[upekkha100]

Quotes are from the following links:
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/uposatha.html

https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/217.htm

http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/i_/isipatana.htm

a) “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. ”

b) “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.”

c) “three key events in the Buddha’s life that took place on this full-moon day: his birth, Awakening, and final Unbinding(parinibbana)”

d) “His renunciation took place on a full moon day. ”

e) “After his Enlightenment the Buddha, leaving Uruvela, joined them in Isipatana, and it was there that he preached his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, on the full-moon day of āsālha. ”

Questions:
1) Why are certain moon days(2 quarter moon, new moon, full moon)designated for monastics to do certain activities and for lay followers to observe the 8 precepts? Are those 4 days arbitrary or is there a specific reason?

2) Is it in the Tipitaka that those five significant events of the Buddha really happened on a full moon day?

3) If so, what is unique about the full moon, is there a reason these events happened on full days instead of during other phases of the moon?

[SengKiat]

@upekkha100 you may want to read the following articles and book to satisfy your curiosity on the Religious significance of Full Moon or New Moon.

Articles:
1. Religious significance of Full Moon
2. The Moon and Religious Observances

Book:
1. Great Chronicle of Buddhas: Mahabuddhavamsa by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw

[upekkha100]

Hi SengKiat. Thank you so much for providing the uploads!

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