San Lo Bu Pm Pc 74An Invitation for Four Months
Pāli / Sanskrit:Catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Discourse on An Invitation for Four Months (Catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā)
Background
Catumāsappaccayapavāraṇā is a regulation in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravāda tradition, belonging to the Pācittiya section. This text concerns a special rule in the concentrated practice life of monastics, specifically the rule on the “four-month invitation” (catumāsa-pavāraṇā).
In the history of the Buddhadharma, the rains residence system (vassa-vassāvāsa) was established by the Blessed One so that monks and nuns could concentrate on practice during the rainy season and avoid causing harm. However, in special circumstances, monastics may be permitted to remain in one place for four months instead of three. This regulation sets forth the conditions and procedure for maximizing the benefit of practice during the longer period.
The practical background arises from situations in which the Sangha wished to remain at a place of practice in order to teach the Dharma, conduct the religious life properly, or complete works connected with the fourfold Sangha or the Buddhist community. Instead of departing according to the standard three-month period, they were “invited to remain longer” through a solemn procedure.
Main Content
This regulation describes the formal process by which monastics are “invited” to remain for another four months. This process is not a matter of individual decision, but must be carried out as a communal legal act (sangha-kamma), ensuring transparency and adherence to the Vinaya.
According to the Pācittiya, if a monastic has been invited to remain for four months but does not follow the proper ritual procedure, or does not properly perform the pavāraṇā procedure of disclosure, making violations public, that monastic commits a Pācittiya offense, a minor offense that still requires confession.
The key point is that the “invitation” is not something an individual grants to himself, but something approved by the Sangha. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent irresponsible monastics from using a long period of time to avoid communal duties or to disrupt communal harmony.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.