A Game for Coffee and Contemplation...
What is the significance of the number 108?
The number 108 appears very prominently in Eastern philosophies and religions and has so for millennia, but why? The hit TV show "LOST" took the number 108 and went crazy with its mystery. In the show, the number 108 took on a life of its own as the number of minutes on the countdown clock in the hatch, and the sum of "The Numbers" (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) which seemed to turn up everywhere in the episodes in either obvious or hidden cameo appearances.
The island setting in the show where the cast was marooned was some sort of Purgatory seemingly serving to strengthen the faith of its trapped inhabitants. "Live together or die alone" became the mantra of those who never gave up hope in a cruel land that seemed out to get them at every juncture.
Of course the true significance of the number 108 was never divulged during the series and remains a mysterious player in a bizarre world now ended. Only a hint of Eastern Philosophy appeared in "The Dharma Initiative" logos scattered throughout the sets in the show.
Curiosity about 108 continued to intrigue me long after "LOST" had finished its run, so I turned to the internet for some answers. And now for your enjoyment or enlightenment, I will defer to the videos below in the hope of shedding a little light on the subject:
What is the significance of the number 108?
The number 108 appears very prominently in Eastern philosophies and religions and has so for millennia, but why? The hit TV show "LOST" took the number 108 and went crazy with its mystery. In the show, the number 108 took on a life of its own as the number of minutes on the countdown clock in the hatch, and the sum of "The Numbers" (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) which seemed to turn up everywhere in the episodes in either obvious or hidden cameo appearances.
The island setting in the show where the cast was marooned was some sort of Purgatory seemingly serving to strengthen the faith of its trapped inhabitants. "Live together or die alone" became the mantra of those who never gave up hope in a cruel land that seemed out to get them at every juncture.
Of course the true significance of the number 108 was never divulged during the series and remains a mysterious player in a bizarre world now ended. Only a hint of Eastern Philosophy appeared in "The Dharma Initiative" logos scattered throughout the sets in the show.
Curiosity about 108 continued to intrigue me long after "LOST" had finished its run, so I turned to the internet for some answers. And now for your enjoyment or enlightenment, I will defer to the videos below in the hope of shedding a little light on the subject:
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Okay, the idea that the celestial harmony between the Earth, Sun, and Moon hinges upon the number 108 fascinated me.
So being the skeptic that I am, I needed to confirm this astronomical assertion professed by the Gurus.
I did some simple mathematical calculations based on the figures below to see what I would find:
The average diameter of the Sun = 1,391,000 km
The average diameter of the Earth = 1,2756.28 km
The average diameter of the Moon = 3474.8 km
Now, the orbits of the Earth around the Sun, and the Moon around the Earth, are elliptical, not circular, so their distances vary.
The distance from the Earth to the Sun varies from 147,083,346 km at perihelion to 152,112,126 km at aphelion.
The distance from the Earth to the Moon varies from 363,104 km at perigee to 406,696 km at apogee.
Using basic division, this is what I ended up with:
The average diameter of the Sun is actually 109 times larger than the average diameter of the Earth. (109.04)
The distance from the Earth to the Sun is SOMETIMES equal to 108 Sun diameters. (Range: 105.73 - 109.35)
The distance from the Earth to the Moon is SOMETIMES equal to 108 Moon diameters (Range: 104.49 - 117.04)
Interestingly, this similar ratio of diameter to distance shared by the Sun and Moon is what makes them appear to be the same size in the sky.
This is also what makes a total eclipse of the Sun possible when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun.
So why not 109 then? According to these calculations, that is the number found to be shared in this trilogy of ratios.
Here's my thinking: Since 109 is a prime number, it can only be divided evenly by 1 and 109.
On the other hand, 108 can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 27, 36, 54, and 108.
This makes the number 108 far more suitable for the numerology that eastern philosophies are based upon.
Dang it, now I'm fascinated with the number 109... Wait a tic, there is a 109th bead on the Buddhist Mala.
When the 109th bead is reached, it is time to pause in silence, gratitude, and acknowledgement.
I think I just found the key to the universe...
So being the skeptic that I am, I needed to confirm this astronomical assertion professed by the Gurus.
I did some simple mathematical calculations based on the figures below to see what I would find:
The average diameter of the Sun = 1,391,000 km
The average diameter of the Earth = 1,2756.28 km
The average diameter of the Moon = 3474.8 km
Now, the orbits of the Earth around the Sun, and the Moon around the Earth, are elliptical, not circular, so their distances vary.
The distance from the Earth to the Sun varies from 147,083,346 km at perihelion to 152,112,126 km at aphelion.
The distance from the Earth to the Moon varies from 363,104 km at perigee to 406,696 km at apogee.
Using basic division, this is what I ended up with:
The average diameter of the Sun is actually 109 times larger than the average diameter of the Earth. (109.04)
The distance from the Earth to the Sun is SOMETIMES equal to 108 Sun diameters. (Range: 105.73 - 109.35)
The distance from the Earth to the Moon is SOMETIMES equal to 108 Moon diameters (Range: 104.49 - 117.04)
Interestingly, this similar ratio of diameter to distance shared by the Sun and Moon is what makes them appear to be the same size in the sky.
This is also what makes a total eclipse of the Sun possible when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun.
So why not 109 then? According to these calculations, that is the number found to be shared in this trilogy of ratios.
Here's my thinking: Since 109 is a prime number, it can only be divided evenly by 1 and 109.
On the other hand, 108 can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 27, 36, 54, and 108.
This makes the number 108 far more suitable for the numerology that eastern philosophies are based upon.
Dang it, now I'm fascinated with the number 109... Wait a tic, there is a 109th bead on the Buddhist Mala.
When the 109th bead is reached, it is time to pause in silence, gratitude, and acknowledgement.
I think I just found the key to the universe...