The start of the Vassa Retreat (结夏安居) for the Sangha

Vesak Day is also the start of the Vassa Retreat (结夏安居) for the Sangha. It originates from the time of the Buddha, when the Sangha spent the summer months in intense spiritual practice. In Chinese Buddhism, the Vassa Retreat starts on the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month and ends on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.

This morning, the resident monks at BW Monastery performed the rituals to initiate the start of the retreat, making commitments to practice harmoniously together, and seeking the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors for the retreat to go well.

This year's retreat is extra precious because there is a leap lunar fourth month, which means the Vassa will last for four months instead of the usual three! With all external engagements cancelled due to the virus outbreak, this is an even more valuable period for the Sangha to fully focus on their spiritual practices in the monastery!

Question: What is Sangha Summer Retreat?

Answer: Every year, from the 15th day of the 4th lunar month to the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, it is the period of Sangha annual summer/rain retreat or Vassa retreat.

During the entire period, the monks would not leave the premise but congregate to practice intensively.

As the Sangha joyously persevere in their practice, all the Buddhas in the ten directions are joyous, so the 15th day of 7th lunar month is also called the Buddha’s Joyous Day.

The Buddha once directed Maudgalyayana to prepare a variety of food offerings to the Sangha on this day, and dedicate the merit to liberate his mother from the suffering in the hungry ghost realm.

Thus this is the origin of the Ullambana Festival.

Most of the Buddha's systemic teachings were given during the Summer retreat as all the disciples gathered in one place, where the Buddha taught the Universal truth. As a result, most of these teachings during the summer retreat formed many of the collection of Mahayana sutras and scriptures.

宝聚寺吉祥僧如法受筹结夏。

比丘如法诵戒，结戒,，解戒，即谓正法僧团住世。龍天欢喜!

有人问：
什么是结夏安居？
答：每年农历的四月十五日至每年的七月十五日，是结夏安居的日子。在此期间，出家众禁止外出，聚居一处精进修行。安居的首日，称为结夏，圆满结束之日称为解夏，又叫僧自恣日。而由于僧众精进修行，十方诸佛心生欢喜，所以七月十五这天还被称为佛欢喜日。佛陀曾指导目犍连于此日备百味饮食供养僧众，以此功德救拔其母堕落饿鬼道之苦，此即为盂兰盆法会的由来。佛陀所有系统的说法，大都在夏安居的时候，期间集合各方弟子于一处，讲述修行法门及宇宙人生的真理。后来大乘经典的结集，大都是佛陀夏安居时所说的言教。

一起来感恩妈妈！🌸 母亲节特备法会 🌸
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