.com)

1. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up the intentional taking of life (killing). The cudgel and sword have been laid aside. They dread (doing harm) and are instead compassionate toward all beings.'

 

"All of you have given up the intentional taking of life... For this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the first factor.

• See karma (deeds); sila (virtue)

Stealing

It's not stealing if dictators do it? (Olle)

2. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up taking what has not been given (stealing). 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... For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened... This is the second factor.

Sex

Let's split! - I'm behind you and ready to slip.

3. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring (supreme life). Their [passionless] practice is like that of a brahma. They are far from sexual practices [even further from sexual misconduct], which is a practice of ordinary 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 practices. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the third factor.

 
Speech

No, I said no strings attached (SH).

4. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up false speech [musavada: perjury, backbiting, tale bearing, idle chatter]. They utter only the truth and are intent on the truth. Their speech is firm and composed of reason. Their speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world.'

 

"All of you have given up false speech. You speak only the truth and are intent only on what is true. Your speech is firm and full of reason. Your speech does not waver from the world's mainstay. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fourth factor.
 
Intoxication

Getting high can end up low (cracked.com)

5. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up the taking of intoxicants causing carelessness. They are far from intoxication.'
 

"All of you have given up the taking of intoxicants. You abstain from (drinking alcohol and) intoxicants that cause carelessness. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fifth factor.
 
Eating

Snacking is cheating and the way to be fat.

6. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, eat at the proper time and not outside of it [taken to mean between dawn and noon]. They abstain from food at improper times (vikala bhojana).'
 

"All of you eat at the proper time only and do not partake of food after. You abstain from food at improper times. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the sixth factor."
 

Distractions

If an ad says so, it must be good.

7. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments and the watching of [distracting] entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. Nor do they deck themselves in jewelry, ornaments, or perfume.'
 

"All of you have given up these things, which are stumbling blocks to the wholesome. You do not deck yourselves in jewelry, ornaments, or perfume. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the seventh factor."
 
Beds

I love sleeping with my "knitted boyfriend" body pillow. He's my yarn creation.

 
8. "'All enlightened beings, for as long as life endures, have given up using large or high beds. They are content with simple accommodations (low beds or bedding made of grass).'
 

"All of you have given up using large or high beds. You are content with simple accommodations. For all of this day and night, in this way, you will be known as having followed the enlightened, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the eighth factor."
 

"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of these eight factors, which thenoble observes, and it is of great and glorious fruit and benefit."
 

So said the Blessed One spoke on the night of the lunar observance, and the monastics were delighted and rejoiced at his words. Questions and Answers

The Buddhist Layperson (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Pfc. Sandoval, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly; The Buddhist Lay[person], essays by R. Bogoda, Susan Elbaum Jootla, Maurice O'C. Walshe (BPS.lk/AccesstoInsight.org)

Temporary novice touches Indonesian image of the Buddha (Massulan/flickr)

The Lotus-like Lay-follower

Wisdom Quarterly (AN 5.175) 

Novice and layperson (deepblue66/flickr)

The Buddha said: A lay-follower (upasaka) with five qualities is a jewel of a lay-follower, is a lily, is a lotus.
 
What are the five qualities?

1. One has confidence (faith).

2. One is virtuous.

3. One is levelheaded (rather than superstitious).

4. One believes in the efficacy of action(karma) rather than luck or omen.

5. One looks to and attends first to the spiritual-community (Sangha) for those worthy of support.

Meditation hall as Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche gives teaching on seven-point mind-training at Danakosha Dharma Center (Mitjoruohoniemi/flickr)

 

Ten Qualities of the Lay-follower

Wisdom Quarterly (Questions of King Milinda (Milindapañha, Chp. IV)

King Milinda (Menander I) coin

These ten, great king, are the qualities of the [Buddhist] lay-follower: 

1. One shares the joys and sorrows of the spiritual-community (the lay, monks', and nuns' Sangha collectively).

2. One places the Dharma (truth) first [that is, before self and worldly considerations, referring to the three dominant influences (adhipateyya), Dharma being the third, after atta (self) and loka (plane of existence); see AN 3.40].

