Aṭṭhāna is not a request but a firm resolve to bring something to completion, which, through clear commitment and perseverance in practice, strengthens determination and leads to the overcoming of suffering.
The text explains the practice of Aṭṭhāna (resolve-hanging) in Thai Buddhism and distinguishes it from a supplicating or pleading attitude. The speaker emphasizes that Aṭṭhāna in the Pali sense means a firm decision and resolve to bring something to completion, not a request for help. By the example of the three-month Vassa residence in the monastery, it is shown how such a resolve strengthens determination and enables perseverance in difficult situations. Concrete difficulties are described that might tempt monks or novices to abandon the practice, such as boredom, discomfort, or family obligations. The text links this practice with the Pāramīs (perfections) and the path of the Bodhisattva toward Buddhahood. The central message is that a clearly formulated resolve is not merely a ritual but a training of the mind that leads to self-confidence and the overcoming of suffering.
Analysed with qwen3.8-27b, version v3.
The same standards apply to every tradition, see Values.
Full text in English
In the early morning, at our monastery, we perform the Vassa (Rains Retreat) vow. This is a Dhamma practice done every year, or every session. When the Vassa is observed, those who take the vow, and people do not need to request a covered [sanctuary]. They ask for witnesses to help guard and protect, to be healed from illness, to be well. This vow is a Thai-style vow, different from the Burmese-style vow. "Samburi" (Burmese) does not mean "request," but rather refers to a firm intention, a resolute determination to complete a certain task. It is a settling, a decision-making, making one more resolute. It is the opposite of "requesting." When "Samburi" is translated into Thai, the meaning shifts. It must be interpreted. Ah, this is the matter of "Tithi" (faith/devotion). The Thai people like "Tithi" very much, or perhaps too much. If "Tithi" is understood in the correct sense, it is a good thing; we have only happiness and the beginning of things. But "Tithi" in the latter sense becomes a frantic running about, begging, hoping for something, or hoping for merit and virtue to come to help. Then one just sits with hands folded, doing nothing. This is different from "Tithi" in the Burmese sense, which has the meaning of a firm intention, a resolute determination to complete something. This is another meaning of "Adhithan" (vow/resolution). Another meaning is the act of setting a specific determination. For example, when there is a wound, there is a specific determination regarding the wound. This one we use as a principle, to heal the soldier's wound. That wound over there is called a "healed wound." "Ati" means the beginning part. "Jiu-on" (a specific term) is also related. If we specify clearly that this "Jiu-on" ground we will use regularly, there is a vow. But the Vassa vow this morning means showing a resolute intention to stay in the Vassa retreat for three months in this year. This is the meaning of the "Sammasambuddha" (fully enlightened Buddha) who is a Buddha. And it is not just that one must be a layperson observing the Vassa. In the morning, the "Imasmiṃ āvāse" (in this monastery) is full of the Sangha, like "aufareal" (unclear term) entering the Vassa retreat for three months in this monastery or this temple. It is a "sawiteb" (unclear term) Thank-You intention. But it carries more weight than just an intention, because it is a different kind of intention. There is a specific vow for the Vassa because observing the Vassa is not an easy matter for some people. Even if one intends to observe the Vassa, one might not be able to stay for the full three months. Therefore, there must be a "nak titham" (unclear term), a settling, and the intention becomes heavier and more resolute. If one understands this meaning, it is not useless. It is said that one performs the ritual. But if one understands this meaning, what one utters means that we must make it happen. Once it is said that we will stay in the Vassa retreat for three months in this year, we will make it happen, no matter what happens. This is the meaning of "Ajithan" (unclear term), which is one of the "Paramis" (perfections) in the Buddhist religion. But when we reach the "Paramis," we must also "retybigh" (unclear term), because the "Paramis" in the Dhamma language... [repeated characters] ... "Burry" (unclear term) "zasim" (unclear term). The "Paramis" in the Dhamma language, one of them leans towards power. Another "Parami" mostly refers to people who have power, and that they will not use official power, but have power that does not reach the official level, like the "atchedao" (unclear term) fathers. This is why they are people with "barromi" (unclear term). "Sasong" (unclear term) who have "force" (unclear term) "seensioniliation" (unclear term). So, this is why we say to give "chaom" (unclear term) good. This is the "Parami" in the Dhamma, in the Dhamma, in the Dhamma... [repeated characters] ... The reason I speak of this is because the "Parami" is a "Parami" that, if fully completed in ten aspects and three levels, can make a "Bodhisatta" (Bodhisattva) become a Buddha. Because the "Adhithan" (vow) in the ten "Jataka" (birth stories) is an important birth story. Because in these ten "Jataka" stories, he fulfilled the "Parami" of "Adhithan" completely in ten "Tosabromi" (unclear term). When the "Parami" of "Adhithan" is fully completed in ten, it enables him to be born as a Buddha in the next birth. In fact, it is a virtue that should be cultivated greatly, because it is a transmission of the "Sip" (unclear term) "Prap" (unclear term) "Yai" (unclear term) to obtain "education" (unclear term) "important" (unclear term) "sab" (unclear term) "detained" (unclear term) Thai. It should be a request. It is not a "prai" (unclear