bluesofa 41,657 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 As a non-believer, I'd still like to know if there's some logic as to how these are arrived at? I've been involved (from the sidelines) in various house building projects. My sister-in-law is building a house, and obviously she's been 'told' by the monks when they can erect a couple of reinforcing bars for the concrete pillars. It was today (22nd February) at 08:19. Why? What does it have to do with any religion, not just buddhism? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post PatOngo 48,047 Posted February 22 Popular Post Share Posted February 22 4 minutes ago, bluesofa said: As a non-believer, I'd still like to know if there's some logic as to how these are arrived at? I've been involved (from the sidelines) in various house building projects. My sister-in-law is building a house, and obviously she's been 'told' by the monks when they can erect a couple of reinforcing bars for the concrete pillars. It was today (22nd February) at 08:19. Why? What does it have to do with any religion, not just buddhism? My suggestion, don't even try to understand, it's a cultural thing way beyond the farang comprehension! 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post papa al 3,194 Posted February 22 Popular Post Share Posted February 22 farang think too mut. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Thaiwrath 37,056 Posted February 22 Popular Post Share Posted February 22 I believe they contact T.A.T. and ask them to pull some numbers out of the hat ! 8 Link to post Share on other sites
bluesofa 41,657 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 Thanks for the humorous replies! However is there some way these dates and times are arrived at? As an aside, I believe Easter in the christian church for example is calculated years in advance. I think it uses some planetary alignment to do with the moon? Hence it being a 'moveable feast' so to speak. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post khaowong1 1,407 Posted February 23 Popular Post Share Posted February 23 I think most of it has to do with Moon phases. On this day, Feb.22, 2021, the Moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. Why this particular moon phase has to do with anything, I have no clue. My guess is, that it has something to do with the Buddha's involvement with something. Maybe he took a shower during this moon phase or passed gas or something. 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post richard_smith237 27,438 Posted February 23 Popular Post Share Posted February 23 When getting married my Mother in Law to be went to a fortune teller who picked the auspicious date and time perfectly, albeit on the third attempt. First attempt, MiL gave my Wife to be and I the time and date, no good, it didn’t time out with UK school holidays, thus UK family couldn’t come over. We gave my MiL the date we wanted. Second attempt, MiL came back with the right date, but a 6:xx AM start for the ‘ring ceremony’, too early, I didn’t want my Wife up that early and tired all day, I didn’t want my UK family (and their kids) exhausted either, I said 5pm. Third attempt, MiL came back from the fortune teller, the date and exact time I wanted was an auspicious date and time... perfect, everyone happy. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Golden Triangle 5,898 Posted February 23 Popular Post Share Posted February 23 Sorry, but it really all is a load of old ballcocks, only the superstitious & fools listen to the rogues in Saffron. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
sammieuk1 20,821 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Have you looked into 8.20 being the first tea break of the week 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bluesofa 41,657 Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 8 hours ago, khaowong1 said: I think most of it has to do with Moon phases. On this day, Feb.22, 2021, the Moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. Why this particular moon phase has to do with anything, I have no clue. My guess is, that it has something to do with the Buddha's involvement with something. Maybe he took a shower during this moon phase or passed gas or something. Thanks for the insight into how it works. Not that I can see why it should, but I am interested about any system used to arrive with these figures. If it is lunar based, how does that fit in with the philosophy of buddhism, and why? I'm guessing it's part of the mumbo-jjumbo that's evolved down the (more recent) centuries? Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post khaowong1 1,407 Posted February 24 Popular Post Share Posted February 24 15 hours ago, bluesofa said: Thanks for the insight into how it works. Not that I can see why it should, but I am interested about any system used to arrive with these figures. If it is lunar based, how does that fit in with the philosophy of buddhism, and why? I'm guessing it's part of the mumbo-jjumbo that's evolved down the (more recent) centuries? You are correct, most of it is mumbo-jumbo. I think most of the Buddhist holidays are centered around the full moon. Probably because calender's back then were not very accurate and I'm pretty sure there were at least 2 different calender's used back then. And if I'm not mistaken, they also didn't have the days named yet, Monday, Tuesday, etc. So again, we're down to mumbo-jumbo. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bluesofa 41,657 Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 5 hours ago, khaowong1 said: You are correct, most of it is mumbo-jumbo. I think most of the Buddhist holidays are centered around the full moon. Probably because calender's back then were not very accurate and I'm pretty sure there were at least 2 different calender's used back then. And if I'm not mistaken, they also didn't have the days named yet, Monday, Tuesday, etc. So again, we're down to mumbo-jumbo. Do you know what any of the calendars were, and about how far back that goes? Link to post Share on other sites
RichardColeman 28,201 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 On 2/22/2021 at 2:47 AM, bluesofa said: As an aside, I believe Easter in the christian church for example is calculated years in advance. I think it uses some planetary alignment to do with the moon? Hence it being a 'moveable feast' so to speak. Yes, but amazing that his death is moved but his birth isn't 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bluesofa 41,657 Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said: On 2/22/2021 at 9:47 AM, bluesofa said: As an aside, I believe Easter in the christian church for example is calculated years in advance. I think it uses some planetary alignment to do with the moon? Hence it being a 'moveable feast' so to speak. Yes, but amazing that his death is moved but his birth isn't IIRC isn't the birth date and the year considered to be erroneous? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kokesaat 879 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Having been married to a Thai for 48 years, my advice is go with the flow. If the monks/wife pick a particular date, don't buck the system. You'll have hell to pay for when your roof collapses or an accident happens. Believe what you may, but in all likelihood, you're operating on 110V, you wife is 220V. If the gecko cries just before you're about to leave the house and the wife says suddenly not interested in going out, just go without her. She knows better. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now