Pathgate News
Buddhist Practice Dates & Anniversaries
A new addition to the Pathgate Institute website is 'Buddhist Practice Dates & Anniversaries', where you can find upcoming practice dates and anniversaries in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
The Tibetan calendar is based on the lunar cycle and includes annual Buddhist Festivals, which celebrate the major events in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, and monthly practice days for specific deities including those for Medicine Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, Amitabha, Dakinis, Dharmapala Protectors and for Lord Shakyamuni Buddha.
Medicine Buddha Day falls on the 8th of the month in the Tibetan calendar and on this day practices for Medicine Buddha, Orgyen Menla and Tara are all encouraged. Guru Rinpoche Day follows on the 10th day of the Tibetan month, and in addition to special pujas, the accumulation of the Seven Line Prayer is encouraged on this day. Amitabha Buddha Day falls on the 15th of the month and Dakini Day on the 25th, followed by Dharmapala Day on the 29th and Shakyamuni Buddha Day on the 30th. Other dates in the calendar include Sojong: the twice monthly confession day for the ordained, and Nyi Nak: ‘black sun’ days when dynamic actions are favoured but such actions as initiations, marriages, consecrations, funerals, the starting of building projects and the like are not encouraged.
To find out about practices on these and other days at your local Pathgate Study Group, please contact the organiser of your local group (Click here for details). To view upcoming dates in the calendar click on ‘Buddhist Practice Dates’.