This year, November 9th is the day celebrated in the Tibetan calendar as "Buddha's descent from Tushita Heaven", the 22nd day of the 9th month (Lha-bab Düchen).
During his forty-first year, Shakyamuni Buddha ascended from Shravasti, where he used to pass the rainy season with his monks and nuns, to the Tushita Heaven, and passed the rainy season retreat period there, teaching Abhidharma to his mother, Queen Mayadevi, who had died seven days after Buddha's birth and was thus unable to receive any teaching from her enlightened son. Mayadevi had been reborn in Tushita as a male god. The same happens to the mothers of all the Buddhas, and they too later go to teach them in heaven.
Mayadevi
Seven days before his descent from Tushita, the Buddha again became visible to his foremost disciples. Anuruddha perceived him by his divine sight and urged Maudgalyayana to go and greet him. The great disciple did so, telling the Buddha that the Order longed to see him. Shakyamuni replied, that in seven days he would return to the world. A great assembly of the kings and people of the eight kingdoms gathered. As the Buddha descended, a flight of gold stairs appeared, down which he came. He was accompanied on the right by Brahma, who, holding a white chowry, descended on a crystal staircase, while to the left Indra came down a flight of silver stairs, holding a jewelled umbrella. A great host of gods followed.
Love & pranams,
Billy
