Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 84Every Year
Pāli / Sanskrit:Anuvassa
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
ANUVASSA SUTTA (EVERY YEAR)
Background
The Anuvassa Sutta (Anuvassa, year by year) is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Dasaka Mukha Parivāra Pātimokkha. These are legal regulations related to the periodic training practice of bhikkhus, especially conventions concerning the times and cycles of practice within the Sangha community.
The background for the arising of this sutta is connected with the development of the Sangha assembly and the need to unify regulations concerning the schedule of practice, especially in relation to the Rains Retreat (Vassa) — the three-month rains residence of the bhikkhus. The Anuvassa Sutta is not a discourse teaching profound Dharma, but an administrative rule for maintaining order, discipline, and consistency in communal practice.
The regulations in this sutta are built upon the principles of the Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three baskets of scripture (the Three Baskets — Tipitaka) of Theravada Buddhism. The Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a code of law, but also a set of instructions for training mind and body so as to lead to liberation.
Main Content
The Anuvassa Sutta concerns regulations repeated annually (anuvaṭṭhati — repeated in cycles) in the training life of bhikkhus. In particular, this sutta defines the responsibilities and actions that must be carried out according to each stage of the training year.
One of the most important contents of Anuvassa is the regulation concerning the Rains Retreat (Vassa) — the three-month period from the fifth month to the seventh month (according to the lunar calendar of regions where Buddhism developed), when bhikkhus cease traveling on alms-round and settle in one place to intensify their practice. During this time, rules concerning conduct, practice, cleansing, concentration, and diligent effort are emphasized.
The sutta also records periodic retreats, rotating examinations of conduct, and Uposatha ceremonies (undertaking the Five Precepts or Eight Precepts) that take place regularly each year. These activities are not empty formalities; they serve the purpose of uplifting the mind and will, and creating an environment that supports communal practice.
🌏 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.