Friday 13th? Remove 13, ruin calendar

• Tartaria and the number 13 were purposely erased
• Friday the 13th: curse, coincidence, or cultural myth? Let's dig into the legend of Friday the 13th. Where did this fake superstition start? Why do buildings skip the 13th floor? Why do millions still change their plans on this date? From the Knights Templar to Hollywood horror films, let's break down the history, psychology, and alleged strange events tied to the most feared day on the calendar.

(Tartaria Vault) Why the Powers That Be made "13" (thirteen) a forbidden number

Earth's calendar timekeeper, the Moon (Luna, Soma, Chandra) over Los Angeles

LA-OC Fire Horse parades, prostitution

🔴LIVE - Golden Dragon Parade 2026 - Los Angeles Chinatown (Year of Fire Horse) (2/21/26)

Orange County's Tet parade 2026

Westminster, Orange County, TET Parade Feb. 21, 2026

• Westminster, CA celebrates Tết (Vietnamese New Year)
• Demographics of California: Religions (Wikipedia)

There are many more Buddhists in LA in 2026.

As the 20th century came to a close, 40 percent of all Buddhists in America resided in Southern California. The Los Angeles metropolitan area has become unique in the Buddhist world as the only place where representative organizations of every major school of Buddhism can be found in a single urban center [145]. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Northern California and Hsi Lai Temple in Los Angeles, Southern California, are two of the largest Buddhist temples in the Western Hemisphere. More

Prostitution (human sex trafficking) in LA?

(ABC7) A look into the rampant [child] prostitution along Los Angeles' Figueroa Corridor

• Figueroa Street, corridor in Los Angeles
• (Feb. 18, 2026) Los Angeles is known for being the home of Hollywood and having some of the world's best beaches, but it also has a much darker side: a notorious hub for human sex trafficking Pimp Epstein and Madame Maxwell would envy. More: abc7.com/post/sex-plain-sight...

(Spectrum News California) How Orange County tries to stop sex trafficking

(Chapman News) Harbor Blvd. a human trafficking hotspot in OC

(WION) Japan: a local brawl led to the arrest of Japan's biggest sex racket

leader Hiroaki Obata, head of "Natural" working with a local yakuza

(The Tim Dillon Show) Epstein's Sacrifice Temple moves to LA to find work

Happy Chinese New Year (of the Horse)

The massive estate is shaped like a bodhi leaf.

We spent the day at the largest Chinese New Year celebration in the United States (roughly the size of Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, Upstate New York). Hsi Lai (pronounced \she lie\, which means "Going West") Temple had it all, including Aztec dancers (Danza Azteca, perhaps representing Siberian Asians cum Native Americans who are mostly local Mexicans) topping off a cultural show of martial arts demonstrations, dances, dragons, and a big central horse representing the year to come.

 

The lines were out the door but moving fast.

The all-you-can-eat vegan buffet was great (daily, only $10) with noodles, veggies, sweet and sour, tofu, lotus roots, soup, tea, fruit, and fried Indian dharma wheels. The rare rainstorm in Los Angeles cleared the skies as the sun broke through for the outdoor festivities.

We have never seen the temple, said to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere, this crowded. Parking was only found blocks away, and buses were bringing in celebrants. Everyone had their phones out, filming the spectacle. And even the monastics were clapping and enjoying themselves.

Everyone was immersed in Chinese culture uniquely blending with this part of Mexico. (Yes, California is part of Mexico or was until our empire stole it from Spain's empire). Perhaps 20,000 well-wishers passed through the gates throughout the day. Festivities continue for two weeks.

(CGTN Europe) Happy Chinese New Year: selections of the 2026 CMG Spring Festival Gala

New Year blessings: Feb. 17, 2026

(Zhuangyan Temple) 2026 Lunar New Year Prayer Ceremony

Register online to light lamps and pray for blessings. Light a lamp.

Joe Rogan, longevity, Harvard scientist: Imagine 500 years

Announcing the 2026 New Year's Blessings Ceremony

As the year draws to a close, we pray that readers, family, and friends are all blessed with longevity and good fortune day and night as the calendar transitions. BAUS temple cordially invites all to a New Year's Blessing Ceremony on Feb. 17, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:15 pm.

