Lzh Sarv Upali 21Questions on Setting Aside the Sabbath

Exposition of the Sūtra of Questions on Setting Aside the Uposatha Day

Background

The “Questions on Setting Aside the Uposatha Day” (Uposathaṭṭhāpanapucchā) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is an important legal document related to the management of Uposatha days, sacred days in the religious calendar of the community of monks and nuns. The sūtra is recorded in the form of questions and answers, reflecting discussion among elder monks and especially Venerable Upali, one of the Buddha’s early disciples and regarded as an expert in the rules of practice.

Uposatha, also called the Eight-Precept Observance Day, refers to the full-moon, new-moon, and sixteenth days of the lunar calendar. On these days, the community of monks and nuns often gathers to proclaim and maintain the sacred precepts. In actual practice, however, complex situations must be resolved: when the proclamation of Uposatha may be postponed, under what conditions, and who has the authority to make the decision.

Main Content

This sūtra focuses on detailed questions concerning how to determine and postpone the Uposatha day. The issues discussed include how to identify the correct day of the month, what cases permit postponing the Uposatha proclamation, and the spiritual consequences of failing to observe the proper time.

According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, every bhikkhu must attend the recitation of the precepts (Pāṭimokkha). If one is unable to attend, he must send a statement declaring his purity. However, this sūtra raises questions about special situations: if the weather is severe, the roads cannot be traveled, or sudden events occur, may the proclamation be postponed?

The elders answer that postponing Uposatha may be permitted only in very limited cases, and must be carried out validly according to the rules of the Sangha.