The Supermoon Buddhist Observance

Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Ven. Ñanavara Thera and Bhikkhu Kantasilo, Uposatha Sutra: The Lunar Observance (AN 8.41)

Burma's Shitthuang Pagoda, ruins of Mrauk U, Arakhine state (Jon Sheer/Jraptor/flickr)

The brilliant and nearby Supermoon 2014 (Evgeny Yorobe/earthsky.org)

  

Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was residing in Jeta's Grove at the millionaire's monastery, near Savatthi.

At that time the Blessed One, having called all the monastics together, addressed them: "Meditators!" The monastics answered in assent: "Venerable sir!" (They then prepared themselves for the following sutra). The [Buddha] then gave the following teaching on lunar observance days (uposatha).
 
"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of eight factors [precepts] that the noble (one entered upon the stages of enlightenment) disciple observes, the observation of which brings glorious and radiant fruit and benefit.
 
"Meditators, what is the lunar observance?"
 
1. "Noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline reflect in this way: 'All enlightened beings (arhats), for as long as life lasts, have given up the intentional taking of life. The club and sword have been laid down. They have shame (of doing evil) and are instead compassionate toward all beings.'
 
"All of you have given up the intentional taking of life, have put down all weapons, are possessed of shame (of doing evil), and are compassionate toward all beings. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the first factor.

 
2. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up taking what has not been given. They take only what is given, are intent on taking only what is given. They are not thieves. Their behavior is spotless.'
 
"All of you have given up the taking of what has not been given, are ones who do not take what is not given, are intent on taking only what is given, are not thieves. Your behavior is spotless. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the second factor.

3. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring [Brahmacharya, the high life, the pure life, continence, chastity, celibacy]. Their practice is like that of a brahma [a god being]. They are far from sexual intercourse [or any erotic activity for this observance day], which is a practice of lay people.'
 
"All of you have given up that which is an obstacle to the Brahma-faring and behave like a brahma. Your behavior is far from sexual intercourse. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the third factor.

Standing Buddha statue, Thailand, rung by Moon (happySUN/flickr.com)

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Moon and Sun-faced-Buddha points.

4. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up false speech [perjury, harsh-, divisive-, or careless-speech]. They utter only the truth and are intent on the truth. Their speech is firm and is composed of reason. Their speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world.'
 
"All of you have given up false speech. You speak only the truth and are intent only on that which is true. Your speech is firm and with reason. Your speech does not waver from that which is a mainstay for the world. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fourth factor.
 
5. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up the taking of liquors and intoxicants, of that which intoxicates, causing carelessness (heedlessness). They are far from intoxicants.'
 
"All of you have given up the taking of liquors and intoxicants. You abstain from drink which causes carelessness. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the fifth factor.
 
6. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, eat at one time only and do not partake of food in the evening. They abstain from food at the 'inappropriate' time."
 
"All of you eat at one time only and do not partake of food in the evening. You abstain from food at the inappropriate time. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the sixth factor.
 

What is a "super" moon? (rednewswire)

7. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments, and the watching of entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. Nor do they bedeck themselves with ornaments, flowers, or perfume.'
 
"All of you have given up singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments, and the watching of entertainments, which are stumbling blocks to that which is wholesome. You do not bedeck yourselves with ornaments, flowers, or perfume. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the seventh factor.
 

8. "Meditators, noble disciples in this Dharma and Discipline also reflect: 'All arhats, for as long as life lasts, have given up lying on large or high beds. They are content with low beds or bedding made of grass.'
 
"All of you have given up lying on large or high beds. You are content with low beds or beds made of grass. For all of this day and night, in this manner, you will be known as having followed the arhats, and the lunar observance will have been observed by you. This is the eighth factor.
 
"Meditators, the lunar observance is comprised of these eight factors which the noble disciple observes, and it is of great and glorious fruit and benefit."
 
Thus the Blessed One spoke on the lunar observance. The monastics were delighted and rejoiced at his words.

