Thursday, May 9th 2024, marked the beginning of the month of Saga Dawa, which will end on Thursday, June 6th 2024. This is the most auspicious month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. In Tibetan, “Saga” means fourth and is also the name of a star which is prominent in the sky during the fourth lunar month; “Dawa” refers to the whole month. Saga Dawa is sacred because in this month, three monumental events — the birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni — are all believed to have taken place. Because of this, throughout the month of Saga Dawa, there is a great multiplying effect of the meritorious and demeritorious actions of body, speech, and mind by 100,000 times. Throughout this month, any positive actions such as doing solitary retreats, meditation, prostrations, or any other form of virtuous Dharmic activities made through the body, speech, and mind will be multiplied by 100,000. In the same way, any unwholesome or negative activities will also be multiplied by 100,000.