Pacific Hermitage

Since the time of the Buddha, Pah Bah celebrations have offered a chance for monastics and lay people to celebrate our interdependence. How fortunate that we as lay people have the opportunity to draw near to the Sangha and hear the Dhamma! The Pacific Hermitage’s Pah Bah weekend is just around the corner on September 14th & 15 in Underwood, Washington.

This year, the Sanghata Foundation is delighted to welcome monks from Abhayagiri and Clear Mountain Monasteries. Joining Ajahn Sudanto and the Pacific Hermitage monks will be Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Karunadhammo and other monastics from Abhayagiri, and Ajahn Kovilo from Clear Mountain.

All events for this joyful occasion will be held at the Underwood Community Center, 951 School House Rd, Underwood, WA.

Schedule & Details

Saturday Sept 14th

• 1:00 – 5:00 PM: Meditation Retreat

There will be structured periods of sitting and walking meditation, and Dhamma reflections. This is a lovely opportunity to settle into the weekend and connect with the community. Please bring a zafu or cushion if you need one, as there are not enough for all.

Sunday Sept 15th

• 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Meal Offering
• 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Pah Bah Ceremony and Dhamma Reflections

If you are attending the Sunday meal, please bring a dish to share to the venue’s kitchen, and be settled into your seat by 10:30. Otherwise, to attend the afternoon’s event please arrive by 12:30.

The monks will be available in the afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday to talk with guests and take photos.

Donations will support the development of the “Monks’ Retreat House” project.

We are excited to be working on this new project supporting elders in our lineage. The primary purpose of this two-story dwelling is to comfortably accommodate senior monks for visits and periods of solitary retreat. Features include an accessible sleeping room with an en-suite bathroom, separate living space for an attendant, a kitchenette, restrooms, and an elegant meditation and gathering space with expansive views of the forest.

Join Us

You can attend any or all of the days’ events, it is a great opportunity to connect with the Sangha and the community. Families are welcome! There is a big field, sports courts, and a playground for kids.

If you are interested in helping or volunteering on either of the days, please contact jessicaswanson@gmail.com. 

Learn more or donate at PacificHermitage.org.

“…This is the entire holy life Ānanda, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship. When a bhikkhu has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.”

-SN 45.2

Special Events in June

We are thrilled to welcome Luang Por Pasanno, Guiding Elder at Abhayagiri Monastery, along with Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Ṭhitapañño, Ajahn Kai (who recently arrived from Thailand), and Debbie Stamp for a visit to Portland and White Salmon this month.  They will arrive on June 21^st and will remain in Portland through the meal on June 24^th.   They will then go to the Pacific Hermitage until they return to Abhayagiri the morning of Wednesday June 26^th.

Luang Por Pasanno and the group, along with Ajahn Sudanto and Tan Dhammavaro, are to be special guests at the events at Portland Friends of the Dhamma (PFoD) on June 22^nd and 23^rd.

• Saturday, June 22:  The “Counting our Blessings” event in support of PFoD will take place from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  This auspicious occasion will honor Sakula’s transition from Spiritual Director at PFoD to Guiding Elder, and welcome Jessica Swanson to the role of Spiritual Director and lay minister.

• Sunday June 23:  This extended Sunday Sila will run from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The schedule has time for meditation, Dhamma reflection, a potluck meal, and Q&A. 

While in White Salmon, the Abhayagiri monks will join us at Yoga Samadhi on Tuesday evening the 25^th, and Luang Por Pasanno will offer the Dhamma reflection.

We are looking forward to these events, and hope you can join us.

Garden Party: Saturday June 1

Our second Garden Party of the season is this Saturday, June 1. These days are a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Sangha, and chat with other members of the Pacific Hermitage community. You can join for any part of the day, schedule is shown below.

Meal Offering: 11:00 AM. Feel free to bring a dish for the potluck style meal offering (please arrive by 10:30 if you’re bringing food).

Garden Work: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Please also feel free to bring any extra garden tools for the day, and dress in your ‘garden clothes.’

Tea: 3:00 pm – 4:00 PM.

Comings & Goings

After a few weeks of being away, Ajahn Sudanto and Tan Dhammavaro have returned to the Hermitage. Tan Cittapalo has returned to Abhayagiri for a short period before he spends the vassa at Temple Forest Monastery. The community has been so grateful for their kind presence!

Tan Jotimanto will arrive at the Hermitage for the June 22nd event at Portland Friends of the Dhamma, and will remain through the vassa. We look forward to welcoming him.

A New Book for Tuesday Nights at Yoga Samadhi

The discussion at Yoga Samadhi last week was focused on the Right Effort path factor, which Ajahn Sona’s new book, What Comes Before Mindfulness, notes is a “sadly neglected factor.” Beginning mid-June, Ajahn Sudanto will lead the Tuesday evening Dhamma discussions at Yoga Samadhi using this book. The time for the community meditation remains 6:30 – 7:30pm.

The 2024 Pacific Hermitage Retreats at Birken

The tradition of the Pacific Hermitage monks and lay supporters journeying to retreat at Birken Forest Monastery continued this year. Ajahn Sona’s theme this year was The Big Picture, watch for the videos to be posted on his YouTube channel in the coming weeks.

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We are very happy to share that the venerated Tan Ajahn Jayasaro will be visiting the Pacific Hermitage from April 30th through May 2^nd.  There are a few opportunities for the community to visit him and the Pacific Hermitage Sangha.  Ajahn Jayasaro will:

• Teach at Yoga Samadhi the evening of Tuesday, April 30. As usual, the program is segmented into a silent meditation from 5:15 – 6:15 PM, and then after a 15-minute break there is meditation and Dhamma reflection from 6:30 – 7:30 PM.
• Do alms round with the Hermitage monks on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, May 1^st and 2^nd. 
• Be available at the hermitage May 1^st and 2^nd after the meal for Dhamma questions and discussion (from about noon to 1:30).

Tan Ajahn Jayasaro took Bhikkhu ordination in 1980 with Ajahn Chah as his preceptor, and is the author of the Ajahn Chah biography Stillness Flowing.  We are quite joyful for this chance to share Dhamma and pay our respects.