• Self-Discipline: Cornerstone of the Dharma

Moon Rabbit: Buddhist Birth-Stories (Ask Maya)

Amber Larson, Maya, Xochitl, Wisdom Quarterly

NS writes in: Buddhist cave temples found in Grand Canyon is an interesting find! The "Birth Stories" (the Jatakas, tales that, according to Prof. Rhys Davids, inspired Aesops Fables) actually mention the Bodhisat (the Buddha-to-be) guiding men across the seven seas in a ship in the Supparaka-Jataka.
 
We also have the English translator always mentioning corn in the Jatakas. [This is more likely a reference to grain in general, but possibly maize from the Americas.] If his translation is correct and literal, that means corn was found in India due to trade with the Americas long before 1492 [when Afghan and Chinese Buddhist missionaries arrived in what is now Mexico/California and was then Mesoamerica].
 
Another birth story, the Sasa Jataka, is about how the rabbit got on the Moon; we find a similar story among Native American Indians.

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The Selfless Hare (Sasa Jataka)

Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, Jataka Tales of the Buddha: An Anthology, Buddhist Publication Society (BPS.lk) via Brelief.org edited by Dhr. Seven and Amber Larson

All of Asia can see it: the rabbit or hare on the Moon (makiepencollector)

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Clarke, you don't have a chance! (hiltonbarbour)

It was while staying at Jeta's Grove that the Buddha told this story about a gift of all the ascetic requisites.

 
Once, a landowner in Savatthi invited the Buddha and all of the monastics to his house every day for a week. Every day, he sat them on elegant seats in a pavilion in front of his house and offered them a delicious meal of almsfood. On the seventh day, he presented the Buddha and the many monks and nuns with all of their requisites. The Buddha said, "You have done well to give these gifts. This is a tradition of the wise. Once, a being even offered to sacrifice his life to give his own flesh to a beggar." At the request of his host, he told this story of the past. 

Long, long ago, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Varanasi [how did Brahmadatta reign so long? He was almost certainly not human but an overlord descended from the sky like one of the Catu-maha-rajika of old], the Bodhisatta was reborn as a rabbit living in a forest. On one side of this forest was a mountain; on another side, a river; and on a third side, a village.

The rabbit had three friends -- a monkey, a jackal, and an otter. These four good creatures lived together in harmony. Every day, each one gathered his food in his own way, and in the evening they gathered together to talk.

The rabbit, being the wisest, regularly preached the Truth to his three companions. He taught that alms should be given, that the precepts should be scrupulously kept, and that the lunar observance days should be observed. The three listened carefully. Then each went to his own part of the forest to sleep.
 
One evening, the rabbit looked at the sky and realized that the next day was the full moon.
 

Bhutanese Jataka thangka, 18th-19th cent., Phajoding (wiki)

"Tomorrow is the full moon day," he said to his three companions. "Let all of us observe it and keep the precepts. Remember that alms-giving brings a great reward. Offer food from your own table to any beggars who come to you tomorrow." The friends agreed, and each went to his own home.

Early the next morning, the otter went to the bank of the Ganges river to look for fish. It so happened that a fisherman had caught seven red fish, strung them together, and buried them in the wet sand before going downstream to fish some more.

Smelling the fish, the otter dug them up and called out three times, "Does anyone own these fish?"

When no one answered, he took the fish in his teeth and carried them back to his den, intending to eat them at the proper time. Then he lay down, thinking how virtuous he was.

The jackal, too, went to look for food. In the empty hut of a field-watcher, he found a roasted lizard on a skewer and a pot of curd. He called out three times, "Does anyone own this food?" When no one answered, he claimed it as his own. He hung the pot of curd around his neck with its string, took the skewer with the lizard in his teeth, and carried everything back to his den, intending to eat it at the proper time. Then he lay down, thinking how virtuous he was.
 
The monkey went to a mango grove and [innocently] gathered a number of ripe yellow mangoes. He carried them home, intending to eat them at the proper time. Then he, too, lay down, thinking how virtuous he was.