On the day of the ceremony, those assembled will recite the "Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance Liturgy" and offer a grand offering before the Buddha. BAUS sincerely invites all to participate in the lighting of lamps and other meritorious deeds. The entire family is welcome to visit the temple and share in the Dharma benefits.

Abiding in great compassion and eternal freedom

Dear Friends,

At the ending of the year, lasting auspiciousness to all day and night! Chuang Yen Monastery will conduct a ceremony of New Year's blessings from 10:00 am to 12:15 pm on Feb. 17, 2026. During this ceremony, all will recite the Great Repentance before the Eighty-Eight Buddhas and make a Grand Meal Offering to the Buddhas. All are invited to sponsor the lighting of a blessing lamp and to sponsor other memorial services. All are welcome to bring family and friends to the Monastery to share the benefits of the Dharma.

May all enjoy the constant ease of great compassion. The temple is open to the public: Feb. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (6 days in total) Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM It looks like this message is in Chinese (Traditional)

莊嚴寺 2026年新春祈福大法會 線上登記點燈祈福

Light a light Announcing the 2026 New Year's Blessings Ceremony

敬啟者： 值此年終歲末之際，祈願諸位及闔府晝夜六時恆吉祥。 本寺謹訂於2026年2月17日10:00am ~ 12:15pm舉行新春祈福法會，法會當日恭誦《八十八佛大懺悔文》及佛前大供；誠摯邀請您參加點燈及各項功德。歡迎闔府蒞寺同霑法益。 耑祈 住大慈悲恆自在  本寺開放： 2月17,18,19,20,21,22日（共6天） 開放時間： 早上10點至下午3點 ­ 莊嚴寺 冬季封山通知

• Chuang Yen Monastery (BAUS)
• Buddhist Association of the U.S.
• 0020 Route 301, 10512, Carmel
• PHONE: (845) 225-1819

Chinese New Year: Spring Festival

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, which is used by a large part of Asia beyond China.

It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture and was placed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2024.

Marking the end of winter (no matter what Punxatawney Phil rituals say) and the beginning of spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year's Eve (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year.

The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on the new moon that appears between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 [a].

The Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The festival was traditionally a time to honor deities and ancestors [3]. Throughout China, different regions celebrate the New Year with distinct local customs and traditions [4].

Chinese New Year's Eve is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.

Traditionally, every family would thoroughly clean their house, symbolically sweeping away any ill fortune to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors may be decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets representing themes such as good fortune, happiness, wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red envelopes. More

New Year, New Mind: Cultural Reset (2/8)

JuBu Ven. Dr. Bodhi, PhD (Claremont Colleges)

BAUS is having an important New Year event (NEW YEAR, NEW MIND) at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, Upstate New York. This is the home of our beloved venerable Theravada Buddhist scholar-monk teacher Bhikkhu Bodhi. It will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.

This cultural reset helps welcome in the Chinese (Lunar) New Year observed by most of Asia and nearly all Buddhist communities, ushering in the Year of the Horse: 2026 Lunar New Year.

• NEW YEAR, NEW MIND (Feb. 8, 2026)
• CYM, Carmel, NY: BAUS.org/en

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Dharma,

CYM has completed the first semester of the course Ancient Path, Modern Mind: Chinese Buddhism in a Changing World with Ven. You Min.

The Temple is pleased to announce that the second semester will begin in 2026, with the opportunity to explore three core themes under the guidance of Ven. You Min:

New Year, New Mind-Abbot Youmin

1. the foundational sutras and treatises that shaped Chinese [Mahayana] Buddhism
2. ⁠the cycle of Buddhist festivals and their rituals
3. ⁠the lived life of the monastic order in relation to society.

Students are invited to cultivate focus, compassion, and balance through study and shared practice. More: 2026 Ancient Path, Modern Mind: Chinese Buddhism in a Changing World, with Venerable You Min

• 2026 New Year, New Mind: A Cultural Reset For Inner Life (docs.google.com)
• Lunar New Year 2026 in Paris, France, 13th arrondissement: free program with parade, shows, exhibitions, and entertainment
• Abbot Ven. Youmin, Chuang Yen Monastery (baus.org); CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Real Happiness Meditation Challenge

• Let's get to know accomplished Theravada JuBu meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg, best hippie friend of Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein, Joseph Goldstein, Dipa Ma (Nani Barua), Dipa, and countless meditation practitioners at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• If I am locked out of Teachable, how do I access the course?

