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Explanations of Dharma Practice Days
Prepared by Nawang Thartho, based on Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute’s calendar. Additional advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of FPMT, and Geshe Nawang Dakpa.
We have marked days that are auspicious* and inauspicious for various activities, and days that are favorable and unfavorable according to the combination of elements: earth, air, fire and water. These combinations impact on the effectiveness of one’s activities as well as one’s health.
The Favorable Days are listed below in order of most favorable to least favorable; and the unfavorable days in order of least unfavorable to most unfavorable.
There are also categories called Unfavorable Days and Very Unfavorable Days, which sometimes fall on one of the favorable element days. Note that the influence of the energy of these unfavorable days is more powerful.
As always, many Tibetan days are either missed or repeated*.
Advice for Auspicious Days
- Losar Resources Page
- Practice on Buddha Multiplying Days
- How to Make the 15 Days of Miracles Meaningful
AUSPICIOUS DAYS
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES OF HOLY BEINGS
BUDDHA DAY-B
Karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, as cited by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
- Days 1—15 of Month 1: Lord Buddha performed many miracles; the 15th is Day of Miracles.
- Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana (Or, according to Geshe Dakpa et al, only the latter two).
- Day 4 of Month 6: Lord Buddha’s first teaching.
- Day 22 of Month 9: Lord Buddha’s actual descent from God Realm of Thirty- three.
ECLIPSE
Karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million on solar eclipses and seven hundred thousand on lunar.
EIGHT MAHAYANA PRECEPTS
Rinpoche recommends taking these 24-hour vows on days on which the karmic effects of positive actions are multiplied:
- Buddha days (see above)
- Days 8, 15 (full moon) and 30 (new Moon) of every Tibetan month
- Eclipses (see above)
FAVORABLE DAY (Earth-Earth) – FD-EE
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Most auspicious. Earth-earth combination can bring success, fulfilling all wishes. Excellent for starting activities, especially construction.
FAVORABLE DAY (Water-Water) – FD-WW
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Very auspicious. Water-water combination can bring strength and vitality. Excellent for weddings, long-life rituals, increasing activities.
FAVORABLE DAY (Earth-Water) -FD-EW
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Very auspicious. Earth-water combination can bring peace and happiness. Excellent for joyful events such as weddings, promotions.
FAVORABLE DAY (Fire-Fire) — FD-FF
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Auspicious. Fire-fire combination can increase wealth and property, Very good for wealth rituals and activities that provide material support.
FAVORABLE DAY (Air-Air) – FD-AA
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Auspicious. Air-air combination con bring successful, swift completion to projects or activities. Very good for starting a spiritual practice or a journey.
FAVORABLE DAY (Fire-Air) – FD-FA
Less powerful than UD, VUD
Auspicious. Fire-air combination can strengthen auspicious activities. Good for hanging prayer flags (except on NPE days) and spiritual practice.
FIRE PUJA
Many days every month are good for fire pujas, required for those who have completed certain tantric retreats. Doing them “on the wrong days can cause sickness and obstacles,” according to Rinpoche.
FULL MOON – 
- 15th of Tibetan month; good for practice.
MEDICINE BUDDHA PUJA
- 8th or 15th of every Tibetan month; recommended by Rinpoche.
NAGA PUJA
One or more days in most months are good for naga pujas.
NEW MOON – 
- 30th of Tibetan month; good for practice.
PRAYER FLAGS — PF
Good for hanging prayer flags.
PRAYERS AND PRACTICES—PP
Good for spiritual practice.
PROTECTOR PUJA
- 29th of every Tibetan month.
SOJONG: MONASTICS’ CONFESSION DAY
Confession ceremony of monks and nuns usually falls at middle and end of every Tibetan month.
TARA PUJA
- 8th of every Tibetan month; recommended by Rinpoche.
TSOG OFFERING
- 10th and 25th of every Tibetan month; according to Rinpoche, “Those who have received an initiation into Highest Yoga Tantra have a commitment to perform tsog” on these days.