At the same time, the rabbit came out and began grazing on kusa grass as usual. While he was eating, he thought, "I cannot possibly offer grass to a wandering ascetic! I don't have any rice, oil, or anything else to give. If a beggar comes seeking food, I will have to give him my own flesh!"
 

Naga power: Shark vs. Croc, who wins in the wilds of savage Australia? (ABC News)

 
As soon as this splendid idea came to the rabbit, Sakka King of the Devas's white marble throne became hot. Sakka realized that the reason for this was the rabbit's virtue, and he decided to test him.
 
First, however, Sakka thought it would be a good idea to test the other animals. He disguised himself as an old Brahmin and stood outside the otter's den. When the otter asked why he was standing there, Sakka answered, "Wise sir, if I could get something to eat, I would perform my priestly duties."

The otter quickly said, "Very well, I will give you some food. I have seven red fish, honestly obtained. Eat your fill, Brahmin. You are welcome to stay in this forest."
 
The Brahmin thanked him and said, "I may come back later." Finally, he went to the rabbit's warren. The rabbit asked why he was standing there. "Wise sir," Sakka answered, "if I could get something to eat, I would perform my priestly duties."

Everybody knows different animals can't talk or become friends! Wait, what in the world? What are this weasel and warthog up to? Animals really can communicate! (lolthis.com)

 
The rabbit was thoroughly delighted and replied, "Brahmin, you have done well in coming to me for food. I have no rice, oil, or beans to give but, today, I will give you a gift that I have never given before. I will give what is freely mine to give! Go, friend, pile up some wood, and kindle a fire. When it is burning well, call me. I will gladly sacrifice myself by jumping into the flames. When my body is roasted, you may eat my flesh. Then you can perform your priestly duties."

Sakka used his supernormal powers to create a heap of burning coals. Then he called the rabbit, who rose from his bed of kusa grass and approached the fire. Three times, he shook himself so that any insects in his fur would be spared. Then without hesitation, he leaped directly into the center of the burning coals. Despite the flames, which flared up from the embers, not a single hair on his body was singed. Instead, it was as if he had jumped into a snowdrift, Amazed, he addressed Sakka, "Brahmin, the fire you have kindled is ice-cold. It doesn't even warm the hair on my body. What does this mean?"
 
"Wise sir, I am no Brahmin. I am Sakka [King of the Devas], and I came to put your virtue to the test."
 
The rabbit declared, "Even if all the inhabitants of this Earth were to test my alms-giving, they would not find in me any unwillingness to give!"
 
Pleased with this resounding answer, Sakka said, "Wise rabbit, I will make your virtue known throughout this whole aeon!" Then he squeezed the mountain, extracting its very essence [oozing Himalayan shilajit], which he used to draw the image of the rabbit on the face of the full moon.
 
After gently placing the rabbit on a bed of young kusa grass, Sakka returned to the World of the Thirty-Three (Tavatimsa Deva World).
 
The four creatures lived together happily and harmoniously, keeping the precepts and observing the lunar days for the rest of their lives until they passed away to fare according to their just deserts. AUDIO 

• Maj. Gen. Harold Greene killed at Afghan military academy [training Afghans to commit their own war crimes after U.S./MIC pull out]

VAS: Buddhist "Rains Retreat" period begins

Wisdom Quarterly; Ven. Abbot Dhammarama, Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara LENT/VAS 2014

How shall I spend the rainy season, hopping around or meditating? (onebigphoto.com)

On Sunday, July 13, 2014 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara (LABV) temple will celebrate the commencement of the Rains Retreat period, often called "Buddhist Lent."

It is a period of intensive practice for monastics and a time when lay practitioners visit temples, monasteries, and pagodas to hear the Dharma (Teachings), engage in devotional activities, meditate, and establish their ties with monastics.

LABV will have weekly Dharma talks open to all on Sundays followed by Sri Lankan island cuisine. Many visiting monastics will deliver sermons, hold question and answer sessions, and be available to clarify points of controversy and uncertainty regarding the Buddha's teachings.
 

