“Rains Retreat”: Buddhist monks goes into “Buddhist Lent”

Members of Sangha from Alodawpyei Monastery in Tamwe township of Yangon Region goes into “Rains retreat” or “Buddhist Lent” along with the meritorious deed of offering Waso flowers to the Lord Buddha on the first day after the full moon of Waso.

The first day after the full-moon of Waso is the start of three month period called “Buddhist Lent Day” during the rainy season when monks and nuns are required to remain in a particular place such as a monastery or temple grounds without visiting any place overnight.

Assistant Presiding Sayadaw, Alodawpyei Monastery (Tamwe), Ashin Kumara said "Members of Sangha including nuns who are residing in the monastery started to go into “Buddhist Lent” today after full moon of Waso. Again, according to the tradition of Theravāda Buddhism, Buddhist monks across the globe like from Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka including Myanmar initiate to practice sojourning for 3 months of Buddhist Lent at their respective monastic places."

1384 Myanmar Era, 150 Members of Sangha vowed to reside at Alodawpyei monastery where they are about to practice monastic retreat during the three months of Buddhist Lent learning Pariyatti and Patipatti of Buddha Sasana.

Assistant Presiding Sayadaw, Alodawpyei Monastery (Tamwe), AshinKumarya said "As the Buddha’s teaching, this is the day when members of Sangha vow to practice monastic retreat during the three months of Buddhist Lent without going to any place by learning Buddha teachings of Pariyatti and Patipatti. But we have excuse to go out in case of emergency health problem.  Today, 150 Waso Buddhist monks goes into “Rains Retreat” for 1384 Myanmar Era. Here in the monastery, we have the different range of classes for learners in teaching and practicing of Pariyatti and Patipatti. Starting from this day of vowing by members of Sangha, I do wish for peace and ending of COVID-19 pandemic."

A significant and meritorious deed of Buddhists in Waso is offering robes to members of the Sangha for use during the lent, and so these robes are called Waso robes. Moreover, there is a practice of young men and women going on outings of gathering flowers to be offered at Buddha images at pagodas and at homes.