Today is marked as 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 for monastic members at Shan State Buddhist University for the year.

This year, we have 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗞. 𝗗𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘀ā𝗺𝗶, 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗦𝗕𝗨, Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar.

For over 2,600 years, monastic members have observed Vassa, the rainy season, for three months as a period of intensified spiritual practice, social harmony, and unity within the Sangha community and lay communities.

Here at Shan State Buddhist University, the Sangha community lives closely and avoids travelling here and there. One of the most beautiful aspects for us is the pro-social harmony nurtured between monks and lay communities.

The Buddha, Long before the Neurological system and psychological term, they was practicing Pro-social Mindset. This is the reason we have to stay in one place and observing Vassa during the raining season for Three months. This  coexistence possible through loving-kindness and through empathy, through a prosocial mindset. Not through an antisocial mindset. The message to take home for all is “  we have to take care of ourself and We have to learnt how to live in harmony.

May this rainy retreat be a time of peace, happiness, and harmony for all beings.