Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, is an important day in Tibetan Buddhism.

There are four major Tibetan Buddhist holidays—duchen or ‘great occasions’—marking the four events known as the ‘great deeds’ of the Buddha. The first is Chotrul Duchen, which falls on the first full moon of the year and celebrates the time when the Buddha is said to have displayed a different miracle each day to spur on his disciples.

The leaders of the six main philosophical schools of the day challenged the Buddha to a contest of miraculous powers. The Buddha displayed a different miracle each day for fifteen days, and, utterly defeating his opponents, inspired students many to follow the dharma.

On this day the effects of positive or negative karma are said to be multiplied ten million times.