Rains and Kathina

Contents

• Khamāpana-kamma (Asking for Forgiveness)
  • Setup
  • Asking for Forgiveness
  • Variations depending on the situation
• Vassāvāsa (Rains-residence)
  • Entering the Rains (Thai tradition)
  • Sattāha-karaṇīya (Seven-day leave)
  • Rains privileges
• Pavāraṇā (Inviting Admonition)
  • For five or more bhikkhus
  • For four or three bhikkhus
  • For two bhikkhus
  • For one bhikkhu
  • Pavāraṇā by a sick bhikkhu
• Kaṭhina
  • Procedure to Give the Kaṭhina-cloth
  • Kaṭhina Saṅghakamma
  • Spreading the Kaṭhina
  • Kaṭhina Anumodanā
  • Offering Paṁsukūla-cloth

Khamāpana-kamma (Asking for Forgiveness)

Setup

Prepare an offering tray with two candles, incense, some flowers, and optionally other gifts. Prepare a seat and water for the Ācariya if appropriate for the occasion. Wear your triple robe.

Asking for Forgiveness

All community members as a group kneel on toes before the Ācariya. The most senior of them is going to lead the ceremony. He moves in front of the group, with the offering tray to his side.

All members of the group bow three times together, and remain in a bowed posture for the chanting.

The leader may prompt the chanting, then all members of the group are chanting together.

Leader: ‘Na–’
All: ‘Namo tassa…’ (×3)

The leader picks up and holds the tray, still in a bowed posture.

Leader: ‘Ā–’
All: ‘Āyasmante pamādena, dvārattayena kataṁ, sabbaṁ aparādhaṁ khamatu no bhante.’

(Forgive us, ven. sir, for all wrong-doing done carelessly to the ven. one by way of the three doors.)

The leader offers the tray to the Ācariya.

The Ācariya:

‘Ahaṁ khamāmi, tumhehi pi me khamitabbaṁ.’
(I forgive you. You should also forgive me.)

The group responds together:

‘Khamāma bhante.’
(We forgive you, ven. sir.)

The group stays in a bowed posture while the Ācariya gives his blessing:

‘Evaṁ hotu evaṁ hotu,
Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā pacchā so nappamajjati,
So’maṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti abbhā mutto va candimā.’

‘Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ kusalena pithīyati,
So’maṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti abbhā mutto va candimā.’

‘Abhivādana sīlissa niccaṁ vuḍḍhāpacāyino,
Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti:
Āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ.’

Dhp 172, 173, 109

At the end of the blessing the group, while still bowing, responds:

All: ‘Sādhu bhante.’

Variations depending on the situation

For senior bhikkhus generally use ‘Āyasmante’. For Ajahns use ‘There’, ‘Mahāthere’, ‘Ācariye’, ‘Upajjhāye’, as appropriate.

When entering Rains, asking for forgiveness is followed by taking dependence (nissaya), see Nissaya.

When a single community member is asking for forgiveness:

‘no’ → ‘me’
‘tumhehi pi’ → ‘tayā pi’
‘khamāma’ → ‘khamāmi’

Vassāvāsa (Rains-residence)

The Rains begins the day after the full-moon day of July (Āsāḷha); if July has two full moons, it begins after the second full moon. During this time bhikkhus must live in a dwelling with a lockable door.

Entering the Rains (Thai tradition)

The boundaries are specified, then all resident bhikkhus:

‘Imasmiṁ āvāse imaṁ te-māsaṁ vassaṁ upema.’ (×3)
‘We enter the Rains in this monastery for three months.’

If one bhikkhu at a time: ‘upema’ → ‘upemi’

Alternatively:

‘Imasmiṁ vihāre imaṁ te-māsaṁ vassaṁ upemi.’ (×3)
‘I enter the Rains in this dwelling for three months.’

Alternatively:

‘Idha vassaṁ upemi.’ (×3)
‘I enter the Rains here.’

Sp.V.1067

Sattāha-karaṇīya (Seven-day leave)

Allowable reasons: to go to nurse an ill bhikkhu or one’s parents, support a bhikkhu in danger of disrobing, aid another monastery, uphold the faith of lay supporters, etc.

One may take leave using one’s own language, or the Pali:

‘Sattāha-karaṇīyaṁ kiccaṁ me-v-atthi tasmā mayā gantabbaṁ, imasmiṁ sattāh’abbhantare nivattissāmi.’

‘I have an obligation which must be fulfilled within seven days. Therefore I have to go. I shall return within seven days.’

Vin.I.139

Rains privileges

These last for one month following the Pavāraṇā day. One may: go wandering without taking leave; go without taking the complete set of robes; go taking any robes that have accrued; keep extra robes beyond ten days; eat a ‘group meal’, and ‘substitute an invitation to a meal’.

