Tibetan observance of the rainy season?

[kirtu]

In Jamgon Kongtrul's "Retreat Manual" it mentions in Kongtrul's introduction that people entering the retreat needed to have done a rainy season retreat. How do/did Tibetan monks observe the rainy season retreat? They certainly don't spend 3 or 4 months in seclusion? Do Tibetan monks observe it from July - October adjusting for the lunar calendar?

Kirt

[Jnana]

In Jamgon Kongtrul's "Retreat Manual" it mentions in Kongtrul's introduction that people entering the retreat needed to have done a rainy season retreat. How do/did Tibetan monks observe the rainy season retreat? They certainly don't spend 3 or 4 months in seclusion? Do Tibetan monks observe it from July - October adjusting for the lunar calendar?

The rains retreat is called yarne in Tibetan. It's usually seven weeks long, beginning on the 15th of the sixth lunar month and ending on the 30th of the seventh lunar month. How monastics observe it would probably vary from monastery to monastery, but it was/is often still considered a time of more intensive practice.

All the best,

Geoff

[kirtu]

Thanks Geoff!

What are the other monastic observances/retreats during the year (obviously we have the four chief holy days and numerous parinivana observances through the year)?

Kirt

[Jnana]

What are the other monastic observances/retreats during the year?

The main monastic observance is the bimonthly sojong (Skt. poṣadha) on new moon and full moon days, where monastics recite the prātimokṣa and laypersons are encouraged to undertake the eight precepts for the day.

[plwk]

Thanks to kirtu for this thread

....bimonthly sojong (Skt. poṣadha).....

Or also known as 'upavasatha' (Pali: Uposatha)...
I thought that there are more days of observances in between like the interval half moon days other than the new/full moon days (although these 2 are more commonly practiced) or does the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition practice only the 2?
A side Q:
So, the seniority of the monastics in the Mulasarvastivada School, of which the Tibetan Buddhist Vinaya is based on, is determined by the number of rains retreats (from Pāli: Vasso/Vassa, Skt: varṣaḥ) clocked in or by the age of ordination or both?