英文佛法

觉悟的佛陀

“Committing to a rains retreat.”

“We have now made a resolution to remain in this monastery throughout the next three months: not to stay overnight elsewhere except in cases of emergency. According to the disciplinary rules (vinaya), a monk is allowed to take leave to care for an ill parent or teacher for no more than seven days and seven nights. Exceeding this permissible leave period is considered breaking one’s observance of rains retreat (vassa).

Breaking vassa means not being able to benefit from the five merits of committing to a rains retreat. For instance, you will not be able to receive a kahina (festival at the end of vassa) cloth—only those who maintain their observance can receive the cloth. However, breaking vassa will not affect your period of ordination—the number of years you have been in robes. Such is an example of an exception that allows monks to be away with consent for seven days and seven nights.

To commit to a rains retreat, you need to be aware of the monastery grounds you are to remain in. Most monasteries have surrounding walls to mark their boundaries. But Wat Yansangwararam—being a part of His Majesty the King’s Royal Project—is situated on a vast piece of land, so it is necessary to inform everyone of its boundaries.

Let’s begin from the entrance of the monastery: the gate just before the roundabout is the starting point. The road that runs along the Geriatric Centre and the Agricultural Centre and leads to the Land Development section marks the boundary on one side.

The monastery grounds also include the lodging area of Dhamma practitioners, His Majesty the King’s residence, the Mondop hill, Khao Chi-On, and the Non-Hunting Wildlife Reserve area. From the Reserve area, the road that runs behind the monks’ residence area and leads to the Sian Vihāra and loops back to the roundabout along the International Sālā marks the boundary on the other side. These are the monastery grounds you are to remain in during the rains retreat.”

“Essential Teachings.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com
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