159498Buddhist Lent Day in Year 2023

159498

Buddhist Lent Day in Year 2023

Buddhist Lent Day means the day that monks stay in the Buddhist Lent for 3 months during the rainy season starting from the 1st day of the 8th lunar month to the 15th day of the 11th lunar month. unless there is a necessity and must return within 7 days.

Vassa Festivity (เทศกาลเข้าพรรษา)

If talking about Lent Many people tend to think of candles. Candle parades, especially in Ubon Ratchathani Province to have a great candle procession and beautifully carved candles It has become a tradition and custom. which makes many people interested and travel to experience the atmosphere of the Buddhist Lent Candle Festival up to the same place which is regarded as the preservation of Thai traditions and still receives the attention of many foreigners became another day of travel as well

Meaning of Lent

Buddhist Lent Tam means to pray regularly and do not go on a pilgrimage to various places. Unless there is a really necessary business which is a Buddhist commandment. that every monk must obey During the Buddhist Lent, it is during the rainy season, namely the 1st day of the waning moon of the eighth month (8) to the 15th day of the eleventh lunar month (11) every year. and do not stay overnight in other places for 3 months in the rainy season

Thailand’s Buddhist Lent Day

It is an important day in Buddhism. where the Theravada monks stay at the temple without spending the night elsewhere Also known as remembering the temple, unless there is a business, when traveling and cannot return in one place can go to stay overnight One time, not more than 7 nights, called “Sattaha.”

This Buddhist Lent ceremony is a direct practice for the monks, can not be omitted in any case. During the rainy season, which is the first waning moon of the eighth month that “Primthana Buddhist Lent” until the 15th day of the eleventh lunar month (11) or the end of the Buddhist Lent every year The Buddhist Lent Day is an important day in Buddhism that continues from Asalha Bucha Day (the 15th day of the eighth lunar month (8)), in which Thai Buddhists, both kings and ordinary people, have inherited the tradition of making merit on the Buddhist Lent day since the Sukhothai period.

International Buddhist Lent Day

Monks consider the Buddhist Lent day to be the beginning of the observance of the precepts and practice until the end of 3 months, and determine the Buddhist Lent day to be the beginning of doing good deeds as well. In India, Buddhist Lent and Asalha Bucha Day are not given the same importance as Visakha Bucha Day. And did not specify the Buddhist Lent Day and Asarnha Bucha Day as public holidays throughout the country. But now there are monks from Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka and some parts of Japan. Etc. have traveled to perform Buddhist Lent ceremonies in India and Nepal. to important places that used to be associated with the Buddha, such as Bodh Gaya, Kusinara City, Lumphini Park, Kabinavat City

The date used for the festival

Most of the days of Buddhist Lent are not the same every year. because it is considered the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), if in any year there are eight (8) months twice (leap year), it is postponed to the first waning day of the eighth month (88) as the Buddhist Lent day, an important day in Buddhism Continuing from Asarnha Bucha Day

Lent day calendar

Buddhist Lent Day 2014 falls on Saturday, July 12, 2014 / Saturday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), Year of the Horse.
Buddhist Lent Day 2015 falls on Friday, July 31, 2015 / Friday, the first waning moon of the eighth lunar month (88), Year of the Goat.
Buddhist Lent Day 2016 falls on Wednesday 20 July 2016 / Wednesday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), Year of the Monkey
Buddhist Lent Day 2017 falls on Sunday, July 9, 2017 / Sunday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), Year of the Rooster
Buddhist Lent Day 2019 falls on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 / Wednesday, the first waning moon of the eighth lunar month (8), Year of
the Pig.
Buddhist Lent Day 2020 falls on Monday, July 6, 2020 / Monday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), the year of the Rat.
Buddhist Lent Day 2021 falls on Sunday, July 25, 2021 / Sunday, the first waning moon of the eighth lunar month (88) Year of the Ox
Buddhist Lent Day 2022 falls on Thursday 14 July 2022 / Thursday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), Year of the Tiger
Buddhist Lent Day 2023 falls on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 / Wednesday, the first waning moon of the eighth lunar month (88), Year of the Rabbit.
Buddhist Lent Day 2024 falls on Sunday, July 21, 2024 / Sunday, the first waning moon of the eighth month (8), Year of the Dragon

History of Lent

Buddhist Lent Day is important to Buddhists and is an important day for Buddhism. which is considered a special event for monks There will be a meeting in the temple. pray apologize to each other After that, the ceremony was completed. The monk will pray to himself that During this Buddhist Lent season, he was not going anywhere.

A group of villagers reprimanded the monks. who trampled on the rice seedlings of farmers damaged It doesn’t stop even during the rainy season. Because even the flock of birds still rest and do not travel anywhere. And when this matter came to know the Buddha, he ordered the monks to convene and then prescribed the Buddhist Lent that “Anuchanami Bhikkhave Upakantung” means “Monks. We allow them to stay in the Buddhist Lent.”

