Tibetan Astrology

The Relevance of the Topic of Time  Time (dus, Skt. kāla) and such topics as the past, the present and the future are very important to study when we are on the Buddhist path. They’re not just metaphysically interesting, but they are actually quite relevant. That’s because one...

The Complexity of Karma Karma is a topic that concerns what happens to us and why. It is something that is very relevant to all of us on a personal level, not something outside of the sphere of our lives. If we can start to understand karma and how it works, we can begin to...

Tibetan astrology has materials that are similar to or derived from systems from India and China but are modified and used in very different ways to constitute the unique Tibetan system. Much of the materials for the study of these topics derive from the “Kalachakra Tantra.”

The unique Tibetan system of calculations of the lunar weekday and date, used to bring the lunar and solar calendars into harmony, lead to the features of doubled and skipped lunar dates and leap-months, all of which differ from those features in the Chinese and Indian...

The Bon system of astrology was amalgamated with the Chinese astro materials that first came to Tibet in the mid-7th century. In the 11th century, with the introduction of the “Kalachakra Tantra” from India, its astro traditions were added as well to make the unique blend of...

An extensive glossary of Tibetan-English astro terms not found in most dictionaries.

The Chinese-derived, or “black calculations,” also called “element calculations,” adds a few more features to the Tibetan calendar, such as correlations with animal and element cycles.

A comparison of the Kalachakra, Hindu and Chinese New Years as well as the Chinese and Kalachakra systems of seasons. Although the Tibetan element-animal assignment system may be reminiscent of the Chinese, yet on closer examination there are significant differences.

The Buddhist abhidharma and Kalachakra literatures provide two distinct presentations of cosmology, each for a different purpose.

Learn about the distinct features of the Tibetan almanac such as the “arising from the vowels” system, special dates and combination and action periods.