Pavāraṇā (Inviting Admonition)

For five or more bhikkhus

After the preliminary duties, one bhikkhu chants the ñatti:

‘Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho.
Ajja pavāraṇā paṇṇarasī.
Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ,
Saṅgho te-vācikaṁ pavāreyya.’

‘Ven. sirs, may the Community listen to me. Today is the Pavāraṇā on the fifteenth (day of the fortnight). If the Community is ready, the Community should invite with three statements.’

Vin.I.159

When it is the 14th day:
‘paṇṇarasī’ → ‘cātuddasī’

If the announcing bhikkhu is the most senior:
‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’

If each bhikkhu is to state his invitation twice:
‘te-vācikaṁ’ → ‘dve-vācikaṁ’

If each bhikkhu is to state his invitation once:
‘te-vācikaṁ’ → ‘eka-vācikaṁ’

If bhikkhus of equal rains are to invite in unison:

‘Saṅgho te-vācikaṁ pavāreyya’ → ‘Saṅgho samāna-vassikaṁ pavāreyya’

‘The Community should invite in the manner of equal Rains.’

After the ñatti, if each bhikkhu is to invite ‘three times’, then, in order of Rains:

‘Saṅghaṁ bhante pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Dutiyam-pi bhante saṅghaṁ pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Tatiyam-pi bhante saṅghaṁ pavāremi Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.’

‘Ven. sirs, I invite admonition from the Sangha. According to what has been seen, heard or suspected, may the ven. ones instruct me out of compassion. Seeing it, I shall make amends. For a second time… For a third time….’

For the most senior bhikkhu:

‘Saṅghaṁ bhante’ → ‘Saṅghaṁ āvuso’
‘Dutiyam-pi bhante’ → ‘Dutiyam-pi āvuso’
‘Tatiyam-pi bhante’ → ‘Tatiyam-pi āvuso’

For four or three bhikkhus

Preliminary duties, then ñatti:

‘Suṇantu me āyasmanto, ajja pavāraṇā paṇṇarasī, yad’āyasmantānaṁ pattakallaṁ, mayaṁ aññamaññaṁ pavāreyyāma.’

‘Sirs, may you listen to me. Today is the pavāraṇā on the 15th (day of the fortnight). If there is complete preparedness of the ven. ones, we should invite one another.’

Vin.I.162

If there are three bhikkhus:
‘āyasmanto’ → ‘āyasmantā’

Then each bhikkhu in order of Rains:

‘Ahaṁ bhante āyasmante pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Dutiyam-pi bhante āyasmante pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Tatiyam-pi bhante āyasmante pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu maṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.’

For the most senior bhikkhu:
‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’

If there are three bhikkhus:
‘āyasmanto’ → ‘āyasmantā’

For two bhikkhus

Preliminary duties, but no ñatti, then each bhikkhu in order of Rains:

‘Ahaṁ bhante āyasmantaṁ pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadatu maṁ āyasmā anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Dutiyam-pi bhante āyasmantaṁ pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadatu maṁ āyasmā anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.

Tatiyam-pi bhante āyasmantaṁ pavāremi. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadatu maṁ āyasmā anukampaṁ upādāya. Passanto paṭikkarissāmi.’

For the senior bhikkhu: ‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’ Vin.I.163

For one bhikkhu

Preliminary duties, then:
‘Ajja me pavāraṇā.’
‘Today is my pavāraṇā.’ Vin.I.163

Pavāraṇā by a sick bhikkhu

‘Pavāraṇaṁ dammi, pavāraṇaṁ me hara,
mam’atthāya pavārehi.’

‘I give my invitation. May you convey invitation for me. May you invite on my behalf.’

Vin.I.161

If the sick bhikkhu is the junior one:
‘hara’ → ‘haratha’
‘pavārehi’ → ‘pavāretha’

The pavāraṇā of the sick bhikkhu (e.g. ‘Uttaro’) is conveyed in his place in the order of Rains:

‘Āyasmā bhante ‘uttaro’ gilāno saṅghaṁ pavāreti. Diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, vadantu taṁ āyasmanto anukampaṁ upādāya.
Passanto paṭikkarissati.

Dutiyam-pi bhante āyasmā ‘uttaro’ gilāno…
Passanto paṭikkarissati.

Tatiyam-pi bhante āyasmā ‘uttaro’ gilāno…
Passanto paṭikkarissati.’

‘Ven. sirs, ven. ‘Uttaro’ who is sick makes invitation to the Saṅgha. With what you have seen, heard and suspected, may all of you instruct him out of compassion. Seeing it, he will make amends.’

