Uposatha Observance Days

For monastics, these are often days of more intensive reflection and meditation. In many monasteries physical labor (construction projects, repairs, etc.) is curtailed. On New Moon and Full Moon days the fortnightly confession and recitation of the Bhikkhu Patimokkha (monastic rules of conduct) takes place.

Lay people observe the eight precepts on Uposatha days, as a support for meditation practice and as a way to re-energize commitment to the Dhamma. Whenever possible, lay people use these days as an opportunity to visit the local monastery, in order to make special offerings to the Sangha, to listen to Dhamma, and to practice meditation with Dhamma companions late into the night. For laity not closely affiliated with a local monastery, it can simply be an opportunity to increase one's efforts in meditation while drawing on the invisible support of millions of other practicing Buddhists around the world.

The calendar of Uposatha days is calculated using a complex traditional formula that is loosely based on the lunar calendar, with the result that the dates do not always coincide with the actual astronomical dates. To further complicate matters, each sect within Theravada Buddhism tends to follow a slightly different calendar.

Several full-moon Uposatha days hold special significance in the Buddhist calendar:

• Magha Puja (March 5, 2004) -- "Sangha Day".
  This commemorates the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 arahants in the Buddha's presence. One thousand of the gathered monks had previously achieved Awakening upon hearing the Buddha's delivery of the Fire Sermon; the remaining 250 were followers of the elder monks Ven. Moggallana and Ven. Sariputta. To mark this auspicious gathering, the Buddha delivered the Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha, a summary of the main points of the Dhamma, which the Buddha gave to the assembly before sending them out to proclaim the doctrine. [Suggested reading: "Dhamma for Everyone" by Ajaan Lee.]

• Visakha Puja (Vesak) (June 2, 2004) -- "Buddha Day".
  This day commemorates three key events in the Buddha's life that took place on this full-moon day: his birth, Awakening, and final Unbinding (parinibbana). [Suggested reading: "Visakha Puja" by Ajaan Lee.]

• Asalha Puja (July 31, 2004) -- "Dhamma Day".
  This commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practiced in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks -- Ven. Kondañña -- gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual Rains retreat (vassa) begins the following day.

• Pavarana Day (October 28, 2004).
  This day marks the end of the Rains retreat (vassa). In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.

• Anapanasati Day (November 26, 2004).
  At the end of one rains retreat (vassa), the Buddha was so pleased with the progress of the assembled monks that he encouraged them to extend their retreat for yet another month. On the full-moon day marking the end of that fourth month of retreat, he presented his instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati), which may be found in the Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) -- The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing.

2004
Calendar of Uposatha Observance Days

This calendar for the coming year shows the dates of the Uposatha days that will be observed by followers of the two sects of Thai Buddhism, Dhammayutika and Mahanikaya. (On dates marked with an asterisk (*), followers of the Mahanikaya sect observe the Uposatha on the preceding day.)

Last Quarter ("half moon")	New Moon	First Quarter ("half moon")	Full Moon
Dec 16, 2003	Dec 23*, 2003	Dec 31*, 2003	Jan 7*, 2004
Jan 15*	Jan 21	Jan 29	Feb 5
Feb 13	Feb 20*	Feb 28*	Mar 5 Magha Puja
Mar 13	Mar 20	Mar 28	Apr 4
Apr 12	Apr 19*	Apr 27*	May 4*
May 12*	May 19*	May 27*	Jun 2 Visakha Puja
Jun 10	Jun 17*	Jun 25*	Jul 2*
Jul 10*	Jul 17*	Jul 25*	Jul 31 Asalha Puja
Aug 8	Aug 15	Aug 23	Aug 30
Sep 7	Sep 14*	Sep 22*	Sep 28
Oct 6	Oct 13	Oct 21	Oct 28 Pavarana Day
Nov 5	Nov 12*	Nov 20*	Nov 26 Anapasati Day
Dec 4	Dec 11	Dec 19	Dec 26

See also:

• Muluposatha Sutta (AN III.70) -- Discourse on the Roots of the Uposatha
• Uposatha Sutta (AN VIII.41) -- Discourse on the Uposatha Observance
• Visakhuposatha Sutta (AN VIII.43) -- Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha
• Sakka Sutta (AN X.46) -- To the Sakyans (on the Uposatha)
• Ñanavara Thera's Questions-and-answers concerning the Uposatha.
• Lay Buddhist Practice, by Bhikkhu Khantipalo (BPS Wheel Publication No. 206).