Special Days

[kirtu]

That's Wednesday November 7th for us European dwellers.

That's right. The moonphase begins on the US East Coast at 7:36 pm. When I have asked my lamas they said that one can just take the whole calendar day that the phase occurs on or one can take both days or can observe the lunar time.

But in Western Europe the moonphase is 1:36 am 7 Nov.

Kirt

[catmoon]

You know, when they started doing things by the moon phases conversations probably went something like:

"When do we do the fire puja? Is it tonight?"
"Well tonight or tomorrow it's kinda close either way"
"U srs? Which is it?"
"Well the moon was a pretty thin crescent last night so I guess tonight is fine."
"What you're not sure?"
"How can I be sure? The only way to be positive is to get up in the morning and see if the moon rises on the other side of the sun. By then its too late."
"There has to be a better way than this."
"Look, get out a calendar. Count off 28 days from the last puja and we'll use that"
"What if it's off a day?"
"Then we'll correct the date by a day and use that until it needs correction again."
"But won't we need correction about every fourth month? Do you want to do a quarter of your pujas on the wrong day?"
"There is no wrong day to do a puja. If you're that worried you can do an extra one the day before"
"How do we know when it's the day before?"
"Simple. Count off 27 days from the last puja."
"Well I suppose it would work..."
"OK you happy now, Mr Rocket Science Man?"
"Actually no."
(Student receives a whistling crack on the head from the master's staff)
"Pardon me I meant to say yes. I'm a very happy monk yupyup."
"Great. Go get us some firewood, we're gonna need some in any event."

[kirtu]

- hahahaha!

Well the intention is that it is the 1/2 moon. And when that actually occurs is at a different time all around the globe because of our time zones even though it occurs at the exact same time in the Earth-Moon-Sun system. This was always true and would not have been a noticeable issue near India. However the Kalmyks for example would have definitely seen it way off on the shores of the Caspian Sea. For that matter, Atisha probably noticed it during his studies in Indonesia.

Kirt

[plwk]

Happy Lha Bab Duchen

[catmoon]

:jumping: - hahahaha!

Well the intention is that it is the 1/2 moon. And when that actually occurs is at a different time all around the globe because of our time zones even though it occurs at the exact same time in the Earth-Moon-Sun system. This was always true and would not have been a noticeable issue near India. However the Kalmyks for example would have definitely seen it way off on the shores of the Caspian Sea. For that matter, Atisha probably noticed it during his studies in Indonesia.

Kirt

You can go out and watch the moon if you like, but I'll bet a bunch of bananas you can't tell me the exact moment of half phase without modern resources. Hey, I'll even allow you a half hour's error.

-Catmoon
Past President
Maple Ridge Amateur Astronomer's Society

[Skydancer]

Today (Nov. 6. 2012) we celebrate Lhabab Duchen — Shakyamuni Buddha's descent from heaven. Buddha's mother, Mayadevi, was reborn in Indra's heaven. To repay her kindness, to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the heaven realm. When it came time for him to return to this world, Indra and Brahma manifested a triple staircase of 80,000 steps, and Buddha returned to this world on the twenty-second day of the ninth Tibetan month.

Today, the effects of positive, as well as negative, actions and thoughts are multiplied ten million times.

[Pero]

So what's the astrological significance of this day?

[Pero]

So what's the astrological significance of this day?

No one knows or there isn't one?

[catmoon]

No idea here. Nope, not a clue.

[kirtu]

This Monday, 25 Feb (tomorrow) is Chotrul Duchen, Miracle Day, the end of the first two weeks of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar and the final day on which Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have engaged in a contest of miracles with non-Buddhist sages (no other tradition has this contest recorded to my knowledge). Merit (and demerit) is said to be multiplied 10 million times so please practice well.

It would be a good time to observe the Eight Mahayana Precepts. As it is a full moon, it is also a traditional day on which to do Shakyamuni Buddha practice.

Kirt

[plwk]

Happy Chotrul Duchen to all

[kirtu]

We have just begin the 3rd month of the Tibetan calendar (today is the second day). In 13 days on 3/15 (April 25th) is the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha teaching the Kalachakra. Merit/demerit is multiplied 100,000 times.

Kirt

[kirtu]

Today is the Kalachakra Wheel Turing Day and there is a lunar eclipse on top of that. Merit and demerit are multiplied 10,000 times.

Kirt