Buddhism

Buddhism is a system of belief and practices centering around the teachings of the Buddha.

Buddha realized the true nature of life; he understood the meaning of happiness and suffering and finally he went beyond them. The word Buddha means one who is enlightened, who is spiritually awakened and who ahs attained everlasting bliss.

 

Buddhist Lent

Buddhist Lent Day is a period of three lunar months during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in a permanent residence (wat).
During the annual three-month Rains Retreat (Phasa in Lao and vassa in Pali Language), Buddhist monks are committed to remaining in their monasteries overnight. The tradition predates Buddhism. In ancient India, all three holy months of the annual rainy season ascetics are in permanent dwellings. They avoided unnecessary travelling during this time of the season when crops were still new, they might accidentally tread on young plants and to bother other beings.

Once after many Buddhist monks were criticized, the Buddha decreed that his followers should or must also abide by this ancient tradition (for the rainy season).

 This initiated a move away from an itinerant life to a more or less settled existence as the advantages of communal living became apparent.

Phansa represents a time of renewed spiritual vigor. The monks have more time to meditate, study and teach.

Laymen, too, traditionally, endeavor to be more conscientious, perhaps abstaining from liquor and cigarettes and giving extra financial and physical support to their local monasteries.

Phansa is also customarily the season for temporary ordinations. Young men ordained as Bhikkhus (monks) for spiritual training, to gain merit for themselves and their parents, and to conform to the widespread feeling that a man who has been a monk cannot be considered a mature adult. In some areas, a man who has never been a monk is avoided by marriageable girls, who regard him as khon dip or and 'unripe person' (ancient tradition) especially that time monks were educated persons (the reason).

The ordination ritual itself evolved over 2,500 years ago during the Buddha's life as the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic Order). Its form has changed little to this day.

Socially, the ordination is something in which the entire village participates.

Village monks comprise the presiding chapter chapter and preceptors. Villagers gain merit by accompanying the tonsured, whiterobed candidate for monkhood (known as the nak in a colorful procession to the monastery. Small children join the procession which is often marked by joyous dancing and the heady throb of long drums.

Reason for taking the Rainy Season Retreat

• Buddhist monks who have been travelling from place to place have to take up shelter in a particular place, according to Lord Buddha's discipline.

• Buddhist monks who stay at a particular place for a length of time shall teach the young boys who wish to be ordained in order to study the Buddhist Doctrine, and preach to the lay followers.

• During the Buddhist Lent lay follows refrain from bad actions in particular drinking alcohol, taking drugs or leading an inappropriate life.

• During the Buddhist Lent, the laymen acquire merit, observe five or eight precepts , listen to sermons and sit in meditation in temples.

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Triple gem

Buddha

Dhamma

Sangha