Login to Teachable using the Teachable password right here or login with a temporary code right here.

• My Teachable password isn’t working, and I can’t login!

Login with a temporary code right here or reset your Teachable password right here.

• Real Happiness — Sharon Salzberg
• Real Happiness Meditation Challenge 2026

• I signed up for the Challenge but have not received anything.

Registrants should receive a confirmation within a few minutes of signing up from Teachable. If not and no emails have been received, check the spam/junk and “promotions” folders. Still can't locate any emails from Teachable, contact support team right here.

• How long are the lessons?

Daily lessons vary in length ranging from 7-10 minutes. Practice for longer if you wish. That is always welcome.

• When does the Challenge start?

The Challenge begins Sunday, February 1, 2026. Each lesson in February becomes available daily as we move through the month. Lesson One becomes available on February 1st...Lesson Five becomes available on February 5th, and so on.

• Can I join the challenge late?

Registration for the 2026 challenge closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 31st. Unfortunately, we cannot take late registrants beyond that date. So do it now, not in a minute, NOW.

• Is the Challenge free?

The Challenge is offered on a sliding-scale basis with a suggested contribution of a dollar-a-day ($28); however, a donation is not required to participate. If you are inspired to make a larger contribution to support the Challenge, you can do so here via PayPal.

• Does the course have lifetime access?

No, there is no lifetime access to course materials, as they are owned by happify.com. Once a lesson becomes available, you have until May 31st, 2026, to access it.

• How do I access meditations?

Once you sign up for the Challenge, you will receive an email to verify your account in Teachable. Once setup, you will need to log-in to Teachable each day to access lessons. You will receive a daily email from us each day with the link to the day's lesson. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact our support team right here.

• Can I download lessons?

No, the lessons are not available to download. Video components, including the guided meditations, are only available to stream.

• What time are lessons available each day?

Daily lessons are released at midnight/0:00 UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) on the day prior. To see what midnight/0:00 UTC corresponds to in your local time zone, use this UTC converter.

• If I get busy and skip some days of the Challenge, should I stop all together, or can I continue forward?

You are either welcome to continue onward either at your own pace doing the lessons in order or pick back up on the current day’s lesson the group is currently on. You can then go back later to the lessons you missed since you will have access to the materials until May 31st, 2026.

• Do I need to purchase a copy of the book to participate in the Challenge?

Real Happiness: Power of Meditation: 28-Days

No, the book Real Happiness is not required to participate in the Challenge. However, if you would like to supplement your experience, it is a great way to deepen your experience. For anyone wanting to purchase the book, you can use the code MEDITATION20 to receive a 20% discount via Hachette (US orders only). This discount also applies to Real Happiness at Work and Finding Your Way.

• Does it matter if I buy the physical book or the eBook?

All forms of the book are the same. Choose whatever format you prefer for yourself.

• Are there guidelines for comments?

Kindly limit sharing in the comments section to the scope of this Challenge and how it affects your life. Our intention is to foster a community of encouragement and support for this practice. We ask that comments adhere to the principles of right speech and refrain from harmful speech. Any comments containing advertisements or inappropriate content will not be published.

• When are my comments published?

"We can always begin again." - S. Salzberg

Our team reads all comments before they are published within 24 hours. We ask that all comments adhere to the principles of right speech and refrain from harmful speech. Any comments containing advertisements or inappropriate content will not be published.

• Why wasn’t my comment published?

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• Week 1 • Concentration | Sharon Salzberg
• Real Happiness Meditation Challenge 2026
• Remember, it BEGINS on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026

American Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg

ABOUT: Sharon Salzberg is a pioneer in the field of Buddhist meditation, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She has played a pivotal role in bringing Buddhist insight meditation (vipassana) and mindfulness (sati) into mainstream American culture since 1974. She is cofounder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and has authored 10 books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness. Acclaimed for her down-to-earth and relatable teaching style, she offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible. Her writing can be found on Medium, On Being, the Maria Shriver blog, and Huffington Post. She is also the host of her own podcast The Metta Hour, with 100+ episodes, featuring interviews with the top leaders and voices in the meditation and mindfulness movement. Learn more at sharonsalzberg.com.

