| Translations of Vassa | |
|---|---|
| English | Rains Retreat |
| Burmese | ဝါတွင်း [wàdwíɰ̃] |
| Chinese | 雨安居 (Pinyin:yu an ju) |
| Japanese | 安居 (Rōmaji:Ango) |
| Khmer | វស្សា (UNGEGN:vôssa) |
| Lao | ພັນສາ, ວັດສາ [pʰánsǎː], Watsa |
| Tibetan | དབྱར་གནས (Yarne) |
| Tagalog | vassa |
| Thai | พรรษา, วรรษา RTGS: phansa,pronounced[pʰān.sǎː] RTGS: watsa |
| Vietnamese | an cư |
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Vassa (Pali:vassa-,Sanskrit:varṣa-, both "rain") is the three-month annualretreat observed byTheravada Buddhists. Taking place during thewet season, Vassa lasts for threelunar months, usually from July (theBurmese month of Waso,ဝါဆို) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut,သီတင်းကျွတ်).[1]
In English, Vassa is also calledRains Retreat.[2] While Vassa is sometimes casually called "BuddhistLent", others object to this terminology.[3][4]
For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically amonastery or temple grounds.[4][5] In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensivemeditation.[4] SomeBuddhist 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 (orrains) sinceordination.
Mahayana Buddhists also observe Vassa.Vietnamese Thiền andKorean Seon monastics observe an equivalent retreat of three months of intensive practice in one location, a practice also observed inTibetan Buddhism.[citation needed]
Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month, which is the day afterAsalha Puja or AsalhaUposatha ("Dhamma day"). It ends onPavarana, when all monastics come before thesangha and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa.
Vassa is followed byKathina, a festival in which thelaity 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 ofGautama Buddha.[1] It was a long-standing custom formendicant 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]
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