The Beginning Of The Buddhist Rainy Retreat (Khao Phansa)

Khao Phansa (Vassa) is one of the important days in Buddhism. On Vassa Day monks make a vow to stay in one place for 3 months as the rule which the Buddha and his community laid down. They should not venture out, or stay overnight in any other place, except in cases of extreme emergency and, even then, their time away must not exceed seven consecutive nights. This rule is applied for all monks, there is no exception.

The Vassa is not applied only for the monks, but also for all who get interested in the serious study and practice. Traditionally, it is also important for laymen to ordain their sons into the monkhood on this day in order to get maximum benefit from the Buddhist teaching.

Usually the Vassa Day falls on the first day after the full moon of the eighth lunar month (July) which marks the beginning of the three-months Buddhist ‘lent’ period. This year it occurred on the 27^th July, and the monks at the Buddhapadipa temple made vow in the afternoon. A lot of people witnessed this remarkable event. Some even made vow not to do evil actions and to do good actions and purify their mind during Vassa, 3 months. That is a good thing to do, isn’t it? Would you like to join Vassa? If you like to, please do so.