• Sharon Salzberg, FAQs, 2026; Crystal Q., CC Liu, Sheldon S., Dhr. Seven, The New Real Happiness Crew (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Saddest Day of Year: 'Blue Monday' (1/19)

"Those who fail to plan PLAN to fail"

Capitalist salesman Kevin Trudeau says he was initiated into uncle's "The Brotherhood"

Feel the feelings without clinging to them.

There is a saying we should all know. For by knowing it, we can love it and live it. Kevin Trudeau [Hevin' True Dough?] the miracle way to happiness is to take 100% responsibility for everything that happens to us.

"Well, that's impossible!" we may exclaim. "I can't be responsible for what others do to me!" Are we going to wait for them and react accordingly? Wouldn't it be better to act as if everything that happens to us were our fault?

"The buck stops here." If it stops here with me then it starts here with me, too. That is a good and useful way to approach "karma" -- the POWER OF OUR DEEDS TO PRODUCE RESULTS (eventual fruit and immediate mental resultants), now and in the interminable future.

Kevin Trudeau exposes secret societies, media control, human potential (exclusive interview)

Rather than wasting time wondering if everything is our fault, the advice given to successful Trudeau was to act as if everything were our fault. Love it. Live it. Because when we do, we will see a miracle.

There's no more waiting for the universe or others or anything to do things. It's just us.

• Blue Monday is on Jan. 19 this year: Blue Monday is the name given to the third Monday in January by former Cardiff University health psychologist [1] Cliff Arnall in 2005 [2, 3, 4]. Prof Arnall is a current member of The British Psychological Society (BPS) [5]. It is said by UK travel company Sky Travel to be the most depressing day of the year. It takes into account weather conditions and only applies to the Northern Hemisphere temperate zones. More

Brppke's Lagoon

For example, say a gal were lost on a desert island in the middle of the sea. Should she wait for lunch, or ruminate about who's to blame for her getting there? Is there anything to learn from being there? Are those coconuts just going to climb down?

Get up, dig for fresh water, find a way to scramble up the palm tree, bring a broken rock to cut down a coconut, which provides purified drinking fluid full of electrolytes and protein rich healthy fats in a delicious gel. Keep the shells. They'll come in handy for lots of things. Take a dip in the sea and gather some seaweed. Lay it out in the sun, which will make it very taste. Then the herb, root, fruit, and vegetable hunt begins. There's gathering to be done. Fire and cooking will come soon, and this forsaken wilderness will be converted into a paradise, a Blue Lagoon (based on the novel The Blue Lagoon).

Oh, but doesn't it feel so much better to feel sorry for ourselves?

What is Blue Monday?

Each January, a certain Monday carries a reputation for being the year’s most emotionally difficult day.

Known as "Blue Monday," it’s often linked with low moods, depleted motivation, and a post-holiday slump.

While the idea started as a publicity stunt, it has since become an annual reminder of something real and important: Mental health matters – especially when days are short and emotions feel heavy. In 2026, Blue Monday falls on January 19th.

Ram Dass (Dr. Richard Alpert) in India, meets guru

What is it? Blue Monday 2026 is observed on the third Monday in January and is often described as “the saddest day of the year.”

The label may be more symbolic than scientific, but the feelings it points to are common. After the holidays, many people experience a dip – financially, emotionally, and physically.

Cold weather, shorter daylight hours, and pressure to stick to resolutions can all contribute. More

• Editors, Wisdom Quarterly; AwarenessDays.com

New Year's message: Time and Karma

(The Theory of Samsara)

The Time Experiment (explained)

• Michel Siffre experiments on chronobiology
• Michel Siffre: The man who went into a cave and accidentally invented an entire field of biology (IFLScience)
• Michel Siffre: This man spent months alone underground – and it warped his mind (New Scientist)

The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life

The social psychology of time?

Author Stanford University Social Psychologist Dr. Philip Zimbardo and Dr. John Boyd have 4.4 out of 5 stars (with 326 reviews).

Our every significant choice -- every important decision we make -- is determined by a force operating deep inside our mind: our perspective on time -- our internal, personal time zone.

This is the most influential force in our life, yet we are virtually unaware of it. Once we become aware of our personal time zone, we can begin to see and manage our life in exciting new ways.

Be Here Now (Dr. Ram Dass, Ph.D.)

In The Time Paradox, Dr. Zimbardo and Dr. Boyd draw on 30 years of pioneering research to reveal, for the first time, how our individual time perspective shapes our life and is shaped by the world around us.