Sunday is the Super Moon of the ancient month of Asala. The lunar observance for those dressed in white includes an all-day virtue (sila) program where visitors are invited to observe the Eight Precepts for the day according to ancient Indian tradition from at least the time of the Buddha.

Rains Retreat

According to the ancient Theravada Buddhist tradition, the Asalha Full Moon Day marks the beginning of the Vas (Vassana) Season. Supporters of the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara will formally invite the resident monastics to observe Rains Retreat at 5:00 pm. Those observing the Eight Precepts earlier in the day are also invited to attend this auspicious and meritorious event.

There will be an opportunity to listen to the Dharma and practice meditation to enhance every practitioner's direct knowledge of the  Dharma and develop inner peace during the three months of this season. Weekly programs during this period will be:

• Dharma sermons,
• Sutra discussions,
• Meditation practice,
• Bodhi devotional ceremonies,
• Atavisi Buddha puja and more

Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara

920 N. Summit Ave., Pasadena. CA 91103

(626) 797-6144

But why?
Wisdom Quarterly wiki edit

Buddhist monks traversing Pongua Waterfalls in Vietnam (sun-surfer.com)

 
The three-lunar-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners during the Indian rainy season is called Vassa between July and October. In English, it is often glossed as Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent, the latter by analogy to the Catholic/Christian Lent (which Buddhism predates by at least five centuries). For the duration of monastics reside at one monastery rather than traveling around. In some monasteries, they dedicate this time to teaching the Dharma or to intensive meditation. Some lay Buddhists choose to observe the period by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up alcohol, meat, and smoking if they are already engaged in these harmful activities. It may casually be called "Buddhist Lent," others object to this terminology. It is, after all, more of an obligation for monastics than lay Buddhists. How long someone has been a monk or nun is actually calculated not by calendar years but by how many Rains Retreats one has successfully observed. Most Mahayana Buddhists do not observe it, though many Seon/Thien monastics in Korea and Vietnam observe an equivalent retreat of three months of intensive practice in one location, and in Tibetan Buddhism this period of intensive retreat is called Yarne.

Tonight: See the Honey Moon all night long

Dhr. Seven, Bhante, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly

The Moon will be big, bright, yellow, and very close tonight (latimes.com)

Honey full moon lunar observance or Madhu Purnima (thedailystar.net, 9-12-11)

Tonight, Chandra/Luna the Moon is providing a spectacular show in the sky (akasha) above Bhumi (Earth/Gaia). Every month has a full moon, a "month" (which we should call a moonth) being four weeks, a week being seven days, a day being 24 hours. Because with arithmetic like this, a year is 364 days (13x28) or 13 months rather than 12. The last or 365th day is New Year's Day, a fresh start, and resets the calendar. That is how it was, and that is how it would be, if we reverted to the more accurate, useful, and intuitive lunar calendar. The ancient societies had versions of it, not the least of which was the Buddhist calendar and the more ancient Mayan calendar. Buddhism, using Indian time, celebrated the lunar days of the new moon, quarter moon, half moon, and full moon as uposatha or "observance" days of intensive meditation, study, and hearing the Dharma. The tradition lives on around the world, including the USA. Seek out any Mahayana (Japanese roku sainichi) or Theravada temple, be it Thai, Burmese, Sri Lankan, Cambodian (Khmer), Laotian, Bangladeshi (East Bengal), or Indonesian, and feel free to participate in its monthly observance, dressed in white, practicing devotional activities, recalling the Buddha, endeavoring to comprehend the Dharma, and eating great ethnic foods. There are are least 25 temples to choose from in greater Los Angeles. The "Full Moon Honey Offering" is a special poornima or "full moon" observance day relating to remarkable event in the forest between the Buddha and a generous monkey and attentive elephant. Ancient yogic tradition calls for fasting on full moon days. The Buddha modified this to mean not eating after noon, which is the daily practice of Theravada monastics.

