Rainy retreat starts on

Walter Wijenayake

The three months commencing from this month to that of Vap is the rainy season when the monks are required to observe 'a special annual retreat' (Vassana).

It was on this Full Moon Poya Day that the Sangha-ratna, the third of the 'Triple Gem' was established with the ordination of the five ascetics: Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji (Panca vagga mahanun) at Isipathanaramaya in Benares in the third month, since the Prince Siddhartha's enlightenment.

It was on this significant day that the Buddha for the first time, after his enlightenment, disseminated his sublime Dhamma to those five distinguished monks, the only human beings to hear the sermon first.

It is stated in the books that many invisible beings, such as Devas and Brahmas also took advantage of this opportunity of listening to this discourse.

The Buddha at first cleared the issues and removed the false notions of his listeners. When their troubled minds became pliable and receptive, the Buddha related his personal experience with regard to two extremes.

The Buddha, realising the error of the two extremes, followed a middle path which he discovered himself.

He termed it majjima patipada, the middle way. It is the Noble Eightfold Path. Prefacing the discourse with the two extremes and newly discovered middle path, the Buddha expounded the four noble truths in detail.

Hearing the discourse, the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta, Kondanna the eldest of the five ascetics attained the first Sotapatti and later on hearing the Anattalakkhana Sutta, all the five ascetics attained the status of Arhath. They were the first disciples of the Buddha. The Buddha spent three months with these Panca vagga monks in Isipatanaramaya.

The observance of Vas by the Maha Sangha during the rainy season was introduced by the Buddha when he, with the band of these five monks, initially participated in the rainy season starting from the month of Esala.

Vas merely signifies the cessation from going about begging alms (Pindapatha) in the rainy season for the Bhikkhus residing in a definite place, either in a sanctuary of their respective vihares or in a particular abode at the express invitation of the Buddhist laity, providing the Bhikkhus with food, robes and other necessities of life.

In return for this benevolent gesture, the Bhikkhus have been told by the Buddha to engage in the practice of meditation (Bhavana) referred to as 'Vidharsana Bhavana' and make the laity partake of the merit.

It deserves more comments in the Buddha's life on this Full Moon Day of Esala, as it is of manifold significance to the Buddhists, because the day is reminiscent of numerous events connected with the life of Buddha as well as the Buddha Sasana.

This day commemorates the conceiving of Bodhisattva in Queen Maha Maya's womb, renunciation of the prince, performance of miracles and visiting Thusitha Heavens to preach the Abhidhamma to his mother the Matru Divya Rajaya and other gods.

The convocation of the first Buddhist Council (the first Dharma Sangayana) at the Saptaparana Cave on the Vehara Rock near Rajagaha was headed by the Monk Maha Kassapa accompanied by 500 Arhaths.

It was held under the patronage of King Ajasattha, three months after the Maha Parinibbana of the Buddha, to rehearse the Sutta Pitaka and the Vinaya Pitaka which was found essential in the absence of the Buddha.