Pacific Hermitage

Distinguished Luang Pors Visit the Hermitage This Week

We are honored to have Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo and Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddo – senior monks of 59 and 56 vassa, respectively – visiting the Pacific Hermitage this week. This is their first trip to America, and we are so grateful for the chance to spend time with these venerated disciples of Ajahn Chah. They began their US visit at Abhayagiri, and are accompanied here by its abbot, Ajahn Ñyaniko.

The Luang Pors will share Dhamma with us Tuesday evening at Yoga Samadhi before departing Wednesday morning for Portland Friends of the Dhamma. We are looking forward to welcoming them, and benefitting from their wisdom.

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July Garden Party

The July Garden Party will be this Saturday, July 5th. The day will follow the usual schedule, below. We realize it’s a holiday weekend, but if you want to spend a little peaceful outdoor time in the forest, you can join for any part of the day.

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 – 4:00 PM.

Chanting Workshop at Portland Friends of the Dhamma

Ajahn Sudanto has generously offered to share his knowledge of (and gift for) chanting with us the afternoon of July 6th. Whether you love chanting, are a little uncertain about it, or just want to dive in further, this workshop will be of great benefit. Join us from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at PFoD.

Comings & Goings

Venerable Sirimedho from Tisarana Monastery in Canada will spend the vassa at the Hermitage. He ordained as a Samanera (novice) in December of 2017 in Chennai, India, and was accepted in to the Bhikkhu Sangha on September 16, 2018  with Luang Por Viradhammo as Preceptor.

He will join Ajahn Sudanto and Tan Jino at the Hermitage for the vassa, and the community looks forward to welcoming him.

Did You Miss…

Ajahn Sudanto shared the Dhamma with us at Portland Friends of the Dhamma in June, and the recording is now posted here.

The 2025 Pah Bah

This year the Pah Bah will be held on September 20 & 21 at the Underwood Community Center in Underwood, WA. Monks from Temple Forest, Abhayagiri, and Clear Mountain Monasteries will be joining us for this joyous occasion.

As usual, the afternoon of the 20th will be time for meditation, from 1:00 – 5:00. The following day, the meal offering is held from 10:30 – 1:00, and the Pah Bah ceremony and Dhamma reflection is from 1:00 – 3:00.

Donations will support the development of the “monks retreat house” project. This dwelling will be to comfortably accommodate senior monks in our tradition for visits and periods of solitary retreat

Comings & Goings

Ajahn Sudanto has returned from Birken after spending more than three weeks there for the annual Pacific Hermitage community retreats with Ajahn Sona. The theme this year was Cool mind, warm heart, and the participants benefitted from a wide range of teachings that included equanimity, mettā, and wisdom.

Ajahn Sudanto will be alone at the Hermitage until Tan Jino arrives from Abhayagiri on June 5th. Tan Jino has spent time at the Hermitage in recent years, and the community is looking forward to welcoming him back.

Yoga Samadhi: The Next Book Discussion Begins Today

Just a reminder that beginning today, May 27th, Ajahn Sudanto will lead the community meditation Dhamma discussions using the book Breathing Like a Buddha, by Ajahn Sucitto. This is an excellent guide to breath meditation by an extraordinary monastic teacher. As usual, Ajahn Sudanto will share reflections on the reading, and there will be time for questions and discussion.

It is downloadable in various formats from the Abhayagiri website, here. Ajahn Sudanto has several printed copies, available for free at Yoga Samadhi and the Hermitage.

The time for the community meditation remains 6:30 – 7:30pm.

The Next Garden Party is June 7th

There will be plenty to do at our next garden party in June, tending to all the spring growth. The day will follow the usual schedule, below. And mark your calendars for the next garden parties – July 5, August 2, September 6, and October 4.

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.

Ajahn Sudanto to Visit Portland Friends of the Dhamma June 20th-22nd

Join Ajahn Sudanto at Portland Friends of the Dhamma for a weekend of monastic teachings and Dhamma sharing, June 20th-22nd. This is part of a whole host of special events throughout June at PFoD, stay updated and find out more details here.

Pacific Hermitage 2025 Pah Bah

Mark your calendars for the weekend of September 20-21, 2025. More details to follow early summer.

A Beautiful Gathering

Ajahn Sudanto made a Springtime visit to Abhayagiri for a week during April. The occasion was a gathering of many Abhayagiri monks, from far and near – 23 monks in total (plus 5 anagārikas)! Many of them have spent time with our community here in White Salmon: Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Nyaniko, Ajahn Cunda, Ajahn Ṭhitapañño, Ajahn Kovilo, Ajahn Nisabho, Ajahn Khantiko, Tan Suddhiko, Tan Tissaro, Tan Rakkhito, Tan Jino, Tan Obāsī, and Tan Hemako. It was a joyful time of connection, made a little extra sweet by the gentle spring weather and landscape.

May Happenings

Ajahn Sudanto leaves for the Birken retreats on May 1, returning the evening of May 25th. During this time there will be no monks at the Hermitage.

• There is no May garden party.
• Alms round begins again on May 26th.
• Yoga Samadhi events will be on break, and will resume on Tuesday May 27.

Yoga Samadhi: The Next Book Discussion Begins on May 27th

Beginning on May 27th, Ajahn Sudanto will lead the community meditation Dhamma discussions using the book Breathing Like a Buddha, by Ajahn Sucitto. This is an excellent guide to breath meditation by an extraordinary monastic teacher. Both beginners and experienced meditators will benefit greatly from Ajahn Sucitto’s clear, systematic, and practical approach to this essential meditation practice.

As usual, Ajahn Sudanto will share reflections on the reading, and there will be time for questions and discussion. We’re looking forward to diving into this outstanding book. It is downloadable in various formats from the Abhayagiri website, here. Ajahn Sudanto has 50 printed copies, available for free at Yoga Samadhi and the Hermitage.

The time for the community meditation remains 6:30 – 7:30pm.

Garden Parties Resume in June

Mark your calendars: garden parties will be on June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, and October 4. With no garden party in May, there will be plenty to do at our next one in June, more details to follow late May.

We recently discovered our request to forward mail to our new postal address for Pacific Hermitage and Sanghata Foundation was rejected in early December. Therefore all mail sent to our old post office box (POB #803) since early December 2024, has been lost, and was not received. This includes monthly donations, especially those sent via automatic bill pay services.

Please update our postal address if you have not already done so. It is correctly listed on the contact page of our website for future reference.

Pacific Hermitage, 56 Snowden Road, White Salmon, WA 98672 USA.