Novice Buddhist 

Practices Calendar

Monthly Practices

8th (about first quarter): Medicine Buddha (Lama Zopa Rinpoche also advises practice of Tara or Mahakala)

10th of every month, Guru Rinpoche day: a special occasion in Guru Padmasambhava's life is celebrated. Tsog is performed on this day as it is also related to the "Father tantras". Dakini days

14 or 15th Sojong: confession practice for monks and nuns

15th (full moon): Amitabha Buddha, meditation and recitation of Sutras

25th of every month is Dakini's day: related to the "Mother tantras" and tsog is performed.

29th of every month is Dharmapala's day (Dharma Protectors): a special day for Protector practice.

29th or 30th, Sojong: confession practice for monks and nuns.

30th (new moon): Shakyamuni Buddha, meditation and recitation of Sutras

*100,000 multiplying month; practice is emphasized.

**Buddha's Day - on these days the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times.
8th Day - Medicine Buddha
15th Day - Amitabha Buddha
30th Day - Shakyamuni Buddha

OTHER ANNUALLY OCCURRING DAYS

FOUR MAJOR FESTIVALS

There are four major Special Buddha days or "Festivals" (düchen) in a year which relate to the life of 
Buddha Shakyamuni. During these days, it is said that the effects of positive or negative actions are 
multiplied 100 million times, so practice is strongly advised.

Chotrul Düchen: During the first two weeks of the new year, it is celebrated that the Buddha displayed a 
miracle each day to increase the merit and devotion of future disciples. The 15th is the "Day of Miracles". 
During these days, the Gelugpa Mönlam Chenmo (great prayer festival) is celebrated, and practice is 
strongly advised.

Saga Dawa Düchen: the 15th of the 4th month, Buddha Shakyamuni's Enlightenment and Parinirvana are 
celebrated. He became enlightened during a full moon night in Bodhgaya and entered parinirvana 
("passed away") in Kushinagar.

Chökho, r Düchen: the 4th of the 6th month, the "First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma" (first teaching) is 
celebrated. For the first seven weeks after his Enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Encouraged by Indra 
and Brahma, he then gave his first teachings at Sarnath on the Four Noble Truths.

Lha Bab Düchen: the 22nd of the 9th month, "Buddha Shakyamuni's Descent from the Heaven of 33" is 
celebrated. Buddha's mother had been reborn in Indra's heaven. To repay her kindness and to benefit the 
gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the Heaven of 33. It is not as often stated, in Tushita heaven; 
this is the realm where the Buddha lived before he descended to Earth.

SOLAR AND LUNAR ECLIPSES

During a (partial) solar eclipse the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10,000 according 
to the Khandro site, 100 million times according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. During (partial) lunar eclipse, the 
factor is 7 million according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

KALACHAKRA DAYS

In the Kalachakra teachings, it is mentioned that the Buddha taught this practice on a full moon day, therefore 
full moon days are considered special for practice in this tantra. The 1st of the 3rd Tibetan month is Kalachakra 
New Year. (In 2002, on April 13.) On the 15th day of the same month, the Buddha is said to have taught the 
Kalachakra tantra.

We have the idea of two

fortnights [pakha] or

half-months [addhmasa].

Both together composing the lunar month of twenty-nine days, which was uncomfortably adjusting itself to the 
Buddhists‘ solar month of 30 days

sukha pakkha: Dark fortnight begins the day after the full moon and ends the day of the new moon

eighth day [atthami]

fifteenth day. [panchadasi or pannarasi] Full-moon day

kanha pakkha: Bright fortnight begins the day after the new moon and ends the day of the full moon eighth day 
[atthami]

fourteenth day [catuddasi] New-moon day

The evening of the full moon of the fifteen day in the eleventh month (Thai calendar) (ninth month of Tibetan 
calendar) ( October 21, 2002) is one day before the end of the (Indian rainy season) retreat, or what some 
call "Buddhist Lent

Sites used for references:
www.buddhism.kalachakranet.org
www.khandro.net/practice calendar.htm
www.buddhanet.net/cal_week.htm