Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

squarepeg wrote: woot woot, my 1st one. boy am i hungry

Sadhu!

Khalil Bodhi wrote:

squarepeg wrote: woot woot, my 1st one. boy am i hungry

Sadhu!

Hunger will pass

Ytrog wrote:Hunger will pass

This was only my second, and it was already much easier (although still somewhat difficult).

I used a different calendar, obviously, to determine the moon cycle dates because I observed on Monday. :-/

Anyone have a more accurate calendar? I didn't really know where to look to but I ended up here:
http://kalender-365.de/lunar-calendar.php?yy=2012" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I figured something like the lunar cycle wouldn't be subject to too much potential for error... Meh.

Hickersonia,

Here is the one I am using: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... a2012.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you very much, Buckwheat. I have read a lot on that site and clearly just missed that they had a calendar there at all. *facepalm*

Fortunately, most of the dates I had marked in my calendar were still good, requiring very little additional use of my terrible penmanship.

It is a recent addition, so you probably didn't miss anything. You just don't go to that site habitually (maybe even obssesively?) like I do.

Metta,
Scott

I do try to avoid anything becoming obsessive, as it then seems to become it's own sort of fetter for me (and I have plenty already, ha!). I have, however, used some of Bhikkhu Bodhi's work found there, and the copy of the Dhammapada that I carry was found there. I have found the site very useful and maybe ought to increase the frequency which which I visit it, though.

I have a small question about the observance: how important is the eight rule ("I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.")? First seven are no problem btw, but I dread sleeping in my living room on a mattress while having to work the next day. Tried it a few times but couldn't sleep. Admittedly I slept on a few towels (didn't cover my body completely, so that was cold) with a blanket to cover me because I had no better option, that changed. Is an air mattress allowable and if yes: under what restrictions?

Ytrog wrote:I have a small question about the observance: how important is the eight rule ("I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.")? First seven are no problem btw, but I dread sleeping in my living room on a mattress while having to work the next day. Tried it a few times but couldn't sleep. Admittedly I slept on a few towels (didn't cover my body completely, so that was cold) with a blanket to cover me because I had no better option, that changed. Is an air mattress allowable and if yes: under what restrictions?

basically if your bed is the same hight as a chair (both feet are flat on the floor while the upper half of your legs are fully on the matress) dont worry, the length of the legs are part of this rule (predominantly). so yes an air matress would be allowed, or a camping mat. or any matress on the floor. have a look at see pacitia 87 in the Buddhist monastic code or other source.

I prefer the floor myself but by room now does not hav the room for me to be fully laying down without potentially cracking my head open or what ever, so I need to use the bed for practical purposes. the rules are to develop contentment with little, not to get ill or anything else.

Cittasanto wrote: basically if your bed is the same hight as a chair (both feet are flat on the floor while the upper half of your legs are fully on the matress) dont worry...

I agree. Looking at the rules, it seems that almost any modest modern bed qualifies as OK... I'm not sure where this idea of sleeping on the floor as a requirement of 8 precepts is coming from. Am I missing something?
[Though I guess technically modern matresses are not stuffed with leaves, cloth, fur, etc...]

See http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... satha.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... .html#Pc87" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

87. When a bhikkhu is having a new bed or bench made, it is to have legs (at most) eight fingerbreadths long — using sugata fingerbreadths — not counting the lower edge of the frame. In excess of that it is to be cut down and confessed.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent bhikkhus from making and using furnishings that are high and imposing.

The factors for the offense here are three.

1) Object: a bed or bench whose legs, measuring from the lower side of the frame to the floor, are longer than eight sugata fingerbreadths (16.7 cm.)
2) Effort: One acquires it after making it or having it made
3) Intention: for one's own use.
...

The sugata measures are a matter of controversy, discussed in Appendix II.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... tml#app-II" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For the purposes of this book, we are taking the sugata span to be 25 cm. Because there are twelve sugata fingerbreadths in a sugata span, eight sugata fingerbreadths would be equal to 16.7 cm.

Mike

here is a breakdown of this rule I done for my own personal reference & study.

Uccāsayana-mahāsayanā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṃ samādiyāmi.
I take upon myself the precept for abstaining from high and luxurious resting1 places.

This ninth precept of the ten precepts, or the eighth precept of the eight precepts, is a precept of ordinance, one where it is spiritually blameable.

Meaning
Uccāsayana
Uccā - 1. high; 2. noble.
sayana - a bed; sleeping; bed; sofa.
Mahāsayanā
Mahā – great; big; extensive. short form of mahanta in compound words

Vinaya Clarification
pācittiyā 87 Mañcapīṭhasikkhāpada - Not to make, cause to be made, or use beds or seats having a eight exceeding 65 centimetres.
pācittiyā 88 Tūlonaddhasikkhāpada - Not to use or make beds or seats covered with cotton.
Pācittayā 15 Dutiyasenāsanasikkhāpada – Not to leave without putting ones bed which belongs to the community away or taking leave.
Pācittayā 18 Vehāsakuṭisikkhāpada – not to lie on an unsuitable high resting place.

Extra Rules for Consideration
dhutangas 8-13

Reflection
This is a reflection of the wise, I use the lodging: only to ward off cold, to ward off heat, to ward off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, burning and creeping things, only to remove the danger from weather, and for living in seclusion.

Interpretation
To cultivate contentment, I will refrain from high & luxurious resting places.

Thanks for the links. I understand.

Yesterday and today (depending on location) are the uposatha: http://www.facebook.com/events/240246816051012/