term) "thilled" (unclear term) "campaign" (unclear term) "Parami" at all. But it is an intention, "ne" (unclear term) "commandments" (unclear term) "raStar" (unclear term) to obtain something to completion. It should be a "Parami" that can be offered to achieve "Borubhasor" (unclear term) "masor" (unclear term) "bot" (unclear term) or to help escape from "tuk" (unclear term) "dai" (unclear term). With this, "nang" (unclear term) "kang" (unclear term) "taeng" (unclear term) "ja" (unclear term) "tithan" (unclear term) in the meaning of "taeng" (unclear term) "ai" (unclear term) "man" (unclear term), "taeng" (unclear term) "ai" (unclear term) "nao" (unclear term) "nae" (unclear term) to do something. There are things that should be done. When we do good things, but they are difficult to do, because the "suan" (unclear term) "tang" (unclear term) "kin" (unclear term) "leib" (unclear term) is something unfamiliar, it is necessary to have "ajithan" (unclear term) so as not to "role" (unclear term), so as not to "lek" (unclear term) "klang" (unclear term) "kan" (unclear term). For observing the Vassa in the temple for the full three months, for each person, it is difficult to stop. Just because people who leave the life of "karawats" (unclear term) or leave the city to live in the forest like this, even if they intend to, wanting to observe the Vassa, but if they do not "top" (unclear term) "yam" (unclear term) their intention with the practice of "ajithan" (unclear term) or intention here, they might "ja" (unclear term) "role" (unclear term) when they come, not intending to "teng" (unclear term) "ai" (unclear term). They will "buad" (unclear term) "ai" (unclear term) "dai" (unclear term), they will "yu" (unclear term) "ai" (unclear term) "dai" (unclear term) for the full three months. But as they stay, as they stay, even if it is difficult, the food is not to their taste, "fai" (unclear term) "fa" (unclear term) is not always available, "ma" (unclear term) "laeng" (unclear term) is a lot, plus staying there gets boring, no friends to talk to, cannot go anywhere, cannot do what they want, it is difficult. But "chai" (unclear term) "thot" (unclear term) "sam" (unclear term) "moo" (unclear term) "thue" (unclear term).
I am not awake, and on top of that, I have to wake up early to do the morning duties. Then I have to do the strength exercises for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, that's manageable. But if they make it an hour, that's not manageable. It's too boring, because I can't stay more than 10 days. If I can, I think about leaving the monkhood. And then I am satisfied, and it goes its own way. There will be this problem. Even if I am alone, no one is taking care of my mother. If I meet her, I am afraid. I think I will go take care of my mother. Before this, before I decide to ordain, I did not have the thought of going to take care of my mother. I did not have the desire to go take care of my mother. But the boredom came up. Burdens arose. The engine came. Even though I intended to stay for the rains retreat, or 3 months, but when I tried to stay, it was boring. I was lonely, I was tired. So I told my mother that I would go stay and take care of her. Before this, I never had the thought of going to take care of her. And then I am satisfied with the world and this way. There is this kind of problem. He decided just like that. He believed, he ate, he thought, and it came into the realm of reason that looks beautiful. If we don't know, if we eat and then believe, it will be a trap for the mind. The first wish was to ask to go stay, to ask for permission to go take care of my mother, not more than six nights. But once I went, I never came back. This is an example that happens to some people. But for many people, their minds are afraid. They stay at the temple just for a while, and then they want to return and go back home. But if there is a little bit of strength, if the mind is very good, if they listen a lot, if they remember a lot, what I am bringing up is that there is nothing new here. I intended to ordain for just 3 months. And I intended to go stay at the temple for 1 month to practice with the precepts. At that time, I knew why I intended it that way. There will be problems that arise, things that keep me from staying for a full month. It arose right there. There was no special power, no frozen power, no counselors, no questions at all. There was nothing that would happen. And then it would not be NOR, not LOG, not plus tones. It would create chaos, trouble here, trouble there. Because I was very restless. The feeling of wanting to go stay somewhere else came up. But Integration gave the correct understanding that when the philosopher would stay for Kl tuem, Gl tuem, and then where would I go? Gl Armania haha. But that is the pure intention. This can be corrected in oneself. So one can practice correctly, in the right way. And then there are consequences, follow-up results. This is why the intention to stay is important. It might just be that I went, and there were problems in practicing, so I didn't want to stay. But the fact that we are practicing, why do we have to stay? To freak out, to stay and fix the problems. If it is not yet a full month, it will turn into fixing the problems. And it will have the effect of gaining alenpanit Justicy. Because without the eonastye-dp pseud Aha sadference, it makes one want to practice. Semo rises French. Because if Perspole, if one leaves the monkhood, then nineteen, one should not be with hosts, or return to ordain again. It will be difficult for the mind. And the matter of this place is very important. But besides being restless, the idea of staying for the full 3 months, if we have the idea of doing something more before that, it is even better. The fact that one is in the rains retreat must be considered a baseline, a baseline for RS. But even if it is a baseline, it must be achieved. Even if there is a