*According to Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers, observation of auspicious days should be according to the date in India, not the date in one’s home country. Therefore, when Lama Zopa Rinpoche is not in India, Rinpoche celebrates Buddha Days and other auspicious dates according to the time in India.
INAUSPICIOUS DAYS
NO STARTING NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITY- NB
- Days 2, 12, 22 of every Tibetan month.
NO COMMUNITY EVENT – NCE
- Days 10, 20, 30 of every Tibetan month; not good for community events, such as at one’s Dharma center.
NO FUNERAL OR CREMATION — NF
- Days 8, 18, 28 of every Tibetan month.
NO INVITING GUESTS FOR PARTY – NG
- Days 1, 11, 21 of every Tibetan month.
NO STARTING TO BUILD NEW HOUSE – NH
- Days 6, 16, 26 of every Tibetan month.
NO CUTTING HAIR – NCH
- Days 1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 of every Tibetan month.
NO MEDICAL PROCEDURE – NMP
- Days 4, 8, 11, 15, 18,22,25,29 of every Tibetan month.
NO MEMORIAL OR WAKE – NM
- Days 9, 19, 29 of every Tibetan month.
NO PRAYER FLAGS – NPF
According to Rinpoche, by hanging prayer flags including long prayer flags and banners) on the wrong dates, “you will continuously receive obstacles.”
- Days 10, 22 of Months 1, 5, 9
- Days 7, 19 of Months 2, 6, 10
- Days 4, 16, 28 of Months 3, 7, 11
- Days 1, 13, 25 of Months 4, 8, 12
NO WEDDING – NW
- Days 7, 17, 27 of every Tibetan month.
NO WEALTH RITUAL – NWR
More powerful than FD
Not good for starting important activities.
UNFAVORABLE DAY (Earth-Air) – UD-EA
Inauspicious. Earth-air combination can decline wealth and property, and negative activities may be strengthened. Not good for starting medical procedures or important activities.
3UNFAVORABLE DAY (Water-Air) – UD-WA
Inauspicious. Water-air combination can harm or sever relationships. Not good for starting medical procedures or important activities; risk of disagreements and disharmony.
UNFAVORABLE DAY (Earth-Fire) – UD-EF
Inauspicious. Earth-fire combination can cause suffering and the risk of burns. Not good for starting medical procedures or important activities; risk of trouble and unhappiness.
UNFAVORABLE DAY (Fire- Water) – UD-FW
Most inauspicious. Fire-water combination can weaken vitality. Not good for starting medical procedures or important activities; risk of shortening life span.
More powerful than FD
Not good for starting important activities and medical procedures.
NINE BAD OMENS
The days of the nine bad omens are considered the most inauspicious days of the year. It starts on the 6th day of the 11th Tibetan month at 12:00 noon, and ends at 12:00 noon on the 7th day. At the time of the Buddha, one practitioner tried to perform a lot of positive actions on this day, and nine bad things happened to him. Consequently, Buddha proclaimed that on this date each year in the future, it is best not to try to accomplish much. Definitely it is a bad time to start projects or start a retreat. Traditionally, Tibetans play games and have picnics on this day.
The 24 hours after the nine bad omens end (12:00 noon on the 7th to 12:00 noon on the 8th) is considered the day of ten good omens. On this day, ten good things happened to the same practitioner who had experienced the nine bad omens, as he continued to persevere in his performance of positive actions. This period is considered very auspicious for starting projects, retreat, etc. However, Tibetans traditionally play games and have picnics on this day as well.
Source: Alexander Berzin on www.berzinarchives.com
The Tibetan calendar is based on lunar cycles. As the lunar cycle is less than 30 days, and the year is divided into 12 months, there is a need to compensate for the difference between the 12 moon cycles in approximately 354 days and the actual 365 days of the year. Because of this, sometimes dates appear double or not at all.
Special days which fall on double days are usually celebrated on the second day, but may be celebrated on the first day if it is more convenient. Special days which fall on missing days are usually celebrated on the preceding day.
Source: http://www.viewonbuddhism.org/calendar.html