THE LAO VIENG UPOSATHASILA OBSERVING OF BANYANG LAO, BANYANG SUB-DISTRICT, LAMPLAIMAS DISTRICT BURIRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

The method of observing the Uposathasila is through participating the observation at the temple on the Buddhist Holy Day that Phrasripariyattithada is the abbot.  It is evident that when the Ban Yanglao people have their sons or daughters-in-law they will customarily bring them to observe the Uposathasila as their tradition. The method of observing the Uposathasila has been inherited from their ancestors and regulated by the temple. The observation is started from cleaning their body, dressing in white and polite dress, bringing food for merit making at the temple, chanting and practicing daily activities, announcing an acceptance of the Uposathasila, and strictly observing the Eight Precepts or the Uposathasila. The method of observing and practicing the Uposathasila is from preparing oneself in early morning of the Buddhist Holy Day, cleaning and dressing in white, offering food to monks in the morning, announcing and observing the Eight Precepts, listening to Dhamma preaching and practicing meditation till 11.00 a.m. It is the time for offering food to monks and then having lunch with the food left from monks. After finishing lunch, they are relaxed in the afternoon through various activities such as reading Dhamma books. Then around 5 p.m. they clean themselves and from 6 p.m. they chant with monks, listening to Dhamma preaching and then take a rest or practice Dhamma as they wish. In early morning of the following day, they accept the ordinary Five Precepts and go back home.