As is our tradition, the final Garden Party of the year is preparing for the winter by readying the wood needed to fuel the wood stove (a.k.a. the Woodchuckers’ Ball). This year, the majority of the work will be stacking the wood in a newly constructed wood shed.
New Woodshed
There is quite a large pile of wood to stack, and having many folks in a line to pass the firewood will make light work of it – no special skills are needed.
The community stacking wood in a prior year
The Details:
Dates: Saturday, October 7th & Sunday, October 8th
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm both days, followed by tea
Note: These are separate events from the meal offerings. If you are thinking of joining earlier for the meal, please contact the meal dana coordinators as usual, dana@pacifichermitage.org.
This is a wonderful opportunity to joyfully offer generosity. And it’s a great day for the community to gather at the Hermitage while the weather is still good, and also to see Tan Suddhiko and Tan Parimutto before they return to Abhayagiri and Temple monasteries after the vassa. Anumodana!
Since the time of the Buddha, Pah Bah celebrations have offered a chance for monastics and lay people to celebrate our interdependence. The Pacific Hermitage’s Pah Bah weekend is just around the corner on September 16 & 17 in Underwood, Washington.
The Sanghata Foundation is delighted to welcome Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Sudanto, Ajahn Sek, Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Anando, Ajahn Nyaniko, Ajahn Caganando, Ajahn Nisabho, the Pacific Hermitage monks, and visiting monks from Abhayagiri and beyond. All events will be held at the Underwood Community Center, 951 School House Rd, Underwood, WA.
Schedule & Details
Saturday Sept 16
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.
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, and share updates about the new Abbot’s Kuti.
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. 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.
Since the time of the Buddha, annual Pah Bah celebrations have offered a chance for monastics and lay people to celebrate our interdependence. This year’s events will be held at the Underwood Community Center in Underwood, WA on September 16 & 17.
Please join the community in welcoming Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Sudanto, Ajahn Anando, Ajahn Nyaniko, Ajahn Caganando, Ajahn Nisabho, the Pacific Hermitage monks, and visiting monks from Abhayagiri and beyond. Donations will support the development of the “Monks’ Retreat House” project.
Pah Bah Weekend Schedule
Saturday: Meditation Retreat, 1:00 – 5:00
Sunday:
Meal offering, 10:30 – 1:00
Pah Bah Ceremony & Dhamma Talk, 1:00 – 3:00
Asalha Puja at the Hermitage on August 1st
Three times a year, the community commemorates the primary Buddhist holy days at the Pacific Hermitage. Asalha Puja, which celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon, will be marked on August 1st in the traditional way: gathering at the monastery, offering a meal, taking the five precepts together, chanting, and talking on Dhamma with the monastics in residence.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please contact Jessica Swanson for more information, to RSVP, or to organize carpooling from the Portland area.
Construction News: The Abbot’s Kuti and the Monks’ Retreat House
Construction on the Abbot’s Kuti is nearly halfway done, with the roof and windows almost complete. It is on track to be finished by November 1st.
Progress on the Abbot’s Kuti
On a separate building note, the design for the Monks’ Retreat House is nearly complete. It will be a multi-use space, but primarily it will provide suitable accommodations for visiting elder monks and Abhayagiri monks seeking to do solitary periods of retreat, in addition to providing additional gathering space. We will have more to share about the project at the Pah Bah.
August Garden Party
The next Garden Party is scheduled for August 5, and you can join for any part of all of the day’s schedule. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Sangha and chat with other members of the community.
Mark your calendars for the final two Garden Parties of the season on September 2 and October 7.
Any sensitive, selfless act of caring and giving is something worth remembering and delighting in. It brings a sense of ease and lightness and joy to the mind, which is the kind of food we need for this work, the kind of fuel we need for spiritual happiness and the motivation to keep growing in Dhamma.
The Pacific Hermitage monks begin their annual hiking trip on Tuesday, July 18th. This year’s trip, organized by Bob & Nina Archer, will take the monks to Olympic National Park. Ajahn Sudanto, Tan Suddhiko, and Tan Parimutto will be joined by Ajahns Nisabho and Kovilo for a few days early in the trip.
The monks will return to the Hermitage on July 28th. The discussion of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s new book, ‘Noble Truths, Noble Path’ that began at Yoga Samadhi last Tuesday evening will resume on August 1st when the monks return. (Find more details about these discussions in the previous post.)
Lay members of the community will lead the meditation sessions on Tuesday evenings at Yoga Samadhi on July 18th and July 25th while the monks are away.
NOBLE TRUTHS, NOBLE PATH The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings by BHIKKHU BODHI
How does one remain motivated and engaged in their practice? This Tuesday Ajahn Sudanto encouraged our Sangha to reignite our communal purpose, our raison d’etre, through a shared reading of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s anthology and most recent work “Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings.” We will have the opportunity to discuss this text together through mid August’s Dhamma chats. The series starts Tuesday July 4th at the regular Yoga Samadhi Community Meditations 6:30 – 7:30pm.
Ven. Bodhi’s anthology is available in hardcover or as an ebook through Wisdom publications, a nonprofit creating books, courses, and content to support the study and practice of Buddhism. The publishing house has generously offered to give all Sangha members a 20% discount on their purchase from today, June 28th through Friday, June 30th, Extended to through July 4th. This discount extends beyond just this title and would apply to any purchase made directly through their website. Please visit the following web address to order your copy of “Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings,” apply the code SAVE20 to your order.:
