Spiritual Events
Vassa (Rains Retreat)
Three months of settled, intensified practice for monastics and laypeople alike.
What it is, and when it falls
From the full moon of July to the full moon of October.
Vassa is the three-month period in which monastics remain in one place rather than travelling. It began as a practical rule during the monsoon and became the deepest training season of the year.
Lay members keep it too, usually by taking up one additional undertaking for its duration.
Why it matters
Practice benefits from a season. Something taken up for three months and then reviewed teaches more than something intended forever and quietly abandoned.
How the day runs
| Time | What happens | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Declaration | Undertakings stated aloud at Asalha Puja. |
| Weekly | Talks continue | Weekend Dhamma Talks run through the retreat. |
| Fortnightly | Uposatha | Observance days are kept more fully during Vassa. |
| Close | Kathina | The retreat closes with the robe offering. |
Who leads
The Sangha Council keeps the residence; lay undertakings are self-kept and reviewed at the close.
What a visitor should know
- Nothing is closed to visitors during Vassa. The hall is busier, not quieter.
- You do not need to be a member to take up an undertaking.
How to take part
- Choose one undertaking and keep it for the three months.
- Join a Study Circle for the season.
