Guest guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Hi Therese, thanks for pointing out the `new age' context. I have found lots of references to Alice Bailey regarding Wesak (but nothing to say she specifically appropriated it), and the association of Christ to Buddha – which probably makes it a kind of west meets east affair and would explain the tropical zodiac prevailing. Do you happen to know which zodiac is used in Tibetan astrology? All the best, Julianne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Julianne and Therese, Here is some information on Wesak: 3.2.1 Wesak: A Lunar Ritual During the time of the Buddha, the lunar calendar was the primary means of organizing time. The lunar method of reckoning (pivotal to ancient Indian calculations) divides the year into thirteen sections, or lunar months. In early Buddhism, the festival calendar also followed the cycles of the moon. For instance, Uposatha days, occurring on the full and new moon of every month, were designated as times for the ordained community of monks and nuns (the sangha) to gather and confess any violations of the monastic behavioral code. Similarly, a seminal Buddhist festival such as Wesak is usually scheduled to coincide with the full moon of a particular month. According to the Gregorian, or solar, calendar (introduced in 1583) it is the first full moon of the fifth month, which means it is celebrated in late Mayor early June. Compliance with this ancient prescription varies according to tradition, but regardless, the full moon remains an orientation point for the observance of important occasions. Buddhist festival calendars are still organized in accordance with the lunar cycles. Therefore the actual date of Wesak changes each year according to the lunar cycles. One of the primary reasons for the prevailing authority of the older lunar calendar (despite the advantages of solar reckoning) is that it grounds contemporary practices in the 2,500 year-old Buddhist traditions through the commemoration of an important historical event. " The very fact that Wesak is determined by phases of the moon shows its connection to an older time dominated by agricultural notions of time " (Hori, August 15,2001). Thus, by aligning natural and historical phenomena in this way, Buddhist identity maintains a strong sense of continuity. Regardless of whether or not the Buddha's birth, death, and enlightenment took place on the same day (in fact it is more than likely that they did not), the moon and its cycles retain symbolic importance for Buddhists. Taken from: http://www.mrsp.mcgill.ca/reports/pdfs/Wesak.pdf Best, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 At 04:10 PM 5/11/05 -0000, Chris wrote: >Here is some information on Wesak: > >3.2.1 Wesak: A Lunar Ritual >During the time of the Buddha, the lunar calendar was the primary >means of organizing time. The lunar method of reckoning (pivotal to >ancient Indian calculations) divides the year into thirteen sections, >or lunar months. In early Buddhism, the festival calendar also >followed the cycles of the moon... > >Similarly, a seminal Buddhist festival such as Wesak is usually >scheduled to coincide with the full moon of a particular month. >According to the Gregorian, or solar, calendar (introduced in 1583) it >is the first full moon of the fifth month, which means it is >celebrated in late May or early June... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, Chris. Then it would seem that the Wesask festival celebrated in Mount Shasta is indeed a New Age concept if it's planned around the full Moon in Tropical Taurus, which was in April this year. Therese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Therese, It was Steve that provided the information. Here, let me: thanks Steve! Chris --- therese92003 <eastwest wrote: > At 04:10 PM 5/11/05 -0000, Chris wrote: > > >Here is some information on Wesak: > > > >3.2.1 Wesak: A Lunar Ritual > >During the time of the Buddha, the lunar calendar > was the primary > >means of organizing time. The lunar method of > reckoning (pivotal to > >ancient Indian calculations) divides the year into > thirteen sections, > >or lunar months. In early Buddhism, the festival > calendar also > >followed the cycles of the moon... > > > >Similarly, a seminal Buddhist festival such as > Wesak is usually > >scheduled to coincide with the full moon of a > particular month. > >According to the Gregorian, or solar, calendar > (introduced in 1583) it > >is the first full moon of the fifth month, which > means it is > >celebrated in late May or early June... > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Thanks, Chris. Then it would seem that the Wesask > festival celebrated in > Mount Shasta is indeed a New Age concept if it's > planned around the full > Moon in Tropical Taurus, which was in April this > year. > > Therese > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 , " juli55syd2001 " <julijune@h...> wrote: > Do you happen to know which zodiac is used in Tibetan astrology? Hello Julianne, Tibetan astrology is really a mixture of Chinese and Indian astrology. As the Tibetans make use of the Indian system, it is Sidereal. If you have a deeper interest in Tibetan astrology and their practice calendars you can email me directly and I can point you to some resources. Best, Buz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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