How Los Angeles celebrates Vesak

Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, Pasadena

Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, 920 N. Summit Ave. at Mountain, Pasadena, CA 91101

The Buddha against the clouds on the island, Bentota Gama Vihara, Sri Lanka

  

A shower of Dharma, a spiritual offering to the Buddha, is made through the cultivation of virtue and meditation (sila-bhavana).

"The audience (hearers and learners) of Gautama ever awakens happily, day and night recollecting the qualities of the Buddha."

- Dhammapada

 

Gal Vihara (UNESCO/Alagz/mac.com/flickr)

The Pasadena monastery, known as the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara on Mountain and Summit, planned out a full day of activities open to all on Vesak, May 17, 2014. At 8:00 am we took on eight precepts and participants recollected and made offerings to the memory of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. At 9:00 am there was morning tea, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) having been a British colony previously known as the Island of Serendipity. At 9:15 Ven. Karunagoda gave English meditation instructions. At 10:45 there were more devotions and offerings to the memory of the Buddha. 

Adam Eurich, Dr. Ven. Karunananda (WQ)

At 11:00 there was a lunch of island delicacies -- red field rice, green jack fruit, golden curry, orange dal, bright greens with coconut shavings, crisp yellow papadum, fruits, treacle sweets, colorful strips of sauteed vegetables in tangy juices, and more. At 12:00 pm there was a recess to digest all that great food. At 12:30 pirith (parittas, protective mantras) chanting. At 1:00 there was a Dharma Forum, a lively discussion on the Buddha's message, with audience questions, and three very learned monks and a nun to discuss. At 3:30 we had more tea; it's what Ceylon and the Lipton Company are famous for. At 3:45 there was a Dharma Sermon in Sinhalese by a guest monk. At 4:45 a Buddhist Sermon and meditation practice in English with Ven. Chandananda, recently back from Sri Lanka. And at 6:00 a concluding eight precept observance (when practitioners revert to observing the Five Precepts), closing with a sharing of merits.

"We can influence others for the good by the good we are thinking."

- the Buddha

Day went into night with the cultural program running from 6:00-10:00 pm. The summer-like evening began with devotional songs (bhakti gita), a free food stand (dansala), and the exhibition of the rotating Vesak lantern.

While this event sounds unique splendid, it is only one of dozens throughout the city this month as Burmese, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Bangladeshi temples also celebrate. There are at least eight local Sri Lankan temples. On Sunday the North Hollywood Sarathchandra Buddhist Temple puts on a larger display. The highlight will be the big all-Buddhist Thai lay Dhammakaya-meditation movement evening, which annually invites every single Buddhist school and tradition to participate. Happy Vesak!

 

Documenting Buddhism in America (seekingheartwood.com)

• The Buddha's Birthday at Dhammakaya, L.A.
• Hindu temple opening in Chicago, Illinois

Full Moon Buddhist Observance (meditation)

Amber Larson, CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly; LA Buddhist Vihara

FREE monthly full moon observance, Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, Pasadena

   

Meditation bowl (dojo-zen-de-paris/flickr)

We rushed to the Los Angeles Buddhist Temple in Pasadena to be there in time.

Today was the full moon, the lunar observance day to fulfill the Eight Precepts.

The Buddhist island tradition in Sri Lanka, once known as Serendipity just off the southern tip of India, holds that those who wish dress in white, arrive early, and begin a day of meditation, island food, Dharma talks and study holding true to three additional restraints.

We practice the Five Precepts everyday, even in America, even in the city, even in the biggest bawdiest megalopolis in all the land. Hollywood is not so far away. Distractions abound. It's cold, there's a drought, Valentine's Day just reminded us that we suck, the chemtrails cause a disturbing haze, and all the nights' parties pile into one heap in our heads.

The Eight Precepts

These are voluntary observances for lay Buddhists who wish to practice Buddhism more intensely on special lunar days. The Five Precepts are daily practice, humane karma that leads to rebirth on this plane and the lower celestial worlds of good fortune. The eight focus both on abstaining from morally unskillful behavior, as do the Five Precepts, and on practicing in a way more conducive to concentration and fast meditative progress.

