When Did the Mid-Autumn Festival Originate?

What originally did not exist but now exists, phenomena that arise later, are of dependent nature, born from causes and conditions. When the causes and conditions cease, the dependent basis changes or disappears, and the phenomena consequently change and disappear.

When worldly people develop attachment towards phenomena that dependently arise, this is the nature of imputed existence. That which enables the dependent phenomena to be perfectly established according to causes and conditions, and which forms and manifests the dependent nature and the nature of imputed existence – this is the nature of perfect reality. Observe how foolish and ignorant your own imputed existence is. All worldly habits are formed in this way: the dependently arisen phenomena are so illusory and unreal, yet you insist on grasping them, then forming habits, which finally become deeply rooted in the mind, unbreakable. Birth, delusion, karma, and suffering arise from this.

Here is an observation exercise for everyone: Observe the obsessive fixation on the Mid-Autumn Festival by yourself and others, and contemplate the falsity and foolishness arising from the nature of imputed existence, as well as the illusory and unreal nature of dependently arisen phenomena. Frequently observing in this way can help you see through many meaningless worldly matters, see through the falsity and unreality formed by the habits of sentient beings, and see through the arising, ceasing, and changing nature of all phenomena, thereby reducing attachment.

Treating the Mid-Autumn Festival – a man-made convention arising from non-existence – as something inherent and clinging to it until it becomes a custom is merely putting shackles on yourself.

Key Terminology Justification (for your reference, not part of the output): * 依他起性 (yī tā qǐ xìng): Dependent nature / Other-dependent nature -> Translated as "dependent nature" (standard Buddhist term: paratantra-svabhāva). * 遍计所执性 (biàn jì suǒ zhí xìng): Nature of imputed existence / Imagined nature -> Translated as "nature of imputed existence" (standard Buddhist term: parikalpita-svabhāva). "Imputed" captures the idea of falsely attributing inherent existence. * 圆成实性 (yuán chéng shí xìng): Nature of perfect reality / Perfectly accomplished nature -> Translated as "nature of perfect reality" (standard Buddhist term: pariniṣpanna-svabhāva). * 因缘所生法 (yīn yuán suǒ shēng fǎ): Phenomena born from causes and conditions -> Translated literally and accurately. * 观行 (guān xíng): Observation practice / Contemplative exercise -> Translated as "observation exercise" to fit the context of a practical task. * 执取 (zhí qǔ): Grasping / Attachment / Obsessive fixation -> Used "obsessive fixation" and "clinging" to convey the strength and negative connotation of the attachment. * 虚妄性 (xū wàng xìng): Falsity / Illusory nature -> Translated as "falsity". * 愚痴性 (yú chī xìng): Foolishness / Ignorance -> Translated as "foolishness". * 生死惑业苦 (shēng sǐ huò yè kǔ): Birth, delusion, karma, suffering -> Broken down into components for clarity in English. * 枷锁 (jiā suǒ): Shackles / Fetters -> Translated as "shackles".