Tibetan Calendars
There are at least two different Tibetan calendars.
Still in widespread or popular use is a very old one based on the Phukluk system,
but it is not in alignment with observable constellations and seasons.
Therefore, we here rely on the Tsurluk
calendar, the revision developed by the 3rd
Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339.)
In
2009, we
relied on the Nalandabodhi calendar prepared under the direction of Dzogchen
Ponlop Rinpoche. Until we get the latest one, we will be using the
Rigpa Calendar. Both are available from Snow Lion and also from
Namse Bangdzo.
Introduction
Buddha Days
In every Tibetan month, certain days are
considered right for certain practices, and on those days the effects of
positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times; for example,
8th Day -- Medicine
Buddha 15th Day -- Amitabha Buddha 30th Day -- Shakyamuni Buddha
Other Special Days of the Month
-
10th Day -- Guru Rinpoche Day
-
25th Day -- Dakini Day
-
29th Day -- Dharmapala Day
Four Major Buddhist Festivals
The festivals (Tib. Du.chen) relate to events in the legendary life of Buddha
Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha.) For example, Chotrul Düchen., which
occurs during the first 15 days of the Tibetan
Buddhist year. This Duchen commemorates the 15 days on which, in order to increase the
merit and aid the devotion of future disciples, the Buddha displayed a different
miracle on each day.
Special Anniversaries
The anniversaries that are observed can depend upon the denomination and
lineage to which one belongs.
Anniversaries which fall in doubled months are usually celebrated in
the second month, although they may be celebrated in
the first month if more convenient for the practitioner.
[In published calendars, dates of anniversaries are indicated in the repeated month.]
Key to Reading This Calendar
The Western day of the month is listed first, and
then the Tibetan day
in parentheses, eg. [3].
When no official observance occurs over a few days,
either Western or other, then this editor practices economy of space by
grouping days, eg. see Month 10, December 2009, 20 - 23 [6 - 8 ]
In the Tibetan system
sometimes days are doubled or omitted. Special days falling on a doubled
day are usually celebrated on the second day, but may be celebrated on the
first day if it is more convenient for the practitioner. Special
days which fall on missing days are usually celebrated on the preceding day.
When it is inauspicious
(not a good idea) to hang prayer flags is also indicated. Generally, Monday is not a good
day to hang flags and Friday is very good.
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~ Last 3
Months of Year of the Earth
Cow, Tibetan Year 2136 ~
MID-NOVEMBER Month 10
17 [1] 18 [2] success
19 - 23 [3 - 6] < 6 repeats
24 [7] no new flags 25
[8] 26 [9] US Thanksgiving
Jamgon Kongtrul [IV] 's birthday 27
[10] White Tara Ceremony w. painting
ann. 6th Dzogchen Ponlop Jiktral Tsewang Dorje
28 - 30 [11-13]
[Choje Lama Namse (b.1930) passed away on Nov.30th] December 1 [14]
2 [15] Full Moon 3 [16]
ann. Pawo Tsuklak Trengwa 4 -
5 [ 17-18] 6 [19 is omitted, 20]
7 - 9 [21- 23] 10 [24]
Human Rights Day, ann. Dalai Lama Peace Prize
11 [25] Hanukkah, the Jewish
Festival of Lights, begins at dusk ann. Je
Tsongkhapa 12 - 15 [26 -29]
16 [30] ann. 12th Karmapa
Changchub Dorje Month 11
1 [17]
2 [18]
Hanukkah ends
3 [19]
4 [20] no new flags
5 [21] Winter Solstice
6 - 8 [22-24]
9 [25]
Christmas Day
10 [26]
Boxing Day
11 - 14 [27 -30]
12 [31] Full Moon
New Year's Eve
2010
January 2010
1 (16)
* New Year's Day (Aus, Can, Ch, EU, Ind,J, NZ,US)
* Inauspicious day to hang new prayer flags
2 (17)
* New Year's Holiday (Ch, Scot, Slo)
3 (18)
* Parinirvana and Anniversary of Dudjom Rinpoche
* Anniversary of the Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche Dongyu Nyima
4 (19)
* Anniversary of Taklung Thangpa
5 (20)
* Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) (Ind)
6 (21)
* Epiphany (Christian) (A,Cy,parts of D,E,Fin,Gr,It,S,Sk)
7 (22)
* Anniversary of Drogon Chogyal Pakpa
9 (25)
* Dakini Day
10 (26)
* Anniversary of the First Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
* National Unity Day (Np)
11 (27)
* Coming of Age Day (J)
12 (28)
* Holocaust Memorial Day (UN)
* Inauspicious day to hang new prayer flags
14 (29)
* Dharmapala Day
* Sojong
15 (30)
* Annular Solar Eclipse (actions multiplied by 10,000)
* Night when the fates of those to die in the coming year are
decided
* Shakyamuni Buddha Day
* New Moon
(Month 12)
(17th day is missing this month)
16 (1)
* Inauspicious day to hang new prayer flags
18 (3)
* Anniversary of the First Chetsang Rinpoche, Drikung Konchok Ratna
* Martin Luther King's Birthday (US)
20 (5)
* Vasant Panchami (Hindu) (Ind, Np)
23 (8)
