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The popular American TV show “Lost” made many esoteric references to the number “108” (a series that I never watched personally)

 Apparently, the series includes quite a few references to Buddhism. For example, the sum of “the numbers” (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42) is 108, and “the numbers” must be entered into a computer every 108 minutes. One hundred eight is also the number of days “the Oceanic 6” have spent on the island. And Jacob tells Hurley to rotate the mirror in the lighthouse to a heading of 108°.

The following is a collection of information about the number “108” (reference links included):

One hundred [and] eight (or nine dozen) is an abundant number and a semiperfect number. It is a tetranacci number.

It is the hyperfactorial of 3 since it is of the form .

108 is a number that is divisible by the value of its φ function, which is 36. 108 is also divisible by the total number of its divisors (12), hence it is a refactorable number.

In Euclidean space, the interior angles of a regular pentagon measure 108 degrees each.

There are 108 free polyominoes of order 7.

In base 10, it is a Harshad number and a self number.

The equation results in the Golden ratio

Importance in Astronomy and Astrology

The earth cycle is supposed to be of 2160 years = 20 x 108. The distance between the Earth and Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance between the Earth and Moon is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. The universe is made up of 108 elements according to ancient texts. The current periodic table claims a few more than 108.

There are 12 constellation and 9 arc segments. 9 times 12 equal 108. The 9 planets travelling through the 12 signs constitute the whole of existence. 9 x 12 = 108. The 27 nakshatras or lunar constellations spread over the 4 elements – fire, earth, air, water or the 4 directions – north, south, east, and west. This also constitutes the whole of existence. 27 x 4 = 108.

Source: http://humanityhealing.net (http://s.tt/13wja)

Religion and the arts

The number 108 is considered sacred in many Eastern religions and traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and connected yoga and dharma based practices. The individual numbers 1, 0, and 8 represent one thing, nothing, and everything (infinity). 108 represents the ultimate reality of the universe as being (seemingly paradoxically) simultaneously One, emptiness, and infinite.

Hinduism

For example, Hindu deities have 108 names, while in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, there are 108 gopis of Vrindavan. Recital of these names, often accompanied by counting of 108-beaded Mala, is considered sacred and often done during religious ceremonies. The recital is called namajapa. Accordingly, a mala usually has beads for 108 repetitions of a mantra.

The distance of Sun from Earth divided by diameter of Sun and distance of Moon from Earth divided by diameter of Moon is approximately equal to 108. It is claimed that the great sires of Vedanta knew this relationship and thus 108 is a very important number in Vedantic chantings.

Buddhism

Likewise, Tibetan Buddhist malas or rosaries (Tib. ཕྲེང་བ Wyl. phreng ba, “Trengwa”) are usually 108 beads;^[1] sometimes 111 including the Guru Bead(s), reflecting the words of the Buddha called in Tibetan the Kangyur (Wylie: Bka’-‘gyur) in 108 volumes. Zen priests wear juzu (a ring of prayer beads) around their wrists, which consists of 108 beads.^[2]

The Lankavatara Sutra has a section where the Bodhisattva Mahamati asks Buddha 108 questions^[3] and another section where Buddha lists 108 statements of negation in the form of “A statement concerning X is not statement concerning X”.^[4] In a footnote, D.T. Suzuki explains that the Sanskrit word translated as “statement” is “pada” which can also mean “foot-step” or “a position.” This confusion over the word “pada” explains why some have mistakenly held that the reference to 108 statements in the Lankavatara refer to the 108 steps that many temples have.^[5]

In some schools of Buddhism it is believed that there are 108 defilements.^[6] In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.

Ancient artifacts

The pre-historic monument Stonehenge is about 108 feet in diameter. [3]

Other References

In the neo-Gnostic teachings of Samael Aun Weor, an individual has 108 chances (lifetimes) to eliminate his egos and transcend the material world before “devolving” and having the egos forcefully removed in the infradimensions.^[7]

Martial arts

• According to Marma Adi and Ayurveda, there are 108 pressure points in the body, where consciousness and flesh intersect to give life to the living being.^[8]
• The Chinese school of martial arts agrees with the South Indian school of martial arts on the principle of 108 pressure points.^[9][10]
• 108 number also figures prominently in the symbolism associated with karate, particularly the Gōjū-ryū discipline. The ultimate Gōjū-ryū kata, Suparinpei, literally translates to 108. Suparinpei is the Chinese pronunciation of the number 108, while gojūshi of Gojūshiho is the Japanese pronunciation of the number 54. The other Gōjū-ryū kata, Sanseru (meaning “36”) and Seipai (“18”) are factors of the number 108.^[2]
• The 108 of the Yang long form and Wing Chun, taught by Yip Man having 108 movements are noted in this regard.^[5]
• Several different Taijiquan long forms consist of 108 moves.
• Paek Pal Ki Hyung, the 7th form taught in the art of Kuk Sool Won, translates literally to “108 technique” form. It is also frequently referred to as the “eliminate 108 torments” form. Each motion corresponds with one of the 108 Buddhist torments or defilements.

In literature

• In Homer‘s Odyssey, the number of suitors coveting Penelope, wife of Odysseus.
• There are 108 outlaws in the Chinese classic Water Margin/Outlaws of the Marsh.
• There are 108 love sonnets in Astrophil and Stella, the first English sonnet sequence by Sir Philip Sidney.

In other fields

• An official Major League Baseball baseball has 108 stitches.^[11]
• In the Manga and Anime series Shikabane Hime Aka and Shikabane Hime Kuro (Corpse Princess), the shikabane himes must hunt 108 evil undead corpses in order to ascend to heaven.
• The atomic number of hassium.
• The number of Mbit/s of a non-standard extension of IEEE 802.11g wireless network using channel bonding.
• There are 108 Stars of Destiny to collect in the video game Suikoden distributed by Konami for PlayStation
• 108 is the name of a community of and for open source developers, created by Red Hat.^[12]
• There are 108 cards in a deck of UNO cards.
• There are 108 Code Crowns in Digimon Xros Wars.
• Volume expansion of freezing water is roughly 108%.

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