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In many branches of
Buddhism, four moon phases (new moon, first quarter, full moon,
and last quarter) are kept as special days of obligation.
Others keep only the new and full moon. (I have had the practice
of recognizing these two days by shaving my head. I
haven't done it for a few months now, but will again soon.)
You can read more about Uposatha
practice; although it has been widely adapted to modern life (for
example, becoming simply "Sunday" in some Thai temples
in America, and "every other Saturday" for head-shaving
in some Chinese temples in America), it is worth contemplating.
How about giving up meat on those four days every month?
Here are the "eight
precepts" for Uposatha days; they are explained more fully at
the link above. Note that the first five are the Five
Precepts kept by many Buddhists at all times; the other three are
added on Uposatha days:
1. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from killing living creatures.
2. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from taking what is not given.
3. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from unchaste conduct.
4. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from false speech.
5. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from distilled and fermented intoxicants which are the occasion for carelessness.
6. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from eating outside the
time (i.e. refrain from eating outside the one mid-day
mealtime)
7. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments, wearing garlands, smartening with perfumes and beautifying with cosmetics.
8. I undertake the rule of training to refrain from a high or large sleeping-place.
You can also read
the sutta
in which the Buddha originally laid out these practices.
The Journal
Index Page has this year's Uposatha dates, and a handy
image showing the current phase of the moon in your time zone.
Contents
(C) 2006 James Baquet.
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