Further, they demonstrate that our and every other individual's time zones interact to create national cultures, economics, and personal destinies.

No matter our time perspective, we experience these paradoxes. Only by understanding this new psychological science of time zones will we be able to overcome the mental biases that keep us too attached to the past, too focused on immediate gratification, or unhealthily obsessed with future goals.

Time passes no matter what we do; it's up to us to spend it wisely and enjoy it well. More

Quitting alcohol: first 30 days

SV116 UR QUIT ALCOHOL IN 30 DAYS 9x16 - Now I'm smart and clever again

• The World's Most Effective Calming Tonics | Calming Co.

Dopamine: Take Brain Back | Dr. Lembke | MasterClass

New Year's resolution: Read this book?

Fox Your Carp, Jeff Bezos

F*ck Your Crap - Break Free and Take Control: The Brutally Honest Guide to Stop Overthinking, Start Living, and Finally Take Control by John Forgetson has 4.8 out of 5 stars (with 273 reviews), and it's getting a push by the algorithm.

Too much thinking? Who, me?

The brutally honest wake-up call that overthinkers can’t stop talking about

The year’s almost here. Still overthinking? Still waiting to change? Maybe it’s time to gift yourself the truth...and actually stick to it this time.

Stop overthinking. Start living. Finally take control of your mind, time, and life. You’ve read enough boring self-help to last a lifetime -- the repetitive and brain damaging kind that sounds good but changes nothing.

By now, we don’t need more motivation, we need a mirror...and a serious slap in the face.

Colorful 2026 New Year celebration with vibrant fireworks (dreamstime.com/365501362)

.

If I could learn meditation, I could do it all.

So if anyone is tired of overthinking while worrying about what everyone thinks and drowning in endless to-do lists that never end, this book might hit like a truth bomb.

Fck Your Crap isn’t another "feel good" pep talk. It’s a brutally honest wake-up call for people who are done pretending everything’s fine.

It’s not about chasing happiness; it’s about taking control of our life, our focus, and our energy. Inside, find a practical blueprint to stop overthinking, silence self-doubt, and build unstoppable momentum.

What’s inside

• How to stop overthinking and anxiety by rewiring the way the brain reacts to fear and pressure.
• How to stop worrying and start living using real tools that actually work, not useless affirmations.
• How to declutter the mind and rebuild daily habits around clarity and purpose.
• Why "positive thinking" is a scam and what to do instead.
• How to build a mindset so strong that we stop letting everything affect us.
• How to finally break free from the Anxious Generation....

Every chapter hits hard, talks straight, and gives the tools to stop overthinking, stop spiraling, and start living.

Forget the gurus. Forget the hacks. This book is for people who want change that lasts.

Who(m) this book is for

Ever said:

• "I can’t stop overthinking."
• "I feel stuck, lost, and mentally drained."
• "I’m tired of fake positivity and surface-level advice."
• "I'm scared..."?

Then this is a MANUAL to read. It’s for anyone ready to throw the excuses away, face the truth, and build a life that finally makes sense.

Whether navigating anxiety, career burnout, or just trying to get life together, this book will become the slap in the face we didn’t know we needed...until now as we read it.

Why it works

Because it’s REAL. Author John Forgetson doesn’t sugarcoat, spiritualize, or oversell. He cuts through the noise and teaches how to stop self-sabotaging, one brutally honest truth at a time.

With over 200 five-star reviews across platforms, Fck Your Crap has already changed how readers think, work, and live. It’s part tough love, part therapy, and entirely life-changing.

Ready to take back control? If we’re done overthinking our potential, this book will help us stop being our own worst enemy.

• Stop worrying.
• Stop waiting.
• Stop believing everything you think.
• Try something new.
• Try something different.
• Try something better.
• Forget motivation.
• Read this instead.
• Let’s face ourselves...and fix our crap.

F*ck Your Crap - Break Free

Buy Fck Your Crap NOW and finally take control of life. [What’s the worst that could happen? John Forgetson gets rich?] DON'T OVERTHINK IT.

P.S. Important note to readers: Due to Amazon’s advertising guidelines, the eBook edition appears as "Fix" Your Crap. The paperback and hardcover versions remain uncensored as Fck Your Crap. Same content, same no-BS truth. That Goodness for censorship, huh? Thanks, Jeff Bezos.