On 23 May 2020, we entered the 4th Tibetan lunar month, which is the month of Saka Dawa. During this month, we commemorate Lord Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and entry into parinirvana, with the 15th (full moon) day being the most significant. It is a day on which merits from virtuous activities carried out are multiplied manifold. This year, the full moon day falls on Friday, 5 June 2020.
I have been asked how Saka Dawa differs from Vesak Day which the United Nations designates as the full moon day in the month of May (by reference to the full moon day of the 4th lunar month). Vesak Day this year fell on 7 May 2020. I have also been asked why in certain years, Vesak Day and Saka Dawa end up being one month apart, whereas in other years they fall on the exact same day. Is Saka Dawa something unique to a particular race of people or Tibetan Buddhism? I thought it may be a good chance to shed some light on popular misconceptions.
The starting point is that the lunar calendars are inextricably linked to the principles of astrology, where intricate and ancient methods are used to calculate the movements of the sun and the moon by reference to the earth. They accurately predict astronomical and astrological events such as solstices and eclipses. The Tibetan lunar calendar follows the system of calculation set out in the Kalachakra Tantras that was taught by Lord Shakyamuni Buddha in India. The Kalachakra system is the centred around time cycles of the planets and of human beings on earth, which is why Kalachakra is commonly referred to as the “Wheel of Time” (时轮金刚). The other system of calculation is derived from the texts expounded upon by Lord Manjushri on Mount Wutai. The latter system gained greater popularity in the Middle Kingdom during the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, and eventually became popularised in other parts of Asia where Buddhism had spread, and interestingly carries influences from expertise on astronomy from the West that was introduced into the Middle Kingdom through European missionaries in the 1400s to 1500s (this was the era of Copernicus and Jesuit missionaries first entering China) – the Tibetan texts I have studied, translated from Mongolian, support this understanding.
This explains the distinction one sees when one reads Chinese texts wherein the former system will be referred to as the Tibetan calendar ( 藏历) and the latter more generally as the Lunar calendar (农历).
The differing calculation methodology leads to a date dichotomy due to different principles being applied at crucial junctures – for example, the number of days in any given month in that lunar year are not always the same; some months have only 30 days by one reckoning when the other reckoning yields 31 days. Once in a while, we also see a different full moon day – the 2 systems designate 2 different full moon days, often just a day apart.
In any event, both ancient systems are followed and adhered to in the Buddhist calendar, and the life and teachings of our Lord Buddha are most worthy of celebration, any day of the year. I hope this makes interesting reading and wish everyone a very holy month of Saka Dawa!
Geshe Lama Konchok