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Traditions · Canons |
Vassa (from Pāli vasso, Sanskrit varṣaḥ, both "rain" - Burmese: ဝါတွင်း, Burmese pronunciation: [wàdwín]; Khmer: វស្សា or ព្រះវស្សា; Lao: ພັນສາ [pʰán sǎː], sometimes ວັດສາ [wāt sǎː]; Thai: พรรษา, phansaa), also called Rains Retreat,[1] or Buddhist Lent[2], is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners. Taking place during the rainy season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months, usually from July (the Burmese month of Waso, ဝါဆို) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut သီတင်းကျွတ်).[3]
For the duration of Vassa, Bhikkhus remain inside monasteries and temple grounds.[4][5] In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation.[4] During Vassa, some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.[3] While Vassa is sometimes casually called "Buddhist Lent", others object to this terminology.[4]
Vassa is followed by Kathina, a festival in which the laity expresses gratitude to monks.[6][7] Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks.[6][7][8]
The Vassa tradition dates back to the time of the historical Buddha.[3] The Buddha didn't want mendicant monks to travel during the rainy season as they may unintentionally harm crops and/or insects during their travels.[4]
Many Buddhists live in regions which don't have rainy seasons[7] and as such, the practice isn't practiced worldwide.[7]
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