Vassa (Rains Retreat)

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The full moon day of Asahla (Vassa) is an auspicious day for Buddhist devotees. On this day, meritorious deeds are done specially due to the following reasons:-

1) It was on this day that the Bodhisatta was conceived in Queen Maya's womb;
2) It was on this day that the Bodhisatta renounced the world to seek Enlightenment;
3) It was on this day that the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or the Discourse on the Turning Wheel of the Dhamma.

Thus, the Bodhisatta came into the human world, renounced his worldly pleasures and left the mundane world and delivered the first sermon. Because of these three great events, this day has a special significance for all Buddhist.

When the Bodhisatta was about to pass away from the Tusita deva realm after enjoying the luxuries of a deva and Brahmas entreated, "it is time to be a Buddha in the human world". Thus, the Bodhisatta was conceived in the royal mother Queen Maha Maya's womb on the Full Moon Day of Asahla, Thursday - the year (67) of Maha Era.

Therefore, one who will save himself and all beings from samsara has come to the human world on this day, the Full Moon Day of Asahla, which is a most auspicious event in the Buddhist calender. Buddhist devotees performed dana, observe sila, practice samatha and vipassana meditation and perform special meritorious deeds with great reverence on this day.

The Bodhisatta enjoyed the luxuries as a young prince for sixteen years and as a monarch for thirteen years. In the year of Maha Era 97 on the Full Moon Day of Asahla, after seeing the four great signs - the old, the sick, the dead and the recluse, he then resolved to seek the Dhamma by which he would be free from old age, sickness and death. Thus, he renounced the kingdom and riding on a horse, when forth into the homeless life.

On this day, for his own salvation and to save all beings from all kinds of samsara sufferings and to practice self-tormenting practices which he underwent for six years, he left the luxury of the palace in search of the Dhamma. Thus, on the Full Moon Day of Asahla, Buddhist devotees consider it as sacred, observe sila and practice samatha and vipassana meditation.

Lord Buddha preached his first sermon to the "Band of Five Disciples" on the Full Moon Day of Vassa (Asahla). Lord Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths which are:-

1) The Noble Truth of Suffering;
2) The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering;
3) The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering;
4) The Noble Truth of the Path which leads to the Cessation of Suffering.

On that day, the Sangha entered on the rains (Rains Retreat).

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