A total lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 [1], with an umbral magnitude of 1.1507.
A lunar eclipse allegedly occurs when our Moon (Luna, Soma, Chandra) moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow.
Buddhist Lunar Observance
Holy Family: Rahula, the Buddha, and Ananda
An Uposatha (Pali uposatha, Sanskrit Upavasatha) day is a Buddhist day of special observance, in existence since before the Buddha's time (600 BCE), and still kept today by Theravada Buddhist practitioners [1, 2]. The Buddha taught that the Fasting Day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind/heart," resulting in inner calm and joy [3]. On this lunar day, both lay and monastic members of the spiritual community (sangha) intensify their practice, deepen their knowledge of the Teachings, and express communal commitment through millennia-old acts of lay-monastic reciprocity. On these days, lay Buddhists make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or (as the tradition suggests) the Ten Precepts. It is a day for practicing the Buddha's Teachings and meditation. More
Trump, what blackmail does Bibi have on you?
Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller.
The Dharmic religions have a different reason for eclipses, noting the existence of another planetoid object, Rahu. Of course, our Sun and Moon are also local and chasing after each other in the sky, as the CIA found in published and subsequently declassified texts. But the West scoffs at all that, insisting the cockamamie story the news tells us is the truth, the only truth, and the whole truth with nothing else being possible. Any "scientist" foolish enough to believe such claims is doing little to serve her or his science and its ideals. But who dares to stand up to the consensus reality until the herd does?
Why do Zionist Jews love war and blood?
The Moon's apparent diameter will be near the average diameter because it will occur 6.7 days after perigee (on Feb. 24, 2026, at 18:15 UTC) and 6.9 days before apogee (on March 10, 2026, at 9:45 UTC) [2].
This lunar eclipse will be the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on March 14, 2025 (total); Sept. 8, 2025 (total); and Aug. 28, 2026 (partial). During the eclipse, the Moon will occult NGC 3423 over North America.
Deep-sky objects are rarely occulted during a total eclipse from any given spot on Earth [3]: 161. This eclipse will fall on the Lantern Festival, the first since Feb. 11, 2017. More
Happy Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for most Christians. Wisdom Quarterly's Mexican Buddhist Crystal Q. is torn between celebrating abstinence, the FiveEight or Ten Precepts, Ten Commandments, and reverting to simplicity. Since ancient Indian times, ashes from the pyre have been used by wandering ascetics as a way of getting clean. (Ashes are absorbent, and when collected from a funerary pyre, they are a strong reminder of this body's mortality). Buddhist David Bowie perhaps quoted the Anglican prayer book best when he sang, "Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom's a junkie" (David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes").
So it's time for a field trip to church (Catholic mass) to see these smearing of cremation ashes across foreheads in Los Angeles. Ananda is eager to see what this is all about. CC took us to the giant Buddhist temple east of Los Angeles in the very Asian San Gabriel Valley, where we enjoyed the Aztec dancers dancing for the Chinese Mahayana Humanist Buddhist crowd. So this explosion/clash of Mexican and European church tradition ought to be a Roman spectacular.
Pasadena, California, has many Catholics, and "church" (mass) was packed. The one we attended is beautiful inside, much more beautiful than the usual Holy Roman Empire version. It has a picture of God unlike any other Euro Catholic church building we've ever seen, a massive mural. And next to the God are beautiful devas ("angels"), drawn in gold and very colorful. The many pews were full, and there is a Spanish language service going on in the school building across the street. This church building is on the corner of Fair Oaks and the 134 Freeway, with a big belfry and clock (campanile). Inside, it's like a mausoleum of imported stone. And the attendees are a mix of Hispanics, Italians, Europeans, and a sprinkling of Blacks and Asians. Everyone is very nice and seem repentant as they line up for their pyre ashes, almost certainly incense stick remnants and coal. Wine and gluten crackers are served, if one doesn't mind mixing saliva with everyone else, but it's wiped with a white towel between sips, which is certainly sterilizing through prayer and God's power or the priest's magic. The officiant and his altar boy assistants said some nice words, encouraged people to be good and observe the RamadanLenten (Latin Quadragesima, "Fortieth") self-purification practices for the next month and ten days, and to do acts of abstinence, restraint, charity, and kindness, all beautiful sentiments for those who live up to the best of their religion. It is very much like the Buddhist Rains Retreat (Pali Vassa).
