Tibetbet in the days of yore has valleys flooded with frozen water and peaks hidden by snows. The birds were merely the inhabitant of the untamed land. As soon as the water receded and bushwoods increased in size, an avatar of Avalokiteshvara appeared as a monkey and copulated with the mountain ogress, and from then on resulted to human-monkey hybrid. The monkey was thought to be the forefather of the modern day Tibetans. The human fossil located at the roof of world has a say that Tibet was settled in by human 0.16 million years ago, and as per the hearsay, Bon was put into practice 18,000 years ago in Tibet, but they breathed without a good written record of their lives. Nevertheless, the manuscript on about Tibetan civilization can be hunt down 127 years Before the Common Era (BCE), from the time when the first emperor of Tibet was crowned. Nyatri Tsenpo, the foremost emperor who had the eyelids and fingers of the same kind to water bird, was believed by many that he came down from realm of gods, while a number of people say he was the Prince from Bihar, India, who was in exiled at Yarlung, Tibet. However, without regard to draw backs of whereabouts he came from, the Tibetan history thereafter records the forty one golden age of Tibetan emperor counting the heroic age of King Songtsen Gampo, Trisong Detsen and Tri Ralpachen, and for that reason the year of enthronement of first emperor marks the first year of the Tibetan calendar; today it is the 2148th anniversary of his enthronement, and the 2148 Tibetan Royal Official New Year.
The way of life and astrological art resulted in many dissimilar beginnings of the year; the Bonpos in Tibet were first to reckon wax and wane of the moon and observed new year on 11th month of Tibetan datebook which overlaps winter solstice, the planetary calculators (astrologers) marked their new year on the 3rd month to make merry of the get together of sun with planet Mars, the Bhutanese started in on marking their new year 383 years ago on the 12th month to commemorate the consecration of Punakha Dzong by bringing offerings to Palden Druk Thamche Khenpo Rinpoche, and during the reign of Genghis Khan the Mongolians celebrated their victory in battle against China on the 1st month. When Kublai Khan by sheer force of arms completed the conquer of China started sixty eight years ago before him by Genghis Khan, and ruled whole China for ages, China picked up the tradition of celebriting new year from Mongol. The Mongol military also intruded to put stop to the civil war of Tibet and reinstated the emperor system which collapsed during the reign of Dharma Bull, the 42nd king of Tibet, whereafter the courtiers of the fifth Dalai Lama adopted Mongolian New Year in Tibet. The Tibetan months therefore is sometime referred to as Hor-zla, Where ‘Hor’ means Mongolia and ‘Zla’ means month.
Sixty names of year were formed with twelve animals and five elements; today it 17th sexagenary cycle (Rabjung), and we have 25 years from now to reach into the 18th same cycle. The 2148 is the metal ox year but the Bonpos say it’s the metal elephant, the element however remains unchanged. No matter what animals are assigned to year, their weakness and strength depend on the element that governs their life-force. The elements are associated with male and female characteristic, the first year of sixty year cycle started with male wood, the animal being rat, and thereon gender changed every other year. Therefore, the year 2148 has female aspect of the element, and we refer it as ‘Female metal ox’. I assume this may have countered the questioning on about the ‘ox’ being referred female by the astrology science. If not, allow me to give added example: the Maha Rakta (Tshog gi dagpo, popularly known as lord Ganesha), rides on a mouse only to crush the useless thoughts we possess, or otherwise why not question an elephant riding a tinny mouse? And in the same way, if country is referred to as ‘she’ then why not a year be she and he? Female is related to the year and element, and not with ‘ox’ but if any association be found then let me ring a bell that we are to avoid the ontological dualism, a theory that considers reality to consist of two irreducible elements. Keep Maha Rakta in mind, and let our useless thoughts be crushed, happy 2148 Tibetan year. HAPPY NEW YEAR
12/02/2021
20/06/2020
RAHU & SOLAR ECLIPSE
Rahu is planetary demon king who has home at the northern base of Mount Sumeru, the axis of rotation of celestial sphere. He was born with nine heads, nine hearts, four arms, a frog body with wide open mouth at the belly, and a serpent tail. He was born so giant with height more than one hundred twenty three thousand kilometers that when he stands the deepest ocean reach only up to his knees, and with one finger he can hide the sun or moon. When Rahu ascended to mount Sumeru from underneath the ocean to catch a glimpse of sky maidens, not able to see, he covers the sun with his right hand causing the solar eclipse.
During the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, Surya, the god of sun, took refuge in Buddha so as to save from Rahu. Buddha had to extend his size to overpower Rahu, for the latter was stubborn to comply the command. Rahu then fled for not being able to confront the magical strength of Buddha.
