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Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c38.s7: Uposatha of the Upāsakas

Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c38.s7

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Uposatha of the Upāsakas

v2.c38.s7.1

On the uposatha days, the more devout upāsakas were advised to observe eight precepts instead of five. They sometimes spent a few days in a monastery in company of the monks. The eight precepts⁵ were,—

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⁵ *Aṅguttara*, iv, p. 254: Pāṇaṃ na haññe na cādinnam ādīye musa na bhāse na ca majjapo siyā

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(i) complete abstention from killing by laying aside all weapons, and developing a kindly and friendly feeling towards all beings;

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(ii) complete abstention from stealing, and remaining pure and satisfied with what is given;

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(iii) total abstention from sexual enjoyments, and living the life of a true *brahmacārī*;

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(iv) total avoidance of untruth, and remaining always anxious to be truthful;

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(v) refraining from all kinds of drinks and merry-makings;

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(vi) taking only one meal a day, and refraining from afternoon meals;

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(vii) keeping away from all places of amusement having dance and music, also non-use of scents, unguents and garlands and lastly;

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(viii) sleeping on low beds or grass mats and discarding high beds.

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Some of the advanced upāsakas were able to attain concentration of mind. This concentration was induced in them by their deep faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha. This faith engendered in their minds deep satisfaction that they had achieved something good. Through this satisfaction, their mind

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abrahmacariyā virameyya methunā
rattim na bhuñjeyya vikālabhojanam
mālam na dhāraye na ca gandham ācare
mañce chamāyam vasayetha santhate
etam hi aṭṭhaṅgikam āh’ uposatham
Buddhena dukkhantagunā pakāsitam.

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became serene and concentrated.¹ They practised the *jhānas* one after another and perfected themselves in all the four *jhānas*. Cittagahapati² and Uttarā Nandamātā³ became highly proficient in the *jhānas*. Some of the upāsakas practised the four *brahmavihāras* and four *satipaṭṭhānas*.⁴ Sirivaddha and Mānadinna were advised to practise *satipaṭṭhānas* in order to overcome acute pain due to disease.⁵ Sāmāvatī upāsikā⁶ was the chief of those female lay-devotees, who practised *mettā*. Khujjuttarā upāsikā acquired *paṭisambhidā*⁷ and abilities in learning Buddha’s words.⁸ Nandamātā upāsikā was so spiritually advanced that her mind was not moved when she saw her husband reborn as an ogre. Her chastity was unimpeachable and there was no occasion for her to confess (*paṭidesitā*) any transgression of the moral laws. Nandamātā mastered the four *jhānas* and removed all the five *orambhāgiya* impurities.

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¹ *Aṅguttara*, v, p. 330. 2 *Saṃyutta*, iv, p. 281 f. 3 *Aṅguttara*, i, p. 26; iv, p. 66. 4 See above, p. 214. 5 *Saṃyutta*, v, p. 176. 6 *Aṅguttara*, i, p. 26. 7 *Visuddhimagga*, p. 442. 8 It is said that she could recite the *Itivuttaka* heard by her from the teacher.

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