38. Explanation of the Pavārāna Day
By Luang Pu Thate Desaraṅsī
October 28, 1981
Today is the Pavārāna Day, which falls on the 15th waning moon (the Uposatha day). Actually, the Uposatha day falls on the 1st waning moon. In truth, they have calculated it meticulously; their method of reckoning the lunar fortnight (pakkha-gaṇanā) is very precise. This method of reckoning is not universal, as most Chinese follow the international calendar. That is why the Pavārāna days of the Chinese and the Thai do not often coincide.
The Pavārāna Day is considered the 15th waning moon, while the Uposatha day is the 1st waning moon. Today, for example, marks the beginning. If that is the case, and if there are more monks on Pavārāna Day than on Uposatha day, one must conform to the day with more monks. This is how the days diverge.
Now, regarding the Pavārāna Day: if there are only four monks, the Pavārāna is not complete. Because the Pavārāna must be performed before the Saṅgha, with one monk stating, "Saṅghe pavāremi" ("I invite admonition before the Saṅgha"). The word "Saṅghe" means that the monk making the invitation does so before the Saṅgha. A Saṅgha requires four monks, so a group of four is called a Saṅgha. For a group of five, the Pavārāna can be performed either within the Saṅgha or elsewhere. In reality, however, monks in the same monastery should perform Pavārāna before the Saṅgha, saying "Saṅghe pavāremi." Just like today, we perform Pavārāna before the Saṅgha here.
Pavārāna means performing the invitation before the Saṅgha in place of the Uposatha. If one were to perform both the Pavārāna and the Uposatha separately, it would become two Uposatha ceremonies. Monks from the same monastery would sit together for Uposatha before Pavārāna — that would be one Uposatha for the Pavārāna, and then another Uposatha, making two. But most monks conduct the ceremony in the Uposatha hall itself, sitting together with their fellows, and then perform Pavārāna afterward. Like today: we sit together with our fellows, then perform Pavārāna later. This creates a slight conflict — it results in two Uposatha ceremonies. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, one need not join the Uposatha at all; one can simply come and perform the Pavārāna directly. Just like today, we do the Pavārāna straightaway.
It is difficult because the Uposatha and the Pavārāna conflict with each other. There is a slight discrepancy; please understand this matter. Every monk should understand this. Do you understand what has been explained? If not, please ask. Today is the first time in this monastery that the Pavārāna and the Uposatha do not coincide. Since the monastery was established, this is the first time. Therefore, you should study and understand this well, so that you will not be confused in the future. (Then the teacher continued to instruct the monks.)