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conscientious, compassionate, they dwell with sympathy for all living beings. I, too, today, for this night and this day, having abandoned the taking of life, abstain from the taking of life, having laid aside rod, having laid aside weapon, conscientious, compassionate, I dwell with sympathy for 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 as long as life lasts, 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, today, 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, Bojjhā, 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, Bojjhā, if one were to rule over these sixteen great countries, abundant in various precious things, with sovereignty and dominion, namely – Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji of the Mallās, of the Cetīs, of the Vaṅgas, of the Kurus, of the Pañcālas, of the Macchas, of the Sūrasenas, of the Assakas, of the Avantīs, of the Gandhāras, of the Kambojas— this is not worth a sixteenth part of the Uposatha endowed with eight factors. For what reason? Pitiful, Bojjhe, is human kingship compared to divine happiness. “Those fifty human years, Bojjhe, 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, Bojjhe, 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 companionship with the devas of the Four Great Kings. It is with this in mind, Bojjhe, that it was said: ‘Pitiful is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’” “That one hundred human years, Bojjhe… and so on… Those two hundred human years, Bojjhe… and so on… four hundred human years… and so on… eight hundred human years… and so on… sixteen hundred human years are one day and night for the devas who control others’ creations. Thirty such nights make a month. Twelve such months make a year. Sixteen thousand divine years is the lifespan of the devas who control others’ creations. It is possible, Bojjhe, 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 companionship with the devas who control others’ creations. It is with this in mind, Bojjhe, that it was said: ‘Pitiful is human kingship compared to divine happiness.’” “One should not kill living beings, nor take what is not given; one should not speak falsely, nor drink intoxicants; one should abstain from unchastity, from sexual intercourse; one should not eat at night, food out of time. M He holds no garland, nor applies perfume, He sleeps on a mat, or on the ground, or on a spread; This indeed is called the eight-limbed Uposatha, Declared by the Buddha, the one who has ended suffering. The moon and the sun, both are beautiful to see, They illuminate and revolve as far as they go; They dispel darkness, those who travel in the sky, They shine in the heavens, illuminating the directions. Whatever wealth exists in this space, Pearls, gems, and beautiful lapis lazuli; Pure gold, or indeed fine gold, That which is called refined gold. Compared to the eight-limbed Uposatha, They do not amount to a sixteenth part; Nor the moon's radiance, nor all the star-clusters. Therefore, both women and men of virtue, Should observe the eight-limbed Uposatha; Having performed meritorious deeds that lead to happiness, Blameless, they go to a heavenly abode. The Fifth. 6. Anuruddha Sutta 46. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Kosambī, at Ghositārāma. Now at that time, the Venerable Anuruddha had gone for a day's abiding, secluded. Then many delightful-bodied devas approached the Venerable Anuruddha; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Anuruddha, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, those devas said to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Venerable Anuruddha, we are devas called delightful-bodied, we exercise mastery and wield power in three respects. Venerable Anuruddha, whatever color we wish for, we obtain that color immediately; whatever sound we wish for, we obtain that sound immediately; whatever happiness we wish for, we obtain that happiness immediately. Venerable Anuruddha, we are devas called delightful-bodied, we exercise mastery and wield power in these three respects." Then it occurred to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Oh, if only all these devas were blue, with blue complexions, blue garments, and blue ornaments!" Then those devas, of the Venerable Anuruddha's knowing his thought, all of them became blue, of blue color, in blue garments, with blue ornaments. Then it occurred to Venerable Anuruddha: “Oh, if only these deities were all yellow… …if only they were all red… …if only they were all white, of white color, in white garments, with white ornaments!” Then those deities, knowing Venerable Anuruddha’s thought, all became white, of white color, in white garments, with white ornaments. Then one of those deities sang, one danced, and one played a lute. Just as the sound of a five-stringed lute, well-trained, well-struck, skillfully played by experts, is charming, enticing, desirable, lovable, and intoxicating; even so was the sound of the ornaments of those deities: charming, enticing, desirable, lovable, and intoxicating. Then Venerable Anuruddha withdrew his senses. Then those deities, thinking, “Venerable Anuruddha does not approve,” vanished right there. Then Venerable Anuruddha, having risen from seclusion in the evening, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Anuruddha said to the Blessed One: “Here, Bhante, I went for a day’s abiding, in seclusion. Then, Bhante, many delightful-bodied deities approached me; having approached, they saluted me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Bhante, those deities said to me: ‘We, Bhante Anuruddha, are deities called delightful-bodied. We exercise mastery and wield power in three respects. We, Bhante Anuruddha, obtain on the spot whatever color we wish; Whatever sound we wish for, that sound we obtain immediately; whatever happiness we wish for, that happiness we obtain immediately. We, Venerable Anuruddha, are deities called Manāpakāyikā, in these three respects, we exercise mastery, we wield power.' Then, Venerable sir, it occurred to me: 'Oh, if only these deities were all blue, blue in color, blue robed, blue adorned!' Then, Venerable sir, those deities, knowing my thought, all became blue, blue in color, blue robed, blue adorned. Then, Venerable sir, it occurred to me: 'Oh, if only these deities were all yellow, yellow in color, yellow robed, yellow adorned! Oh, if only these deities were all red, red in color, red robed, red adorned! Oh, if only these deities were all white, white in color, white robed, white adorned!' Then, Venerable sir, those deities, knowing my thought, all became white, white in color, white robed, white adorned. Then, Venerable sir, those deities, one sang, one danced, one played a musical instrument. Just as a five-stringed lute, well-tuned, well-struck, skillfully played by experts, produces a sound that is charming, delightful, desirable, lovely, and intoxicating; even so, the sound of those deities' ornaments was charming, delightful, desirable, lovely, and intoxicating. Then, Venerable sir, I withdrew my senses. Then, Venerable sir, those deities, thinking, 'Venerable Anuruddha is not pleased,' vanished right there. By how many qualities, Venerable sir, is a woman endowed, that after the breaking up of the body, after death, she reappears in the company of the Manāpakāyikā deities? A woman endowed with eight qualities, Anuruddha, after the breaking up of the body, after death, reappears in the company of the Manāpakāyikā deities. Which eight? Here, Anuruddha, a woman, whom her parents give to a husband, desiring her welfare, wishing her good, out of compassion, she is one who rises before him. Following after, Answering "What can I do?", Acting agreeably, Speaking kindly. Those who are respected by her husband— whether mother or father, or recluses and brahmins— she honors them, she respects them, she reveres them, she worships them. And she honors guests with a seat and water. Those domestic tasks of her husband— whether wool or cotton— in them she is skillful, not lazy, endowed with an appropriate investigation, able to do, able to arrange. That inner household staff of her husband— whether slaves or servants or workers— she knows what is done as done, and what is not done as not done. And she knows the strength and weakness of the sick. And she distributes food and drink to them according to their share. Whatever her husband brings home— whether wealth or grain or gold— she manages it with protection and guardianship. And in that she is not a cheat, not a thief, not a drunkard, not a squanderer. Furthermore, she is a lay follower who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Dhamma, gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. Furthermore, she is virtuous— abstaining from the destruction of life, abstaining from taking what is not given, abstaining from sexual misconduct, abstaining from false speech,