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5. The Chapter on Uposatha 1. The Discourse on the Brief Uposatha 41. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Bhikkhus!” “Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One spoke thus: “The Uposatha, bhikkhus, observed endowed with eight factors, is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great emanation. How, bhikkhus, is the Uposatha observed endowed with eight factors of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great emanation? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple reflects thus: ‘For as long as they live, the Arahants abandon the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, have laid aside rod and weapon, are conscientious, full of kindness, and dwell compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. I too, for this night and day, abandon the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, have laid aside rod and weapon, am conscientious, full of kindness, and dwell compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. By this factor, I imitate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.’ He is endowed with this first factor. ‘For as long as they live, the Arahants abandon the taking of what is not given, abstain from the taking of what is not given, are takers of what is given, expecters of what is given, and dwell with a pure self, not by theft. I too, for this night and day, abandon the taking of what is not given, abstain from the taking of what is not given, am a taker of what is given, an expecter of what is given, and dwell with a pure self, not by theft. By this factor, I imitate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.’ He is endowed with this second factor. ‘For as long as they live, the Arahants abandon unchastity, are chaste, far-goers, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the village custom. I too, for this night and day, abandon unchastity, am chaste, a far-goer, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the village custom. By this By this factor I imitate the Arahants; my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this third factor. 'For as long as life lasts, Arahants abandon false speech, they abstain from false speech, they are speakers of truth, bound to truth, firm, reliable, not deceiving the world. Today, for this night and this day, I abandon false speech, I abstain from false speech, I am a speaker of truth, bound to truth, firm, reliable, not deceiving the world. By this factor I imitate the Arahants; my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this fourth factor. 'For as long as life lasts, Arahants abandon the taking of intoxicants, fermented and distilled, which are the basis for heedlessness; they abstain from the taking of intoxicants, fermented and distilled, which are the basis for heedlessness. Today, for this night and this day, I abandon the taking of intoxicants, fermented and distilled, which are the basis for heedlessness; I abstain from the taking of intoxicants, fermented and distilled, which are the basis for heedlessness. By this factor I imitate the Arahants; my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this fifth factor. 'For as long as life lasts, Arahants are single-mealers, abstaining from food at night, refraining from untimely food. Today, for this night and this day, I am a single-mealer, abstaining from food at night, refraining from untimely food. By this factor I imitate the Arahants; my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this sixth factor. 'For as long as life lasts, Arahants abandon dancing, singing, music, and unseemly shows, the wearing of garlands, scents, and adornments, and the use of cosmetics; they abstain from dancing, singing, music, and unseemly shows, the wearing of garlands, scents, and adornments, and the use of cosmetics. Today, for this night and this day, I abandon dancing, singing, music, and unseemly shows, the wearing of garlands, scents, and adornments, and the use of cosmetics; I abstain from dancing, singing, music, and unseemly shows, the wearing of garlands, scents, and adornments, and the use of cosmetics. By this factor I imitate the Arahants; my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this seventh factor. As long as they live, Arahants, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstaining from high and luxurious beds, make low beds, whether on a couch or on a mat of grass. I today, this night and this day, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstaining from high and luxurious beds, make a low bed, whether on a couch or on a mat of grass. By this factor, I emulate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this eighth factor. Thus observed, monks, the Uposatha endowed with eight factors is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness.' The First. 2. The Discourse on the Extended Uposatha 42. Monks, the Uposatha observed, endowed with eight factors, is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness. How, monks, is the Uposatha observed, endowed with eight factors, of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness? Here, monks, a noble disciple reflects thus: 'As long as they live, Arahants, having abandoned the taking of life, abstaining from the taking of life, having laid down rod and weapon, conscientious, compassionate, dwelling with sympathy for all living beings. I today, this night and this day, having abandoned the taking of life, abstaining from the taking of life, having laid down rod and weapon, conscientious, compassionate, dwelling with sympathy for all living beings. By this factor, I emulate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.' He is endowed with this first factor... and so on... 'As long as they live, Arahants, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstaining from high and luxurious beds, make low beds, whether on a couch or on a mat of grass. I today, this night and this day, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstaining from high and luxurious beds, make a low bed, whether on a couch or on a mat of grass. By this factor, I emulate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed...' will be?’ With this eighth factor he is endowed. Thus, monks, the Uposatha endowed with eight factors is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness. How great is its fruit? How great its benefit? How great its splendor? How great its pervasiveness? Just as, monks, if one were to rule the sovereignty, the dominion, the kingdom of these sixteen great countries, abundant in various jewels— namely, the Angas, the Magadhas, the Kasis, the Kosalas, the Vajjis, the Mallas, the Cetis, the Vangas, the Kurus, the Pañcalas, the Macchas, the Surasenas, the Assakas, the Avantis, the Gandharas, the Kambojas— this is not worth a sixteenth part of the Uposatha endowed with eight factors. For what reason? Poor, monks, is human kingship compared to divine happiness. Monks, fifty human years are one day and night for the Devas of the Four Great Kings. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. Five hundred divine years is the lifespan of the Devas of the Four Great Kings. It is possible, monks, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, after the breaking up of the body, after death, may be reborn in the companionship of the Devas of the Four Great Kings. It is with reference to this, monks, that it was said: ‘Poor is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’ Monks, one hundred human years are one day and night for the Tavatimsa Devas. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. One thousand divine years is the lifespan of the Tavatimsa Devas. Life span. It is indeed possible, bhikkhus, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, with the breaking up of the body, after death, might be reborn into the companionship of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. It was with this in mind, bhikkhus, that it was said – ‘Wretched is human sovereignty compared to divine happiness.’ Bhikkhus, two hundred human years, that is one day and night for the Yāma gods. Thirty such nights make a month. With that month, twelve months make a year. With that year, two thousand divine years is the life span of the Yāma gods. It is indeed possible, bhikkhus, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, with the breaking up of the body, after death, might be reborn into the companionship of the Yāma gods. It was with this in mind, bhikkhus, that it was said – ‘Wretched is human sovereignty compared to divine happiness.’ Bhikkhus, four hundred human years, that is one day and night for the Tusita gods. Thirty such nights make a month. With that month, twelve months make a year. With that year, four thousand divine years is the life span of the Tusita gods. It is indeed possible, bhikkhus, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, with the breaking up of the body, after death, might be reborn into the companionship of the Tusita gods. It was with this in mind, bhikkhus, that it was said – ‘Wretched is human sovereignty compared to divine happiness.’ Bhikkhus, eight hundred human years, that is one day and night for the Nimmānaratī gods. Thirty such nights make a month. With that month, twelve months make a year. With that year, eight thousand divine years is the life span of the Nimmānaratī gods. It is possible... Indeed, monks, it is possible that some woman or man here, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, with the breaking up of the body, after death, might be reborn into the companionship of the Devas who delight in creation. This, monks, was said with reference to this: 'Poor is human sovereignty compared to divine happiness.' Monks, sixteen hundred human years