user23480: Perhaps ritual isnt the right word but hopefully I can explain. So I am attracted to orthodox Christianity and its culture but I dont believe any of it. I like its fasting ritual many of its holidays, its worship and etc. and being in the west its easy to find like minded people to make that a part of my life or rather part of my practice. Buddhism by oneself is basically reading suttas and meditation since there is no local sangha but I find I would like to integrate more in my life so I can inundate my existance around buddhism without monasticism. I cant become a monk I have a wife and children. Is there anything like a Buddhist lifestyle beyond the 5 precepts for laypeople to follow to make it more "holy"?

user21432: There is Uposatha, a day of observance and an opportunity for increased practice. Lay people take on extra precepts to live more closely to the life of an arahant. Uposatha is typically observed based on the lunar calendar so at least twice a month on the new moon and full moon. Some people observe Uposatha more frequently. Suttas AN 8.41, AN 3.70, and AN 10.46 are about Uposatha.
Ideally you take the eight precepts from a monk. This could be done online. If that isn't possible, read the eight precepts out loud to yourself the morning of uposatha. Then the morning after uposatha, read the five precepts out loud to yourself. This replaces the eight.
An explanation of the eight precepts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uposatha

user24564: Holly buddhist life starts with Uposatha-Sila (8), and not only many many monks, even the Sublime Buddha, had wife, child, and often more to give up than common men. There is less holly in common life while going after sensual pleasures and gains of own kind, or?

user471: I think those who stay in Theravada countries (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar) could give better info. I don't.
However, as far as I know there are the following events or rituals for lay persons:

Ceremony to undertake the 5 precepts and take the 3 refuges, administered by a monk
Uposatha every new moon and full moon at least, where the 8 precepts are followed
Daily chanting of various verses like the 3 refuges
Daily short periods of meditation or study of scripture
Giving alms to monks who are on their alms round, or giving them food in the monastery
Charity to the monastery
Giving the gift of a robe at the Kathina Festival
Vesak Day festival at the temple
Getting a monk to chant or bless, for various reasons like moving into a new home or getting married

Maybe there are more, but I don't know these very well.

23480: <p>Perhaps ritual isnt the right word but hopefully I can explain. So I am attracted to orthodox Christianity and its culture but I dont believe any of it. I like its fasting ritual many of its holidays, its worship and etc. and being in the west its easy to find like minded people to make that a part of my life or rather part of my practice. Buddhism by oneself is basically reading suttas and meditation since there is no local sangha but I find I would like to integrate more in my life so I can inundate my existance around buddhism without monasticism. I cant become a monk I have a wife and children. Is there anything like a Buddhist lifestyle beyond the 5 precepts for laypeople to follow to make it more &quot;holy&quot;?</p>
 21432: <p>There is Uposatha, a day of observance and an opportunity for increased practice. Lay people take on extra precepts to live more closely to the life of an arahant. Uposatha is typically observed based on the lunar calendar so at least twice a month on the new moon and full moon. Some people observe Uposatha more frequently. Suttas <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an8.41/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 8.41</a>, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an3.70/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.70</a>, and <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an10.46/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 10.46</a> are about Uposatha.</p>
<p>Ideally you take the eight precepts from a monk. This could be done online. If that isn't possible, read the eight precepts out loud to yourself the morning of uposatha. Then the morning after uposatha, read the five precepts out loud to yourself. This replaces the eight.</p>
<p><a href="https://bodhimonastery.org/the-five-and-eight-precepts.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">An explanation of the eight precepts.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uposatha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uposatha</a></p>
 24564: <p>Holly buddhist life starts with Uposatha-Sila (8), and not only many many monks, even the Sublime Buddha, had wife, child, and often more to give up than common men. There is less holly in common life while going after sensual pleasures and gains of own kind, or?</p>
 471: <p>I think those who stay in Theravada countries (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar) could give better info. I don't.</p>
<p>However, as far as I know there are the following events or rituals for lay persons:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ceremony to undertake the 5 precepts and take the 3 refuges, administered by a monk</li>
<li>Uposatha every new moon and full moon at least, where the 8 precepts are followed</li>
<li>Daily chanting of various verses like the 3 refuges</li>
<li>Daily short periods of meditation or study of scripture</li>
<li>Giving alms to monks who are on their alms round, or giving them food in the monastery</li>
<li>Charity to the monastery</li>
<li>Giving the gift of a robe at the Kathina Festival</li>
<li>Vesak Day festival at the temple</li>
<li>Getting a monk to chant or bless, for various reasons like moving into a new home or getting married</li>
</ul>
<p>Maybe there are more, but I don't know these very well.</p>