little bit of boredom, the intention to stay for the full 3 months, no matter what happens. But as I said, the fact that this dharma practice should be a baseline means that we should intend to do something else before that as well. At least one or two things. For example, as I said, I will not miss the morning duties, because of the morning duties. Or a person who is addicted to alcohol, they intend to quit alcohol. A person who is addicted to games, addicted to their phone, they intend not to, but not necessarily to quit games, or not to use the phone at all. Or a person who likes delicious food, they intend that I will only eat what I get. But if I intend the bhroovacus, the physical demonic, as I said before, the breath, the purpose, the physical, the amount, the breath, the practice of the breath, it can be established. Jawaton suggests that the morning duties are not just an establishment, but other establishments as well. The morning duties are about reducing, lowering, things that are not good, or things that suppress the body, that are not alive. It has some kind of attachment or whatever. Try using this period of the dharma practice. Create it or just quit it altogether. But if you can work, you must have strength. Because why this strength? It will be smooth, and there will be problems like this. Kill it, it is already smart in finding problems. But if we do not have the intention in one way, and then we will be weak, we will follow along, letting us choose to do good things. I don't want it to be a reduction of bad things, or doing good things that are positive, such as doing the morning duties, chanting, mindfulness, meditation, and intending to achieve it every day. It will have problems, whatever they are, it will not be biased, it will not be deep, or it will not be cancelled. This will be a training of the mind. Because going forward, because we can do it, we succeed, we check for 3 months. Going forward, the difficult matter, we will have confidence that we can do it. Because other things we have already done. And then celli KENNETH, like cirez, we intend to, enhancement, whatever, graduatur device, intend to do things that follow, like tenth, translated closely, it is like this, it has no meaning at all. Just accustomed, this is heard because, this is it.
The word "Sheriff" has no meaning at all. It is merely a breeze, because our pure practice can change itself automatically. However, if one intends to do something, it must be clearly specified. Do not say that you are asking the assembly to specify that you will remain in the monastery for three months for inspection. Do not say, "I will practice the pure path, and then I will stay in the world for as long as possible." It does not say anything at all, because "as long as possible" will also end with the expiration of the current month. One month, two months, that is fine. But if we clearly state that we will dwell for a full three months, and then nothing happens, we will be damned. We must be able to stay. We must not be abrupt. He will stay. He must go to the hospital in Rewnden Brow to get treatment until he is fully healed, and then return. It is not that once he leaves the hospital, he immediately goes home or returns to the monastery. Similarly, when we make a vow that we will not do at least this, or that we will not do that, or that we will chant and perform temple rituals, we must clearly specify that we will do it every day for one hour, two hours, or three hours. That is how it must be. It must have a concrete form. This vow will be like that, and it will help us gain strength to resist the defilements, strength to resist the things that are constantly swirling around. The blessings of the enemy of the Dharma, the Lord, for example, Father, Mother, whom we know, Father, Mother, Buddha, if we are a child, we do not want to inherit the property from our father, because we are lazy, we are like a rebellious son, we do not have to go to cut off the punishment of execution, but we deliberately decide not to ask to inherit the property from the Father. Asking in this way is not easy at all, because there are many temptations, whether it is property or women, in order to be cured of deafness, the monk stops being deaf, once he stops, he is tormented, he is burned, he is stabbed, he does not give up, he does not retreat. The father makes a vow at the time of leaving at sixteen years old. This is also an example that the Lord of the Dharma can do what he intends, because the Lord of the Dharma has few temptations. Even if there are many temptations, he is not shaken, or he does not follow along like the old woman. In this case, he is also the father, the Lord of the Dharma, in himself, thinking of the faults of his nature, he has a great intention to keep the precepts, this type of practice, the practice of the Buddha, and the keeping of the precepts in the narrow scope of himself. You all do very well, until the angels come to sprinkle red powder in the heavenly realm. After that, please let him stay, be happy in the heaven. This heaven has many temptations, but he has a vow. From the vow, we will protect the earth to have the practice of the precepts, the practice of the Buddha, the practice of giving, and then we will return. We will ask to return to the human world to perform this duty. Even if staying in this heaven is very good, we do not pray that if you do not make a vow, it will be good, and you will follow along, because even if you eat and sleep, you pray for the things that are already tempting in the heaven. In our practice of the Buddha, there will not be many things that are constantly swirling, but there will be things that are constantly changing, or there will be difficult matters. But if we firmly intend to remain in the monastery for three months, and then do good things throughout the three months, whether it is practice, the practice of giving, which requires choosing the practice.