written by Rinchen.

Followers of Tibetan Buddhism believe that both merit and demerit can be multiplied multifold times during an eclipse. Hence, prayers and good deeds are encouraged. Today’s lunar eclipse was one such occasion. The eclipse period ended at about 12 p.m.

As a beginner(even that would be an overstatement) in trying to follow the Tibetan-Buddhist way, there’s not much I can understand. However, what I’ve gauged is that the normal human mind clouded by illusions cannot always grasp concepts directly but must in fact keep an open mind.

While looking on the internet I found an interesting article in the Tibet Journal which was a translation by Tsepak Rigzin of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche’s ‘History of Nyingma teachings and Lineage’. The translation mentions that at the “age of thirty five during the full moon of Vaisakha (Sa-ga, 4th month) in Wood-Horse year (927 B.C) he (Buddha) sat under the Bodhitree and tamed the maras at dusk. He then remained in meditative concentration as of midnight passed and the vajra moon was seized by Rahu (there was a lunar eclipse). During the final stages of the eclipse, at the break of dawn, approximately at (the standard) time for the ringing of the victory bell, he attained complete enlightenment.”

What this symbolizes is beyond me. But the inference seems to have a link with the power of eclipses.

Such days remind us of the transient and illusory nature of our human lives and how much there is beyond that we do not understand. Caught up in samsara, we don’t realize the precious nature of human life and its potential. And simply that what one really needs is a kind heart, as Jowo Atisa is to have said according to ‘Words of My Perfect Teacher’.

We are all bound to samsara, in some ways it’s difficult to inculcate the bodhicitta intention, yet one must start somewhere.. a small step towards a better life, a better world?