The reason why the Buddha allowed the monks to stay at the temple for 3 months so that the monks could take a break to spread religion to different places because it is in the rainy season will be difficult And to prevent damage from the villagers’ grains that may be trampled on in the rainy season. And it is an important time or occasion in the year that monks will come to stay together in the rainy season. to study the Dharma and Vinaya from knowledgeable monks also exchanged experiences and created unity among the clergy

Thai Buddhists has begun making merit on this Buddhist Lent festival Since the Sukhothai period was the capital As stated in the inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great “Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng, the governor of this Sukhothai city, both the mother and the Chao people both of them All my sons and daughters, both women and men, many people have faith in Buddhism and always take precepts during the rainy season. Thai Buddhists also perform other meritorious acts such as offering a bed, a chair, a splashing mat, a lent cloth, sweet food and medicine. and incense and candles to pawn the Buddhist Lent In order to worship the Triple Gems in the eighth month (8),

in 2008, the Thai government announced the Buddhist Lent day as ” National Abstinence Day ” . and announced a nationwide ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the following years in order to campaign for Thai people to pray and refrain from drinking alcohol on the day of Buddhist Lent and during the three months during the Buddhist Lent season in order to promote good values for Thai society

Popular activities to do during Buddhist Lent

On the day of Buddhist Lent and during the entire 3-month rainy season, Thai Buddhists consider this a good opportunity to make merit by
do different activities Most of which are activities related to Buddhism. which Thai people have the opportunity to make merit on this important religious day considered good for oneself Which may make merit together in front of the family as well because it is a continuous holiday from Asalha Bucha Day,

Going to the temple to make merit

is another day that Thai Buddhists will go to the temple to make merit Listening to a sermon after Asalha Bucha Day, it’s called having the opportunity to make merit for two days in a row. There are also offerings of light bulbs, candles. and rain shower cloth to the monks as well In order for the monks to use for the Buddhist Lent There are many Thai Buddhist men who take ordination as a monk to stay in the rainy season for the entire 3 months or as the villagers call it. “Ordain for the Buddhist Lent”

Casting candles

before Lent that are often seen together It is a candle casting ceremony to pawn the Buddhist Lent. according to educational institutions Students will be able to do this activity in schools or at temples, government offices. and by department stores to arrange for candle casting Although candles may no longer be necessary. But it is a promotion activity and is considered to give importance to the traditions related to Buddhism that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Offering candles

When finished casting candles There must be a candle offering ceremony. And then there’s tradition. The Buddhist lent candle procession In which there will be a procession of saints, flowers may be circulated around the temple first and then presented to the monks of that temple Nowadays, apart from candles offering of light bulbs and electrical equipment which is the offering of light to the monks as if we were offering candles in the Buddhist Lent which is another activity

Refrain from various vices

for activities to refrain from drinking alcohol during Buddhist Lent It is an activity that has agencies to support, although 3 months may not be enough to abstain from alcohol. because alcohol is bad for health But at least it’s a good thing. That we can begin to focus on doing good deeds for ourselves and may have the encouragement to stop drinking for the rest of our lives.

Precautions and do’s and don’ts in activities on Buddhist Lent Day
Abstaining from sin and evil It is the principle of the teachings of the Buddha. that wants all Thai people to adhere And hold on to each other. In good things, starting to do good things. during these three months May make it a good start for the next day. but caution And what should not be done on the day of Lent that should not be done at all is

To sin

because on the day of Lent It is considered an important day for Buddhism. Should refrain from sin, evil and vices are considered good things. Some people do not intend to keep the precepts. because he did not meditate which if there is an event that will cause the precepts to be broken will be able to use consciousness and think and abstain at that moment, for example, finding a wallet The owner placed it, thinking of picking it up, but then at that moment was ashamed and afraid of sin, so he did not

Steal

Refraining from evil and vices by keeping the 5 precepts or the 8 precepts from the monks, trying not to break the precepts despite external temptations such as all kinds of gambling It is considered an abstinence with the intention to practice. It is the intention to keep the precepts all the time. Should use consciousness before playing. Because it may cause the loss of property completely, causing loss of consciousness and may cause death. Drinking

Alcohol

is one of the misfortunes. Liquor is intoxicating. to make the drinker lose consciousness which will lead to the loss of property or life as well Therefore, an announcement was made for the Buddhist Lent day. It is also a national day to abstain from drinking alcohol, so it is the origin of the word ” abstain from drinking alcohol in Buddhist Lent “, which has 6 vices or channels of decline: 1. Addiction to alcohol and intoxicants. 2. Like a night out 3. I like to travel and watch games. 4. Gamble 5. Friends with evil people 6. Laziness in work

Because most people are still mortals who are still infatuated with passion. Lust that lures us into being addicted to form, taste, smell, sound and touch. It is something that human beings already practice. part of doing evil Once you’ve tried it, it can be difficult to withdraw. People have endless suffering.

Guidelines for promoting activities on Buddhist Lent Day

Because Buddhist Lent is an important religious day It is a Buddhist tradition. that has been done since the time of the Lord Buddha in Buddhism, culture and tradition for a long time It is an expression of adherence to the continuation of Buddhist merit-making and is a time to preserve cultural traditions. which promotes the way of organizing activities on Buddhist Lent Day to show the way of life of the community community involvement Demonstrates the generosity and unity of the people in the community.

Participate in community activities

Casting Pawn Lent Candles or candle parade It is an event that allows teenagers, young people, youth to have the opportunity to get close and touch. with art and culture closely There will be both the elderly and young people. which includes making merit and giving alms to monks and good activities together which can be expected local cultural traditions will be inherited for a long time

Promote religion Educational and cultural activities

in order to promote, inherit and preserve cultural traditions of the locality that existed since ancient times to remain by promoting education, religion and culture, which will help maintain arts, traditions, local wisdom and good culture with Thai people forever

Organizing activities about the day of Lent

Organizing activities on the Buddhist Lent day for children and youth, including local people, to jointly promote and preserve Buddhism is a good relationship building. that makes people in the community did activities together as well as the cooperation of various agencies and the public sector In order to continue Thai traditions,

Cultivate Thai cultural traditions

to create love and unity among the people in the community and enable people to join together to make merit cultivating traditions Local traditions and cultures for children, youth and people are considered good information submissions. for the youth to instill good things in order to help maintain this tradition forever.

either way focusing on key approaches will lead to the preservation of traditions, including important dates that can be inherited to the next generation’s Grandson ever.