* Medicine Buddha and Tara Day
25 (10)
* Guru Rinpoche Day, Guru Pema Gyalpo
26 (11)
* Anniversary of Kangyur Rinpoche
* Australia Day (Aus)
* Republic Day (Ind)
28 (13)
* Inauspicious day to hang new prayer flags
29 (14)
* Sojong
* Nyi Nak
30 (15)
* Amitabha Buddha Day
* Full Moon
February, 2010
1 (18)
* Anniversary of Kunkhyen Longchen Rabjam
* Anniversary of the First Chungtsang Rinpoche, Drikung Rigdzin
Chokyi Drakpa
2 (19)
* Anniversary of Neten Chokling Pema Gyurme
* Groundhog Day (US)
4 (21)
* National Day (Sri Lanka)
6 (23)
* Waitangi Day (NZ)
7 (24)
* Anniversary of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
8 (25)
* Dakini Day
* Preseren Day (Slo)
* Inauspicious day to hang new prayer flags
10 (27)
* St. Paul's Shipwreck (M)
11 (28)
* National Foundation Day (Jp)
12 (29)
* Gutor, averting the negativity of the old year
* Maha Shivararatri (Hindu) (Ind, Np)
* Dharmapala Day
* Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (US)
13 (30)
* Shakyamuni Buddha Day
* House cleaning day, according to Tibetan custom
* Sojong
* New Moon
Year of the Iron Tiger,
Tibetan Year 2137
(Month 1, 2137)
14 (1)
* Losar--Tibetan New Year 2137, Year of the Iron Tiger
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__________________________________________________________
anniversary: From the Tibetan Buddhist perspective,
the anniversary of a lama's death is celebrated rather than that of their birth.
Sogyal Rinpoche wrote:
“However consummate our spiritual mastery may be, we are still limited by
the body and its karma. But with the physical release of death comes the most
marvelous opportunity to fulfil everything we have been striving for in our
practice and our life. Even in the case of a supreme master who has reached
the highest realization, the ultimate release, called parinirvana, dawns only
at death. That is why in the Tibetan tradition we do not celebrate the
birthdays of masters; we celebrate their death, their moment of final
illumination.”
Nevertheless, the 17th Karmapa, on the occasion of the celebration at Rumtek
Monastery of his 18th birthday in 2006, commented:
Generally, samsara--the cycle of birth, sickness, old
age, and death--is a cause of suffering and is to be abandoned. There is
nothing about it to celebrate and honor. However, if a person born in
this world is helpful to all sentient beings and serves the teachings of the
Buddha, then this kind of birth is not to be belittled and should be praised
and honored.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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:
End of Earth Ox
2136, Beginning Metal Tiger 2137 unlucky days for
new
flags as per above calendars appear below :
2009
/ 2010 & 2135- 2136
February 7, 19 March 6, 18
April 2, 13, 28
May 10, 25
June 5, 18
July 2, 14, 28
Aug. 10, 24
Sept. 5 |
Oct. 2, 13, 28
Nov. 9, 24 Dec. 20
2010
Jan. 1, 12, 16, 29
Feb 8,
2137 |
Karma Kagyu Anniversaries
(Birth
of 17th Karmapa was 8th day of 5th
Tibetan month, but is celebrated "internationally" on June 26th.)
| Tibetan Month |
Day |
Anniversary |
| First |
08th |
new prayer flags |
| First |
08th |
6th Karmapa, Tongwa Donden |
| First |
09th |
Long life 7-day practice |
| First |
14th |
Milarepa |
| First |
15th |
Marpa |
| First |
15th |
7th Karmapa, Chodrak Gyatso |
| First |
21st |
14th Karmapa, Thegchog Dorje |
| First |
24th |
13th Karmapa, Dudul Dorje |
| First |
28th |
9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje |
| Second |
25th |
8th Situ, Chokyi Jungne |
| Third |
3rd |
2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi |
| Third |
16th |
Terton Mingjur Dorje |
| Fourth |
01st |
Vajrakila rites, 11 days |
| Fourth |
29th |
Mipham |
| Fifth |
01st |
Chakrasamvara, 7 days |
| Sixth |
05th |
Chod, 5 days |
| Sixth |
14th |
3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje |
| Sixth |
15th |
Gampopa |
| Sixth |
15th |
Varsha (yarney) rain retreat, 45 days |
| Seventh |
04th |
13th Karmapa, Dudul Dorje |
| Seventh |
15th |
4th Karmapa, Rolpei Dorje |
| Seventh |
21st |
Red Chenrezig mandala, 7 days |
| Eighth |
01st |
5th Karmapa, Deshin Sharpa |
| Eighth |
23rd |
8th Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje |
| Ninth |
01st |
Terton Karma Lingpa, 5 days |
| Ninth |
04th |
2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi |
| Ninth |
09th |
16th Karmapa Rigpe Dorje |
| Tenth |
03rd |
Vairochana, 7 days |
| Tenth |
30th |
12th Karmapa, Chanchup Dorje |
| Eleventh |
03rd |
1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa |
| Eleventh |
15th |
10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje |
| Eleventh |
22nd |
Wrathful Dorje Trolo, 9 days |
| Eleventh |
22nd |
Dorje Bernachen, 9 day |
| Eleventh |
26th |
Jamgon Kongtrul the Great |
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