Meat eating during the Holy Season?
We agree: Let animals live by not eating them.
Historically, abstinence from meat was a requirement on the days of the Lenten season, including Sunday, the "Lord's Day") [20]. In Eastern Christianity -- including Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholics, Eastern Lutherans, and Oriental Orthodox -- Great Lent is observed continuously without interruption for 40 days starting on Clean Monday and ending on Lazarus Saturday before Holy Week [21, 6] and the big finale of the real New Year's Day, Easter, the first day of spring (time of renewal, when the "son" rises after being as dead as the winter, as explained by Astrotheology). More
In India, cremation ashes are called phool ("flowers"). They are collected from the pyre in a rite-of-passage called asthi sanchayana then dispersed. This signifies redemption of the dead in waters (like those of the "holy" Ganges or Jordan River) considered to be sacred and a closure for the living (Hinduism, Note 28).
American Pope's first Lent
Kendrick Lamar's Lefty Gunplay, Grammy Award winning LA Latino
Dr. Dre made mad money signing Eminem, so Kendrick adopted Lefty Gunplay (F. Scott Holladay)
(HP) Christianity erased the truth, but the evidence remains: Viking "berserkers" were said to fight in a trance of unstoppable fury. Some historians believe this rage may have been triggered by psychoactive plants like henbane or hallucinogenic mushrooms. Seeds found in a Viking grave in Denmark suggest these substances were known and possibly used. Christians systematically destroyed much of the old pagan knowledge. This video explores the evidence behind one of Viking history’s strangest questions. More
This is the time of mooncakes and the traditional Sabbath Day or uposatha. That means it's the best time to observe the "fasting day," which means not eating before daylight or after noon. This is part of observing the Eight Precepts, an ancient tradition the Buddha praised as something worth continuing.
How do Buddhists observe the uposatha service?
(Buddhism Reflections) Uposatha days hold a special significance on the Buddhist calendar, particularly in the Theravada tradition. These weekly observance days are aligned with the phases of the moon, including the full moon, new moon, and two quarter moons.
During these times, both lay Buddhists and monastics engage in various practices that enhance their spiritual journeys. On the one hand, lay practitioners often take on additional precepts, dedicating themselves to deeper spiritual activities and community involvement.
Monastics, on the other hand, focus on reflection and purification, reciting the Patimokkha ("Path to Moksha"), a summary of the major rules of the Monastic Code of Discipline, which is a vital aspect of their monastic life.
The uposatha service is not just about individual practice; it also fosters a sense of community as laypeople gather at monasteries to support monks and nuns through food preparation and participation in rituals (pujas).
This day is steeped in tradition and serves as a reminder of the commitment to the Dhammaor Teachings of the historical Buddha.
The observance of uposatha varies slightly among different sects and countries, adding a unique flavor to this rich tradition.
Let's delve into the practices and significance of uposatha days in Buddhism and discover how they contribute to spiritual growth and community bonding. #BuddhaTeachings #Buddhism #Mindfulness
San Diego residents express excitement for first supermoon of the year
Full moon over Los Angeles, California, downtown skyline (Jesus Curiel/Unsplash)
(CBS 8 San Diego)
Oct. 6, 2025: October's full moon, also called the "Harvest Moon," is happening Monday night with full illumination at 8:47 pm PT. It is the first supermoon for three for 2025. More
.
Full moon calendar for 2025 with lunar phases
The year’s first supermoon rises over L.A. tonight — looking 30% larger and 14% brighter than usual. This evening, make sure to gaze skyward [in the direction of New York as seen from Los Angeles] to catch the first supermoon of 2025 at its peak brightness over LA.
The first supermoon of 2025, the biggest and brightest of the year, will peak over California at 8:47 pm. tonight, Monday, Oct. 6th, 2025. Make sure to find a great spot to sky watch and catch the stunning Harvest Moon lighting up Los Angeles' skies.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, October’s full Harvest Moon will be the first of three supermoons in 2025. Rising low on the horizon, it will create a strikingly dramatic view against the Los Angeles skyline.