3. One enjoys giving according to one's ability.

4. If one sees a decline in the Dispensation of the Teaching of the Buddha, one strives for its strong growth.

Meditation is not mandatory but joyful, helpful.

5. One cultivates right views, disregarding belief in superstitions and omens, and will not accept a replacement teacher to supplant the Buddha/Dharma, not even for the sake of life. (That is not to say that one has no other teachers. Even at the time of the Buddha, Buddhists had additional teachers like the Buddha's four chief disciples, Sariputra, Khema, Maha Moggallana, and Uppalavanna. They also had preceptors and noble helpers (kalyana mittas) given that "noble friendship" is the whole of path to enlightenment (SN 45.2).
 
It is characteristic of a stream enterer and other noble disciples, once having seen for oneself that the Buddha was correct and the only one pointing to nirvana, it is not possible to doubt. There is no need for any teaching to gain enlightenment other than one in line with the Dharma he taught and that other noble ones in the Sangha espouse).

Come on, I want to hear the Dharma in this beautiful gompa! (Daniel O'Donnell/flickr.com)

 

6. One guards one's deeds and words.

 

7. One loves and cherishes peace and concord.

8. One is not envious or jealous.

9. One does not live a Buddhist life by way of deception or hypocrisy.

10. One has gone for guidance (sarana) to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
 
Four Essays for Lay Buddhists

1. Principles of Lay Buddhism (R. Bogoda)
2. Right Livelihood: The Noble Eightfold Path in the Working Life (Susan Elbaum Jootla)
3. Having Taken the First Step (Maurice O'Connell Walshe)
4. Detachment (M.O'C. Walshe)
   

Sex, Intimacy, Communication on Buddhist Path

Seth Auberon and Gary Sanders, Wisdom Quarterly

"Adore," the next "Lolita" with tables turned on boys by cougars (Gaumont/zimbio.com)

Sex, Intimacy, and Communication on the Buddhist Path

Don't stare at my chest; it's censored!

A unique series will explore what the Buddha taught as principles for lay practitioners regarding relationships and sexuality. The format will include meditation, Dharma talks, and open discussions.

 

Facilitator JoAnna Harper will also leap forward 2,600 years to a growing population of non-monastic Buddhist practitioners living life in the world of sensuality, desire, and intimate sexual relationships. Relatively little is found on these topics in Buddhism. 

 

Sex on the brain (GM)

But this class series is a beautiful opportunity to discover our own relationship to these sensitive topics on how to live life fully while causing less distress to ourselves and others around us.

This four-week series covers the third precept -- not causing harm with our sexuality, renouncing clinging through voluntary celibacy, how a strong mindfulness practice can open us to greater intimacy with others and deepen our communication skills.

• Four-Week Series with JoAnna Harper
• Mondays starting Oct. 7, 7:30-9:00 pm
• Against the Stream, Melrose

COST: $20 per evening, plus dana for the teacher. $10 discount if paid in advance. Scholarships and work study are available and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. INFO/REGISTER

JoAnna Harper (spiritrock.org)

JoAnna Harper has been exploring and practicing multiple traditions since 1999.  In 2005, her focus landed on Buddhism and Vipassana (insight meditation) in particular, which is the basis of most of her current teachings. She facilitates adult and teen weeklong silent retreats, day longs, and weekly classes; she also works with at-risk youth and others in institutional and school settings. She has been trained in council facilitation through the Ojai Foundation, is a graduate of Noah Levine's Against the Stream teacher training program, and is currently in the Spirit Rock/IMS/IMC four-year teacher training. She is a grateful mother of two children, CJ and Harris, who are her main inspirations.

• 4300 Melrose Ave., Hollywood/LA (parking around center)
• Chairs, mats, and cushions provided.
• Against the Stream.org or (323) 665-4300
• Donate to the ATS scholarship fund

Calling all Buddhist Geeks! Apply now

Seven, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Vince Horn and Crew, BuddhistGeeks.com

The doors to the Buddhist Geeks Community are now open!

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Think of it as the conversations that have been happening in the Podcast and at the Conferences, but now opened up to geeks everywhere.

At this time, the Community (a cyber-sangha of sorts) invites all to apply to be included. The application helps BG get to know potential geeks. Spend a month trying it out for FREE (no payment information required).

 

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