 

In Theravada Buddhist countries -- such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia -- Buddhists often spend one day a week (uposatha days: the new moon, first-quarter moon, full moon, and last-quarter moon days) visiting a Buddhist monastic complex (vihara) and practicing the full complement of Eight Precepts.

 

The Buddha gave this instruction, encouraging ordinary people to regularly take up eight precepts and practicing them with diligence:

1. Abstain from injuring or depriving any living being of life (whether human or non-human).
2. Abstain from taking what is not given (e.g., stealing, misappropriating, moving things that may cause misunderstandings).
3. Abstain from all sexual misconduct and activity. (See comic below).
4. Abstain from all false speech (perjury, deceiving others, manipulating others, using hurtful or divisive words, chatter).
5. Abstain from using all intoxicating substances, which can lead to carelessness.
6. Abstain from eating at inappropriate times (the appropriate time being after sunrise but before noon).
7. Abstain from singing, dancing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, wearing perfumes, and using cosmetics or garlands (decorative accessories).
8. Abstain from high and luxurious seats and beds and overindulging in sleep.

Sex? Can I go a whole day without my erotic thoughts, words, actions? Can I even go an hour? Binky finds out the answers to these life questions ("Life in Hell," Matt Groening)

Why would anyone in his or her right mind undertake to practice these for a day? It is the way the Buddha practiced his entire career as a world teacher. It is the way monastics practice today. Undertaken for the right reason, avoiding extremes and keeping to tradition established by the Buddha himself as explained in the sutras and discipline (vinaya), they free one from distractions. And an undistracted heart/mind inclines to quick concentration, absorption, and liberating-insight.

Mudra (mysecretpsychiclife.com)

If what we want is enlightenment or just peace of mind, spiritual knowledge and vision or just stress management, psychic powers or self-control, complete equanimity or a heart overflowing with compassion, successful meditation leads us to our goals.

What if our meditation does not succeed? The Buddha gave many aids to success (such as the Factors of Absorption) and antidotes to obstacles (such as the Five Hindrances). The Eight Precepts, which can be practiced alone or in the company of others interested in striving, are tools to help that we as humans are lucky enough to be able to learn and practice. Of course, there are Hollywood parties and endless distractions if we prefer.

Happy Lu New Year 2014! (video)

Editors, Wisdom Quarterly; TetFestival.org ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR 2014

(Ttinova) 2014 Lu New Year festivities are exotic and integrating into America

 

Tet parade, Orange County (magnumasi.com)

Each year Americans of Vietnamese descent celebrate the coming lunar year with Tết Nguyên Đán, the most celebrated and significant holiday on the traditional lunar calendar, which also marks the beginning of spring.

The Fung Brothers and Priscilla Liang joke and rap about the 626 (predominantly Asian and Mexican San Gabriel Valley) in suburban L.A. to "Thriftshop" by Macklemore.

  

The Year of the Horse (buddhistedu.org)

The community is proud and honored to present annually the largest Tết Festival in the entire world, attracting over 100,000 patrons from throughout the country and abroad. Visitors are immersed with a vibrant array of traditional foods, live entertainment, festive games, and customs celebrating the new year. This year is the Year of the Horse (Năm Giáp Ngọ).

 

Enter the Horse and exit the Dragon, it's spring and a brand new year!

 

By now the country's largest China town is not in San Francisco or Downtown Los Angeles but in the San Gabriel Valley (area code 626) with its massive mainland Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Filipino, Latin American, and Indian communities.

(SoCalUVSA) A recap of 2013 Lu New Year celebrations in Southern California

That Tet Festival was held between Feb. 8-10, the Year of the [NSA] Snake.

 

2014 (latetfest.com)

VNCSC Tet Festival 2014

A three-day festival organized by the Vietnamese Community of Southern California at Garden Grove Park starting January 31st 2014 and running until February 2nd. 

San Diego Tết Festival

This year there are 11 beautiful contestants each competing for the grand prize of $2,000 and the title of Miss Vietnam San Diego 2014! Come to the festival... 