If the conveying bhikkhu is senior to the sick bhikkhu:

‘Āyasmā bhante ‘uttaro’’ → ‘‘Uttaro’ bhante bhikkhu’

Sp.V.1075

Kaṭhina

Procedure to Give the Kaṭhina-cloth

Before this procedure, during the public Kaṭhina ceremony with the lay supporters, the bhikkhus appoint who is going to receive the Kaṭhina-cloth. The wording of this apalokana kamma may be chosen by the resident community. The cloth is subsequently sewn into a robe.

When the sewing has been completed, the bhikkhus meet inside the sīmā.

After bowing to the shrine, chant the ‘Dedication of Offerings’ (Yo so bhagavā…), and ‘Preliminary Homage’ (Namo tassa).

The chanting bhikkhu announces the motion and decision to give the Kaṭhina-cloth to a particular bhikkhu (see Kaṭhina Saṅghakamma).

The bhikkhu receiving the robe, in front of everyone, relinquishes the robe he will replace, usually the antaravāsaka. He marks the robe he has received with a bindu, either when receiving it, or after having changed into it, before determining it.

He leaves the room and changes into the new robe. He returns to the gathered bhikkhus, determines the new robe and completes the Kaṭhina by chanting Spreading the Kaṭhina (see Spreading the Kaṭhina).

Together, the other bhikkhus chant their anumodanā (see Kaṭhina Anumodanā).

Kaṭhina Saṅghakamma

Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho. Idaṁ saṅghassa kaṭhina-dussaṁ uppannaṁ. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho imaṁ kaṭhina-dussaṁ āyasmato Amarassa dadeyya, kaṭhinaṁ attharituṁ. Esā ñatti.

Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho. Idaṁ saṅghassa kaṭhina-dussaṁ uppannaṁ. Saṅgho imaṁ kaṭhina-dussaṁ āyasmato Amarassa deti, kaṭhinaṁ attharituṁ. Yass’āyasmato khamati, imassa kaṭhina-dussassa āyasmato Amarassa dānaṁ, kaṭhinaṁ attharituṁ, so tuṇh’assa. Yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.

Dinnaṁ idaṁ saṅghena kaṭhina-dussaṁ āyasmato Amarassa, kaṭhinaṁ attharituṁ. Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī. Evam-etaṁ dhārayāmi.

Mv.VII.1.4

Spreading the Kaṭhina

After the Kaṭhina robe has been sewn and dyed, and the old robe relinquished, the new robe should be marked and determined. Then the recipient chants one of the following:

‘Namo…’ (×3)
(a) ‘Imāya saṅghāṭiyā kaṭhinaṁ attharāmi.’
(b) ‘Iminā uttarāsaṅgena kaṭhinaṁ attharāmi.’
(c) ‘Iminā antaravāsakena kaṭhinaṁ attharāmi.’

‘By means of this outer robe / upper robe / lower robe I spread the Kaṭhina.’

Sp.V.1109; Pv.XIV.4

Kaṭhina Anumodanā

The recipient of the Kaṭhina:

‘Atthataṁ bhante saṅghassa kaṭhinaṁ, dhammiko kaṭhinatthāro, anumodatha.’ (×3)

‘Ven. sirs, the spreading of the Kaṭhina is in accordance with the Dhamma. Please approve of it.’

If the recipient is senior to all the other bhikkhus:
‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’

The rest of the Sangha, chanting together:

‘Atthataṁ bhante saṅghassa kaṭhinaṁ, dhammiko kaṭhinatthāro, anumodāma.’ (×3)

‘Ven. sirs, the spreading of the Kaṭhina is in accordance with the Dhamma. We approve of it.’

Sp.V.1109; Pv.XIV.4

Bhikkhus senior to the recipient omit ‘bhante’.

If approving one by one:
‘anumodāma’ → ‘anumodāmi’

For bhikkhus senior to the recipient:
‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’.

For a bhikkhu who completes the Kaṭhina ceremony, the Rains privileges extend for a further four months until the end of the cold season, unless the Sangha unanimously decides to revoke them. The Rains privileges also lapse automatically with the ending of the two constraints: with regard to the residence and with regard to making a robe.

Vin.III.261

Offering Paṁsukūla-cloth

If the community during the Vassa has been less than five bhikkhus, the lay supporters may organize a Paṁsukūla-cloth offering ceremony (ผ้าป่า phā pā) instead of a Kaṭhina. After the cloth is offered, sewing it into a robe is optional.

‘Mayaṁ bhante, imasmiṁ kaṭhinasamaye, imāni paṁsukūlacīvarāni saparivārāni saṅghassa oṇojayāma.

Sādhu no bhante saṅgho, imāni paṁsukūlacīvarāni saparivārāni paṭiggaṇhātu, amhākaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.’