Vassa (Pali: vassa-, Sanskrit: varṣa-, both "rain") is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists. Taking place during the wet season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months, usually from July (the Burmese month of Waso, ဝါဆို) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut, သီတင်းကျွတ်).[1]
In English, Vassa is often glossed as Rains Retreat.[2] While Vassa is sometimes casually called "Buddhist Lent", others object to this terminology.[3][4]
For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically a monastery or temple grounds.[4][5] In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation.[4] Some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.[1] In Thailand, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the first (Wan Khao Phansa) and last (Wan Ok Phansa) days of Vassa.[6] Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of vassas (or rains) since ordination.
Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month, which is the day after Asalha Puja or Asalha Uposatha ("Dhamma day"). It ends on Pavarana, when all monastics come before the sangha and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa.
Vassa is followed by Kathina, a festival in which the laity expresses gratitude to monks.[7][8] Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks.[7][8][9]
The Vassa tradition predates the time of Gautama Buddha.[1] It was a long-standing custom for mendicant ascetics in India not to travel during the rainy season as they may unintentionally harm crops, insects or even themselves during their travels.[4][non-primary source needed] Many Buddhist ascetics live in regions which lack a rainy season.[8] Consequently, there are places where Vassa may not be typically observed.[8]
vassa, pali, vassa, sanskrit, varṣa, both, rain, three, month, annual, retreat, observed, theravada, buddhists, taking, place, during, season, lasts, three, lunar, months, usually, from, july, burmese, month, waso, october, burmese, month, thadingyut, တင, tran. Vassa Pali vassa Sanskrit varṣa both rain is the three month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists Taking place during the wet season Vassa lasts for three lunar months usually from July the Burmese month of Waso ဝ ဆ to October the Burmese month of Thadingyut သ တင က တ 1 Translations ofVassaEnglishrainBurmeseဝ တ င wadwiɰ Chinese雨安居 Pinyin yu an ju Khmerវស ស UNGEGN vossa Laoພ ນສາ ວ ດສາ pʰan sǎː WatsaTibetanདབ ར གནས Yarne TagalogvassaThaiphrrsa wrrsaRTGS phansa pronounced pʰan sǎː RTGS watsaVietnamesean cưGlossary of Buddhism This article contains Indic text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks or boxes misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text Monk at Vassa In English Vassa is often glossed as Rains Retreat 2 While Vassa is sometimes casually called Buddhist Lent others object to this terminology 3 4 For the duration of Vassa monastics remain in one place typically a monastery or temple grounds 4 5 In some monasteries monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation 4 Some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices such as giving up meat alcohol or smoking 1 In Thailand the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the first Wan Khao Phansa and last Wan Ok Phansa days of Vassa 6 Commonly the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of vassas or rains since ordination Mahayana Buddhists also observe Vassa Vietnamese Thiền and Korean Seon monastics observe an equivalent retreat of three months of intensive practice in one location a practice also observed in Tibetan Buddhism citation needed Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month which is the day after Asalha Puja or Asalha Uposatha Dhamma day It ends on Pavarana when all monastics come before the sangha and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa Vassa is followed by Kathina a festival in which the laity expresses gratitude to monks 7 8 Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples especially new robes for the monks 7 8 9 The Vassa tradition predates the time of Gautama Buddha 1 It was a long standing custom for mendicant ascetics in India not to travel during the rainy season as they may unintentionally harm crops insects or even themselves during their travels 4 non primary source needed Many Buddhist ascetics live in regions which lack a rainy season 8 Consequently there are places where Vassa may not be typically observed 8 See also editEsala Mangallaya Monsoon of South Asia Thadingyut Festival Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival Vassa candle VesakReferences edit a b c Vassa at About com Vassa Archived from the original on 2010 03 23 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Thein Cherry 14 20 July 2008 Shwedagon Pagoda marks the start of Buddhist Lent this week The Myanmar Times Archived from the original on 21 September 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2011 a b c d Lay Buddhist Practice The Shrine Room Uposatha Day Rains Residence Was Thai Vassa Religious holidays bring two alcohol ban days four day weekend The Phuket News 3 July 2020 Retrieved 7 January 2021 a b Vassa Rains Retreat and Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony a b c d Vassa The Rains Retreat Kathina at BBC nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vassa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vassa amp oldid 1174706356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
