Khao Phansa

The Buddhist Rains Retreat

The start of the rainy season marks the beginning of one of the most important times of the year for countries such as Thailand where life depends on agriculture. Thailand has been recognised as one of the major food producing countries in the world. Crops grown in this country, especially rice, are grown not only for domestic consumption, but are also exported to markets all over the world. The relationship between agricultural produce and nature is very important.

Once the rainy season arrives, farmers start to cultivate their fields and plant their crops. Before too long fresh shoots appear and once again tiny forms of life begin to thrive after enduring the long, hot dry season. But no matter how much work they have, Thai Buddhists never fail to carry out the age old customs and traditions which have been preserved since the times of their forefathers.

The Day of Entering the Buddhist Rains Retreat, known as Wan Khao Phansa, is one of the most important days in Buddhism and is closely related to the rainy season. In former times, Buddhist monks and ascetics spent their life wandering from place to place without settling down anywhere in particular. However, when the rainy season came, they accidentally trampled on newly planted crops or minuscule forms of life, unintentionally destroying them. This brought problems and hardship to villagers and farmers who began to protest. When the Buddha heard of this he made it a rule that monks should settle down in one place for the 3 months of the rainy season and should not spend the night in any other place commencing from the 1st day of the waning moon of the 8th lunar month until the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 11th lunar month.

As this special day approaches Buddhists begin to make preparations. Those who have sons who have reached the age of ordination arrange for them to be ordained as monks or novices in the period before the Rains Retreat commences. By doing so, they are preserving Buddhism and providing their sons with an opportunity to study the teachings of the Buddha during the period of the rainy season. The people of Lanna believe that it is better for a young boy to be ordained as a novice as they are of an age when they are more pure and the merit gained is greater. This differs from the people of the Central Region whose sons are fully ordained as monks after they have reached the age of 20.

Another important activity is preparing special offerings for the rainy season. In particular, large candles, sometimes beautifully decorated or delicately carved with intricate designs. The practice of making these candles goes back a long way and once ready they are presented to temples to be lit in the evening hours during religious practices as an offering to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. They are also used by monks and novices during their daily recitation of the Buddhist scriptures during the 3 months of the Rains Retreat. In former times, the people would make these candies themselves from pure beeswax -- tallow from ox or buffalo fat was not used, or if it was only small amounts were added. Candles made from pure beeswax emit a distinct scent when burning. Also, they burn slower and drip less. Nowadays it is difficult to find pure beeswax and the price is somewhat expensive. These candies are made as a personal or family offering, jointly within the community, or as a company or business activity. The latter are generally offered to the temple in an elaborate, colourful procession. Rains Retreat candies are also available for purchase in the market place and come in a variety of size ranging from small to very large depending on the individual's purchasing power and faith. Offerings are generally made before the commencement of the Rains Retreat, and especially on Asalhapuja Day.

Asalhapuja falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 8th lunar month, or the day before Khao Phansa. The word 'asalha' is the name given to a fixed star. The moon passes this star in the 8th month of the Thai lunar system. It is one of the most important days in Buddhism as it corresponds with the day that the Buddha gave his first sermon. After hearing the dhamma of the Buddha, the group of ascetics were instilled with faith and requested ordination as his disciples. Thus was the beginning of the triple Gem -- the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

In the early morning hours of this day, devout Buddhist go to the temple where they make merit for the deceased, pay respect to all sacred beings and, accumulate merit for themselves. Later in the morning, they prepare food offerings for the elders as a way of showing their gratitude. In the evening hours the people listen to sermons presented by Buddhist monks. The elderly spend the night in the temple so that they can observe their precepts.

Apart from the Rains Retreat candles, another offering which the devout prepare for Buddhist monks to use during the Rains Retreat is the 'rains cloth'. This is a special bathing cloth used by monks residing in monasteries. Originally, the Buddha permitted monks to use only 3 pieces of cloth -- a sarong, an outer robe and a shoulder cloth -- known collectively as trai chiwan. At that time, when monks bathed, they did not wear a piece of cloth. Once a woman happened to see a monk bathing naked and mistook him for a wild beast. As a result, somebody approached the Buddha and requested permission to offer monks a special cloth for bathing. The Buddha gave his permission and it has since become a custom to present 'rains cloths' to monks.

On the Day of Entering the Buddhist Rains Retreat (Wan Khao Phansa) people go to temples near their homes in the early morning hours to make offerings of food and requisites, including the rains cloths, to Buddhist monks and novices. They listen to sermons, receive the precepts and set their minds on performing wholesome actions and abstaining from vices. For example, regular drinkers may make a vow to abstain from alcohol for three months, or gamblers may vow to give up gambling and follow their vow for the duration of the Rains Retreat.

In addition to being an important day for Buddhists, Wan Khao Phansa has also been designated by the government as National Tree Day as a way of instilling within the people an awareness of the importance of trees and nature. People are encouraged to plant trees on that day. This important day provides a wonderful opportunity for everybody in Thailand, regardless of race, nationality or language, not only to study and preserve ancient customs and traditions, but also to join together in performing wholesome acts for the benefit of nature, the nation and humanity as a whole.