Asalha Puja (known as Asanha Puja or Asarnha Bucha in Thailand, Thai: อาสาฬหบูชา aa-saal boo-chaa) is a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. It commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha. In Thailand, Asalha Puja is a government holiday.
The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. The following day is known in Thailand as Wan Kao Pansa; it is the first day of vassa, the Theravada rains retreat.
Vassa (from Pāli vasso, Sanskrit varṣaḥ, both “rain” – Burmese: ဝါဆို waso, Khmer: វស្សា or ព្រះវស្សា; Lao: ພັນສາ pʰán săː, sometimes ວັດສາ wāt săː; Thai: พรรษา,pansa or phansaa; ), also called Rains Retreat, is the traditional retreat during the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monksremain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking (Vassa is sometimes known as “Buddhist Lent“, though at least one prominent Theravada monk has objected to this usage- see [1]). And in countries such as Thailand, the laity will often take monastic vows for period of Vassa and return to lay life afterwards. Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of Vassas he has observed.
The Vassa retreat has largely been given up by Mahayana Buddhists, as Mahayana Buddhism has typically flourished in regions without a rainy season, however for Mahayana schools such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism other forms of retreat are common.
The observation of Vassa is said to originate with the Buddha himself. Gautama Buddha ordered his disciples to observe a pre-existing practice whereby holy men avoided travel for a three month period during the rainy season, in order to avoid damaging crops.
Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month; the preceding day is Asalha Puja. The focus of celebration by the laity is the first day of Vassa (or Wan Kao Pansa – Lao: ວັນເຂົ້າພັນສາ wán pʰán săː) during which worshippers donate candles and other necessities to temples, in a ceremony which has reached its most extravagant form in the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival.
Vassa is followed by two of the major festivals of the year among Theravada Buddhists, Wan Awk Pansa and Kathina.
The end of vassa is marked by joyous celebration. The following month, the Kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gathers to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.
Come and celebrate Visakha Puja, The Buddha’s Birthday, on May 10th at our Wednesday Evening Meditation at 7 pm. After Meditation we will light candles and while chanting walk around the Temple 3 times. Visakha Puja, Buddha’s Birthday is a major Buddhist festival celebrated by all the Buddhists throughout the world, with great ceremonial rituals. This […]
Officers: Ms. Sangduen Ziemba (President) Mr. Joseph Romero (Vice-President) Miss Pantita Charoenying (Treasurer) Dr. Gaviphat Lekutai, Ph.D (Secretary) Board Members: Mr. Surachai Arkanit, Mr. Kane Bunyaketu, Mr. Martin Chin, Ms. Panarat Imig, . Mr. Somsakdi Mahakrittiyadhorn, Mr. Deen Sethanandha, Mr. Punya Tipyasothi, Mr. Chare Vathanaprida, Mrs. Nongnuch Phutirat, Mr. Jackris Kijsondhi, Mrs. Sumalee Washburn, Board Meetings: The Board […]
The Picnic is on Sunday August 14th. As you may know parking for this event is always a problem, so help is needed from 9 am to Noon to manage the inflow of cars. Following are the instructions about parking: Parking will be at Leota Junior high-school parking lot located at 19301 168 Av NE, […]
Fear, everyone is having this problem. We are all afraid of something. Fear comes from stupidity, from selfishness, from the craving of a self that desires things it can’t have. So we fear! Nowadays, we have every possible kind of fear in this world of ours, especially the fear of nuclear war and annihilation. When […]
On this Wednesday evening 5/25/16, we will celebrate Visakha Puja Day (Buddha Day). After chanting and meditation we will give homage to the Buddha, and with lighted candles walk around the Temple three times. It’s celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of the Buddha, on the full moon in May. I hope you can join this […]
Atammayatarama Buddhist monastery is starting a Spring Landscaping campaign to beautify our Temple for the upcoming Thai New Year’s celebration in April, and the first Meditation Retreat in May. We are looking for lots of volunteers for this campaign. Help removing the weeds: Every Sunday 12.30pm-3pm Every Wednesday 4pm-6pm Spring is a busy time, unfortunately this is when Herbicide […]
Temple Activities No special activities planned, except the New Year’s Eve celebration.
If you’re interesting in viewing pictures taken at the November 1st Kathina Day, please follow the Facebook link in the menu bar (far right). Or click on this link Atammayatarama There are many pictures posted in the Wat Atammayatarama Facebook. It was a wonderful day even with off and on rain.
There are new versions of the Dhamma Studies books in Thai and English under the ‘Teachings’ menu. The books can be downloaded to study for the exam or to review. Complements of Ajahn Ritthi
ธรรมะเพื่อพัฒนาจิต Youtube Video