When Rahu hides the sun or moon, when earthquake happens, or during solstices or when year ends, we are advised to visualize Samantabhadra and recite aspiration prayer from the Tantra of the Great Perfection that Reveals the All-Penetrating Wisdom Mind of Samantabhadra.
Link for the aspiration prayer: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/rigdzin-godem/prayer-of-kuntuzangpo
During the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, Surya, the god of sun, took refuge in Buddha so as to save from Rahu. Buddha had to extend his size to overpower Rahu, for the latter was stubborn to comply the command. Rahu then fled for not being able to confront the magical strength of Buddha.
When Rahu hides the sun or moon, when earthquake happens, or during solstices or when year ends, we are advised to visualize Samantabhadra and recite aspiration prayer from the Tantra of the Great Perfection that Reveals the All-Penetrating Wisdom Mind of Samantabhadra.
Link for the aspiration prayer: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/rigdzin-godem/prayer-of-kuntuzangpo
19/06/2020
Two Faced Society Kills Man Before Actual Suicide
Not long ago, I have read writings on about fighting depression. Talk on value of life, certainty of highs and lows in life, suicide not being an option, and a lot more; all about do's and don'ts for suicidal person no matter who writes. The repeats of these age old advice were made recently after untimely dismise of Sushant Singh Rajput. Are the writers assuming that a physics olympiad winner was not aware of the nature of life? sometime ago, a man hung on to the rope and passed comment, saying, "I cannot even think of such act in my dream also". This past year, the same person self slaughtered, the very same. Why? Giving a talk is easy but difficult to walk miles in someone's shoe. The lows in the life of suicidal person is not same as the trauma of ordinary people; feeling sad is natural reaction, depression is not.
Some depressed person cannot be identified, for it wears two face. What if a patient is clinically silent? Having shown no symptoms he may possibly die if not given required medical care on time, and same boat is pooled by some mentally exhausted persons. A person may share a smile and spread laughter, not necessarily should the signs and symptoms manifest in one to identify him as depressed. Its like a clown behind the mask who may have different story to narrate. But after making many observations, mental health writes the other way around. My question is, "Should we wait for noticeable symptoms to put a stop to suicide?"
The asymptomatic suicidal person may not broadcast his state to world but close ones get to see or hear him battling difficult time. One should pay attention if he look for help. A problem seem small but are actually big. When consoling, some give hope by saying, "let know if you need help" but the help is not received when in need.
Pointing compass to navigate decision of the person that is being discussed but failing to uproot the cause of his condition is like cutting grass in summer. Rather the enlightening suicidal person with life's value in writing, why not start behavior change in the society. A helping hand outweighs the writing finger.
Forget the help, some people don't care even to say in response when asked but after death write pages of tribute, and this is hypocrisy. Many celebrities started to put a question on why Sushant Singh Rajput took away his life as if they are going to solve the problem and bring him back. Why is the hotshot of a person acknowledged only after his death?
This is for all two faced people who knew somebody is in trouble, gave no time to even text a message but later writes that he was my good friend, RIP, RIP, RIP....
Who am I to write? I am one of those strong warriors who survived the same experience many years ago, and today, I know to battle no matter how tough situation is.
Some depressed person cannot be identified, for it wears two face. What if a patient is clinically silent? Having shown no symptoms he may possibly die if not given required medical care on time, and same boat is pooled by some mentally exhausted persons. A person may share a smile and spread laughter, not necessarily should the signs and symptoms manifest in one to identify him as depressed. Its like a clown behind the mask who may have different story to narrate. But after making many observations, mental health writes the other way around. My question is, "Should we wait for noticeable symptoms to put a stop to suicide?"
The asymptomatic suicidal person may not broadcast his state to world but close ones get to see or hear him battling difficult time. One should pay attention if he look for help. A problem seem small but are actually big. When consoling, some give hope by saying, "let know if you need help" but the help is not received when in need.
Pointing compass to navigate decision of the person that is being discussed but failing to uproot the cause of his condition is like cutting grass in summer. Rather the enlightening suicidal person with life's value in writing, why not start behavior change in the society. A helping hand outweighs the writing finger.
Forget the help, some people don't care even to say in response when asked but after death write pages of tribute, and this is hypocrisy. Many celebrities started to put a question on why Sushant Singh Rajput took away his life as if they are going to solve the problem and bring him back. Why is the hotshot of a person acknowledged only after his death?
This is for all two faced people who knew somebody is in trouble, gave no time to even text a message but later writes that he was my good friend, RIP, RIP, RIP....
Who am I to write? I am one of those strong warriors who survived the same experience many years ago, and today, I know to battle no matter how tough situation is.
