Vassa

{{Short description|Three-month annual retreat observed by Buddhist monastic members}}

{{ Infobox Buddhist term

| title = Vassa

| en = Rains Retreat

| pi =

| sa =

| bn =

| my = ဝါတွင်း
{{IPA|my|wàdwíɰ̃|}}

| my-Latn =

| zh = 雨安居

| zh-Latn = yu an ju

| ja = 安居

| ja-Latn = Ango

| km = វស្សា

| km-Latn = vôssa

| ko =

| ko-Latn =

| ksw = ဝါတွ့ၤ
{{IPA-ksw|wàdway|}}

| ksw-Latn =

| lo = ພັນສາ, ວັດສາ
{{IPA|lo|pʰán sǎː|}}, Watsa

| mnw =

| mnw-Latn =

| shn =

| shn-Latn =

| si =

| si-Latn =

| ta =

| tl = vassa

| th = พรรษา, วรรษา
{{RTGS|phansa}}, {{IPA|th|pʰān.sǎː|pron}}
{{RTGS|watsa}}

| bo = དབྱར་གནས

| bo-Latn = Yarne

| vi = an cư

| id =

}}

File:Vassa in Utt.jpg

Vassa ({{langx|pi-Latn|vassa-}}, {{langx|sa-Latn|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, {{lang|my|ဝါဆို}}) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut, {{lang|my|သီတင်းကျွတ်}}).[http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhismglossaryv/g/Vassadef.htm Vassa] at About.com

In English, Vassa is also called Rains Retreat.{{Cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Vassa/id/578909 |title=Vassa |access-date=2010-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323201202/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Vassa/id/578909 |archive-date=2010-03-23 |url-status=dead }} While Vassa is sometimes casually called "Buddhist Lent", others object to this terminology.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/no427/n003.htm|title=Shwedagon Pagoda marks the start of Buddhist Lent this week|last=Thein|first=Cherry|date=July 14–20, 2008|work=The Myanmar Times|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921104822/http://www.mmtimes.com/no427/n003.htm|archive-date=21 September 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically a monastery or temple grounds.[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html#rains Lay Buddhist Practice - The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence][http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/was-vassa-tf/ Was (Thai) Vassa] In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. Some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking. In Thailand, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the first (Wan Khao Phansa) and last (Wan Ok Phansa) days of Vassa.{{cite web |title=Religious holidays bring two alcohol ban days, four-day weekend |url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/religious-holidays-bring-two-alcohol-ban-days-four-day-weekend-76539.php |website=The Phuket News |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=7 January 2021}} 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.{{cn|date=July 2020}}

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.[http://www.viet.net/~anson/ebud/ebdha086.htm Vassa (Rains Retreat) and Kathina (Robe Offering) Ceremony][http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=6,9375,0,0,1,0 Vassa, The Rains Retreat] Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/kathina.shtml Kathina] at BBC

The Vassa tradition predates the time of Gautama Buddha. 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.{{primary inline |Some scholars have argued that harming crops is meant idiomatically rather than literally.|date=August 2019}} Many Buddhist ascetics live in regions which lack a rainy season. Consequently, there are places where Vassa may not be typically observed.