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The Snow Lion Practice Calendar will be found after this notice:

To determine the date of Losar (New Year's) for Fire Dog Year,  most Tibetans used the calendar based on the Phukluk system.  It was also used in the calendar chosen by Snow Lion until the end of 2004.  Then the Tsurluk system,  a revision by the 3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, was used until the end of January 2006,  and according to it, Tibetan New Year corresponded to that of the Chinese and Vietnamese calculation.  In 2006, we experienced the disparity between 2 different systems.  In 2007 & 2008,  Chinese and Tibetan New Year correspond within a day or so.

Snow Lion Practice Calendar

2135, Year of the Earth Rat  >>>  current month April-May 2008.

Introductory explanations:

Chotrul Düchen: The first fifteen days of the Tibetan Buddhist year are celebrated in commemoration of the 15 days on which, in order to increase the merit and aid devotion of future disciples,  Buddha displayed a different miracle each day..

Anniversaries which fall in doubled months are usually celebrated in the second month, although they may also be celebrated in the first month if that is more convenient for the practitioner.  Here, dates of anniversaries are indicated in the repeated month.

*100,000 multiplying month;  practice is emphasized.

**Buddha's Day -- on these days the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times.
          8th Day - Medicine Buddha
        15th Day - Amitabha Buddha
        30th Day - Shakyamuni Buddha

**The four Great Festivals (düchen) of the year relate to the life of Buddha Shakyamuni, at which time the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 10 million times.

**Guru Rinpoche Day - Celebrated on the 10th of the Tibetan month.

**Dakinis' Day - Celebrated on the 25th of the Tibetan month.

**Dharmapalas' Day - the 29th of the Tibetan month.

**Sojong - (a practice of confession) instituted by Vasubandu, a "Second Buddha"
On sojong days the observance of the Eight Vows of Mahayana Sojong (to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication; not to take a high or luxurious seat, not to sing, dance or wear ornaments, and not to eat after midday) of the practice of Narak Kong Shak is recommended.

Sojong (Practice of Confession) by Supreme Master Padmasambhava, the Second Buddha:        

        To fully restore all positivity,
        To clear away all negativity;
        To replenish (so) virtue and purify (jong) harmful deeds;
        The Tathagata has taught the practice of Sojong.

**In this timeline the western days of the month are listed first, then the Tibetan days in parentheses.

**In the Tibetan system sometimes days are doubled or omitted.  Special days which fall on double days are usually celebrated on the second day, but may be celebrated on the first day if more convenient for the practitioner.  Special days which fall on missing days are usually celebrated on the preceding day.

When it is inauspicious to hang prayer flags is also indicated.  Generally, Monday is a good day to hang flags and Friday is very good. 

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The following calendar is extracted from the Rigpa Calendar, courtesy of Snow Lion Publications.

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INAUSPICIOUS or UNFAVOURABLE DAYS

Though Monday is a good day to hang flags and Friday isvery good,  some Inauspicious Days for Hanging Prayer Flags are: 

Karma Kagyu Anniversaries (Birth of 17th Karmapa was 8th day of 5th Tibetan month,  but is celebrated "internationally" on June 26th.)

Calendar Links

Please direct any Snow Lion calendar questions to erinriddle@snowlionpub.com  Thank you, Erin. 

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