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is one day and night for the Devas who control others' creations. Thirty such nights make a month. With that month, twelve months make a year. With that year, sixteen thousand divine years is the lifespan of the Devas who control others' creations. 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 control others' creations. This, monks, was said with reference to this: 'Poor is human sovereignty compared to divine happiness.' No living thing should one harm, Nor take what is not given. No lies should one speak, Nor be one who drinks intoxicants. From unchaste conduct, From sexual intercourse, One should abstain. At night one should not eat, Nor partake of untimely food. No garlands should one wear, Nor use perfumes. On a bed or on the ground, On a mat, one should lie. This indeed is called The eight-factored Uposatha, Proclaimed by the Buddha, The one who knows the end of suffering. The moon and the sun, Both beautiful to behold, Illuminate as far as they wander. Dispelling darkness, They move through the sky, Shining in the heavens, Brightening the directions. Whatever wealth exists Within this (world), Pearls, gems, And beautiful lapis lazuli, Pure gold, Or indeed any gold, That which is called Refined gold. Of the Uposatha Endowed with eight factors, They do not experience Even a sixteenth part. The moon's radiance, And all star clusters. Therefore, indeed, Women and men... Virtuous ones, Having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors; Having done deeds of merit that lead to happiness, Blameless, they go to a heavenly state. (This is) the second. 3. The Discourse to Visākhā At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in the Eastern Park, in Migāra's Mother's Palace. Then Visākhā, Migāra's mother, approached the Blessed One; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Visākhā, Migāra's mother, sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Visākhā, the Uposatha observed, endowed with eight factors, is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness. How, Visākhā, is the Uposatha observed, endowed with eight factors, of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness? Here, Visākhā, a noble disciple reflects thus: 'For their entire lives, the Arahants, having abandoned the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, having laid aside rod and weapon, conscientious, compassionate, they dwell sympathetic to the welfare of all living beings. I too, for this night and this day, having abandoned the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, having laid aside rod and weapon, conscientious, compassionate, I dwell sympathetic to the welfare of all living beings. By this factor, I emulate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.' By this first factor, one is endowed... (and so on for the other factors). 'For their entire lives, the Arahants, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstain from high and luxurious beds, they make use of a low sleeping place – on a couch or on a mat of straw. I too, for this night and this day, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, abstain from high and luxurious beds, I make use of a low sleeping place – on a couch or on a mat of straw. By this factor, I emulate the Arahants, and my Uposatha will be observed.' By this eighth factor, one is endowed. "Thus observed, Visākhā, 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 radiance? Just as, Visakha, if one of these sixteen great countries, rich in various treasures, were to rule with sovereignty and dominion, namely – Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji, Malla, Ceti, Vanga, Kuru, Pañcala, Maccha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, Kamboja, that is not worth a sixteenth part of the Uposatha endowed with eight factors. For what reason? Poor, Visakha, is human kingship compared to divine happiness. Fifty human years, Visakha, is one day and night for the Devas of the Four Great Kings. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. By that year, five hundred divine years is the lifespan of the Devas of the Four Great Kings. It is indeed possible, Visakha, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, after the breaking up of the body, after death, may arise in companionship with the Devas of the Four Great Kings. It was with this in mind, Visakha, that it was said – ‘Poor is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’ One hundred human years, Visakha, is one day and night for the Tavatimsa Devas. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. By that year, one thousand divine years is the lifespan of the Tavatimsa Devas. It is indeed possible, Visakha, that some woman or man, having observed the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, after the breaking up of the body, after death, may arise in companionship with the Tavatimsa Devas. It was with this in mind, Visakha, that it was said – ‘Poor is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’ Two hundred human years, Visakha... four …eight hundred years… …sixteen hundred years… …that is one day and night for the gods of the Paranimmita-vasavattī realm. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. By that year, the lifespan of the Paranimmita-vasavattī gods is sixteen thousand divine years. It is possible, Visakha, that some woman or man here, having observed the Uposatha with eight components, after the breaking up of the body, after death, may be reborn into the companionship of the Paranimmita-vasavattī gods. It was with this in mind, Visakha, that it was said: ‘Miserable is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’ One should not kill living beings, nor take what is not given, nor speak falsely, nor drink intoxicants; One should abstain from unchastity, from sexual intercourse; One should not eat at night, nor partake of untimely food. One should not wear garlands, nor apply perfumes; One should lie on a bed on the ground, or on a mat; This indeed is called the eight-component Uposatha, proclaimed by the Buddha, who has attained the end of suffering. The moon and the sun, both beautiful to behold, illuminate as far as they go; Dispelling darkness, they move through the sky, shining in the heavens, illuminating the directions. Whatever wealth exists within this sphere, pearls, gems, and beautiful lapis lazuli; Pure gold, or indeed fine gold, that which is called refined gold. Compared to the Uposatha endowed with eight components, they are not worth even a sixteenth part; Just as the light of the moon outshines all the star clusters. Therefore, both women and men of virtue, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight components; Having performed deeds of merit that lead to happiness, blameless, they go to heaven. The third. 4. The Vāseṭṭha Sutta At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Then the lay follower Vāseṭṭha approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, Then the Blessed One said to the lay follower Vāseṭṭha: "Vāseṭṭha, the Uposatha observed, endowed with eight factors, is of great fruit... blameless, they go to a heavenly state." When this was said, the lay follower Vāseṭṭha said to the Blessed One: "My dear relatives, venerable sir, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, for the long-term welfare and happiness of my dear relatives. And if all the nobles, venerable sir, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of all those nobles. And if all the brahmins... merchants... commoners should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of all those commoners." "So it is, Vāseṭṭha, so it is, Vāseṭṭha! Even if all the nobles, Vāseṭṭha, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of all those nobles. Even if all the brahmins... merchants... commoners should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of all those commoners. Even if the world with its devas, Vāseṭṭha, with Māra, with Brahmā, with its population of recluses and brahmins, with its devas and humans, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of that world with its devas, with Māra, with Brahmā, with its population of recluses and brahmins, with its devas and humans. Even if these great sal trees, Vāseṭṭha, should observe the Uposatha endowed with eight factors, it would be for the long-term welfare and happiness of these great sal trees. What then of human beings!" The Fourth. 5. The Bojjha Sutta 45. At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Then Bojjhā the lay follower approached the Blessed One; having approached, she bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Bojjhā the lay follower, sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this – "The Uposatha endowed with eight factors, Bojjhā, when observed, is of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness. How, Bojjhā, when observed, is the Uposatha endowed with eight factors of great fruit, of great benefit, of great splendor, of great pervasiveness? Here, Bojjhā, a noble disciple reflects thus – ‘For as long as life lasts, Arahants, having abandoned the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, having laid aside rod, having laid aside weapon,