The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which occurred this year on Sept. 22nd. Traditionally, this moon rises around the same time for several nights, giving farmers extra light to finish their harvests.
One way to calm and focus the mind is mandalas
This year’s Harvest Moon is also a supermoon because it coincides with the moon’s perigee, or its closest approach to Earth. NASA notes it will appear about 30% larger and 14% brighter than an average full moon.
The next two supermoons of 2025 are the Beaver Moon on Nov. 5th and the Cold Moon on Dec. 4th.
Where to watch the supermoon in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is expected to have clear skies tonight, making it an ideal spot to see the supermoon. It reaches peak brightness at 8:47 pm PST on October 6th, though it will appear full for several days. The Year's First Supermoon Rises Over L.A.
One of the largest Buddhist temples (like Chaung Yen Monastery in upstate NY) in the Western hemisphere is also a good place to see the moon: Hsi Lai Temple
This is the time of mooncakes and the traditional Sabbath Day or uposatha. That means it's the best time to observe the "fasting day," which means not eating before daylight or after noon. This is part of observing the Eight Precepts, an ancient tradition the Buddha praised as something worth continuing.
How do Buddhists observe the uposatha service?
(Buddhism Reflections) Uposatha days hold a special significance on the Buddhist calendar, particularly in the Theravada tradition. These weekly observance days are aligned with the phases of the moon, including the full moon, new moon, and two quarter moons.
During these times, both lay Buddhists and monastics engage in various practices that enhance their spiritual journeys. On the one hand, lay practitioners often take on additional precepts, dedicating themselves to deeper spiritual activities and community involvement.
Monastics, on the other hand, focus on reflection and purification, reciting the Patimokkha ("Path to Moksha"), a summary of the major rules of the Monastic Code of Discipline, which is a vital aspect of their monastic life.
The uposatha service is not just about individual practice; it also fosters a sense of community as laypeople gather at monasteries to support monks and nuns through food preparation and participation in rituals (pujas).
This day is steeped in tradition and serves as a reminder of the commitment to the Dhammaor Teachings of the historical Buddha.
The observance of uposatha varies slightly among different sects and countries, adding a unique flavor to this rich tradition.
Let's delve into the practices and significance of uposatha days in Buddhism and discover how they contribute to spiritual growth and community bonding. #BuddhaTeachings #Buddhism #Mindfulness
What does the Moon matter? O, shining Chandra, glowing Soma, ever changing Luna...
Well, once upon a time in East Hollywood at Dharma Punx on Melrose Avenue, across from Los Angeles City College, I met a beautiful meditator. Let's call her Vanity Lycan. This is her saga, about how she traveled to India and had an experience of enlightenment, sort of.
We became friends, and she so trusted me that she asked me if I wanted to accompany her to India. She was going, among other places, to Dharamshala (the Dalai Lama's abode in the Himalayas).
Heavens yes, I thought as I said, "Hells yeah!" Sadly, this being LA, something came up that could not be put off, and she could not change her round-the-world ticket. So we vowed to stay in touch online so I could guide her from on high. There might be pitfalls along the way for a Western gal on a solo-travel adventure that she didn't think of but that I could solve.
I remember one email then radio silence. It was a about year later as I was sitting at the weekly meditation meeting. When it opened up for shares, someone started to talk and cry. Imagine my astonishment, being hypervigilant and too easily annoyed by anything I notice and ignore while trying to sit still. It was her!
I hadn't noticed. I had forgotten even to wonder what had happened to her since it had been so long. There she was a few feet away on a cushion, crying. No one much listened to what she was trying to say.
But I thought I understood -- a lone girl wandering around at night in a strange country with strangers and men being what they are (though they didn't used to be like that in most of India in the times that I was there, which was a big surprise). She kept telling me that I didn't understand. Something had happened to her on the trip. I really thought that for once I did get. I didn't need it spelled out. I should have been there to prevent it.
What does one who knows say?
I was wrong. It wasn't a case of [S.A.] like 99% of people would have guessed and not been surprised to hear.
