Page 126 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

1

The Buddhist Lent Day

The Buddhist Lent is on the 1 day of the waning moon
st
th
in the eighth lunar month and ends on the 15 day of the waxing moon
th
of the 11 lunar month. It lasts for a period of three months and is
generally called, the Vassa or Rains Retreat period. Monks will perform their
religious practices only in the temple through the whole period of the rainy
season. They are not permitted to board overnight elsewhere during that time,
unless there is a serious need to do so.
During the Vassa period, Buddhist devoutees take this occasion
to give special offerings to the monks,; they usually offer a bathing-cloth, and 1 Flower alms offering on the Vassa period
the four necessities of a Buddhist monk to be used during the Rains Retreat Wat Ratchabophitsathitmahasimaram, Bangkok.
period of 3 months. For some laymen, they use it as the opportunity to stay 2 An ordination procession on an elephant of the native
at the temple and practice the ubosot precepts; for example, to abstain from Thai Phuan ethnic group, Sri Satchanalai district,
intoxicants or harmful substances. Sukhothai Province

124 ๒

124