2014 Tet Festival moves to OC Fairgrounds

The 2014 Tet Festival is NOT going to be in Garden Grove this year.

Tet Festival - Costa Mesa, California (Facebook)

Famous Tet festival heading to Orange County fairgrounds

Organizers of the largest Tet Festival in the U.S. -- an event long linked... Negotiations between the two sides for the 2014 celebration... 

Holidays and observances in Vietnam in 2014

Garden Grove's popular Tet festival is back on 

(OCRegister.com) Garden Grove gets new operator for Tet festival 

2014 Tet Festival Event, L.A. Tet Festival

(TetFest.net) Event: The tenth annual LA Tet Festival 2014

Chinese New Year Festival (Jan. 18, 2014)

CC Liu, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; PacificAsiaMuseum.org

Lunar New Year Festival
Celebrate the Year of the Horse at Pacific Asia Museum's fourth annual "Lunar New Year Festival"!

It will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 11:00 am-5:00 pm. For the day, admission to the events, performances, crafts, demonstrations, and museum galleries is free and open to the public.

• Lunar Festival schedule
• Full schedule of events

EVENTS GUIDE

YOGA: Designed with a lunch-hour audience in mind, instructor Jill Zepezauer’s instruction of Hatha yoga is uniquely accessible. $10 per class, or buy a series and save. Beginners always welcome. Every Thurs., 12:30-1:30.
TAI CHI: Held in the peaceful surroundings of the museum’s courtyard. $10 per class, beginners always welcome. Every Sat., 8:00-9:30 am.

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY: Guang-Li Zhang teaches the art of Chinese calligraphy. Each six-week series is $80 per person or $50 if also enrolled in Chinese Brush Painting. Every Sat., 8:45-9:45 am.

CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING: Taught by Guang-Li Zhang. Each six-week series is $120. Potential students are welcome to observe a free class before enrolling. Every Sat., 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

SILK ROAD STORYTIME: Join everyone’s favorite storyteller Sunny Stevenson in the travelers’ tent of Journeys: The Silk Road for stories, crafts, Asian snack, and a balloon. A different theme every month! Free and open to all! First Sat. of the Month: 10:30 am.

HAIKU: The Southern California Haiku Study Group is devoted to studying, writing, and sharing haiku in English. No membership fee. Beginners are always welcome. Group meets in the serene Blue Room at USC Pacific Asia Museum. Third Sat. of the Month: 2:00-4:00 pm.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC: Learn to play the ukulele or guitar and sing traditional songs with Charles Kiaha and Ilima Lei Russell. Every Sun., 10:30 am-12:00 pm.

"Killing Yourself to Live"

Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly; Chuck Klosterman, Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story (Goodreads.com)

Does the heart learn love from heartache? (weheartit.com)

 

Attachment, addiction in Requiem for a Dream

“We all have the potential to fall in love a thousand times in our lifetime. It's easy. The first girl I ever loved was someone I knew in the sixth grade. Her name was Missy; we talked about horses. The last girl I love will be someone I haven't even met yet. Probably. They all count. But there are certain people you love who do something else; they define how you classify what love is supposed to feel like. These are the most important people in your life, and you'll meet maybe four or five of these people over the span of 80 years. But there's still one more tier to all this; there is always one person you love who becomes that definition. It usually happens retrospectively, but it always happens eventually.

Killing Yourself to Live (goodreads.com)

“This is the person who unknowingly sets the template for what you will always love about other people, even if some of those lovable qualities are self-destructive and unreasonable. You will remember having conversations with this person that never actually happened. 

“You will recall sexual trysts with this person that never technically occurred. This is because the individual who embodies your personal definition of love does not really exist. The person is real, and the feelings are real -- but you create the context. And context is everything. The person who defines your understanding of love is not inherently different than anyone else, and they're often just the person you happen to meet first time you really, really want to love someone. But that person still wins. They win, and you lose. Because for the rest of your life, they will control how you feel about everyone else.”

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