She confessed she had become "enlightened." Of course, it's not real Buddhist enlightenment (bodhi, liberating insight, thorough comprehension of the Four Ennobling Truths, touching nirvana, comprehending anicca, dukkha, and anatta by direct experience of the ultimate truth). It was nothing like that at all.
What was her "enlightenment," not having a better word for the spiritual, psychological, entheogenic madness that was now going on? Her chakras had spontaneously opened, and with that come the powers of each chakra. It is not the real thing but that thing that happens to many Western travelers every year.
Was Wicca wise to the ways of the Moon?
Argue until you're blue in the face that she didn't know what she was talking about. But I had seen this before and heard about it from one superwoman who not only experienced it but survived and studied it academically to help others undergoing the premature experience, calming and closing those chakras up again until ready to move kundalini energy up the spine for good rather than all of the out of control pains, visions, and raving madness that could accompany them.
The most amazing thing she talked to me about, holding Western meds forced on her before she was thrown out of India into the arms of her family (who if they had not taken her out she would have been institutionalized, forcibly drugged with Thorazine or similar antipsychotics, warehoused, and forgotten there, she claimed) was how much the opalescentMOON now governed her moods, actions, and future. She had become "unmanageable" by consulate rules, so she had to be neutralized or sent back to the USA.
Triple moon symbol as gold charm
She feared it. She knew it even if she were to never see it again. I asked what she meant. She explained that the Moon has a profound effect on us on this planet, governing things (estrus, the ability to awaken, as with Siddhartha awakening on the evening of the full moon). It is more than Earth's calendar, making the months and seasons, not reflecting golden sunlight as we are told but emanating its own different kind of silvery light. The Zetetic scientists of the past proved this beyond on a doubt with demonstrable, reproducible, experimental published research.
She was not clear if the Moon was only a goddess, a sentient entity with powers, or a hollow world with beings in it directing their surveillance and energies at us from it. But when it waxed and rose, she was altered. She might dance naked like Shiva Nataraj with a message for the world embedded in postures and mudras, possessed as she would become by that spirit of Shiva, which she claimed was a real, literal being (blue extraterrestrial), not simply some historical or mythological figure.
I said to her at some point that "I want this." She said, "No, you don't! It's painful, it's horrible, it's unmanageable." "Yes, well, I'd manage it better with Ashtanga Yoga" (the "Eight Limbs of Union" with the holy spirit, prana, or subtle breath). "You think you would, but you can't. It's not to be managed. You think I want to take pharmaceuticals?" "No." "Well, I would rather take them than undergo what will happen to me without [chemical tranquilization]."
"But this awakening of the serpent Kundalini to rise from the base through the spine, energizing the chakras and gaining the siddhis or magical powers and samadhi, piercing and transcending the moving 'wheels' along the way, it seems to me that that's the whole point of our yogic aspirations." "What the hell are you talking about?" After arguing good/bad back and forth, I finally asked her, "Look, all right, I don't want it. But HOW did you do it? How did you get it to happen?" She shocked me with her answer.
You don't want sudden chakra openings
She looked at me like I was crazy and stress, "I didn't 'do' it. The Mountain did, somehow in connection with the Moon." "The 'Mountain,' what mountain?" "The Himalaya," she said and started crying to remember how she had gotten to Dharamshala and went off to sit under the full moon. And some guy had come along. "Aha! And then he attacked you?!"
"He didn't attack me. We talked, and I left, wanting to be alone. Then it happened. And I was aware of the Moon as it happened, and I knew the Moon was [or the beings in it were] aware of me [like a panopticon]." "And by Himalaya do you mean Mt. Everest or K2 or Kailash or Mt. Meru? Is there a special place for this one might go to?" I asked full of hope.
"No, you don't want this to happen to you." Foolishly, and I knew it was foolish, I kind of still did.
All materials on this site are submitted by editors and readers. All images, unless otherwise noted, were taken from the Internet and are assumed to be in the public domain.
In the event that there is still a problem, issue, or error with copyrighted material, the break of the copyright is unintentional and noncommercial, and the material will be removed immediately upon presented proof.
Contact us by submitting a comment marked "private."
Do not follow this journal if you are under vinaya or parental restrictions. Secure protection by Sucuri.
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at creativecommons.org/about/licenses.
