Vassana

The 3-months period which usually fall between the 7th lunar month full moon and 10th lunar month full moon is known as 'Vassana' ot the Rainy Retreat. The members of the Sangha are required to stay at one location during this period.

In the early days of the Buddhist Order, no special activities were planned for the monks during the rainy season. Therefore, the monks kept on wandering all over the places to preach the Dhamma to the people as originally instructed by the Buddha.

This was frowned upon by the people and other religious practitioners when they appeared with wey, soggy and ragged robes. The people complaint and criticize that :-

a) trudging down and destroying the newly grown greens or saplings of crops - is a violation of religious rules.

b) destroying many small creatures emerging from the ground.

Having heard these complaints, the Buddha imposed a new rule in the Vinaya for the monks. "O monks, I prescribe you to stay in one particular place during the rainy season."

Thus there evolved a new code of conduct in the disciplinary practice of the monks. In Buddhist communities, these 3 months of Vassana are considered a holy period which helps create more merits for both monks and laity.

Vassana 2012 - 2 Aug 2012 through 29 October 2012.

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