The Vassana is a period of the Theravada Buddhist Monks’ “retreat” that originated during Lord Buddha’s time, more than 2,500 years ago when transportation, communication and living conditions were still primitive. Then and as now, India suffers from heavy rainfalls caused by monsoons, making it difficult for monks to travel from one village to another to preach, seek alms or live in the jungle to meditate. Therefore, kings and lay people invited the monks to live and preach in the palaces, houses and monasteries while they looked after the monks’ needs.
As a Theravada Buddhist temple, it is our duty to invite the Venerable Monks to spend their retreat in our temple to observe the Vassavasa for three months.