Pacific Hermitage

This Saturday September 6th is the next Garden Party, time again for our monthly gathering tending to the forest. There is much to do in preparation for the Pah Bah, including some new planting, and getting campsites ready for all the visiting monks.

The day will follow the usual schedule, 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 (though that’s not necessary), and dress in your ‘garden clothes.’

Tea: 3:00 pm – 4:00 PM.

Pah Bah Reminder: September 20th & 21st

The Pah Bah is fast approaching – it’s being held on September 20th and 21st in Underwood, WA. Monks from near and far will be joining us for this auspicious occasion: Ajahn Jayanto and Ajahn Caganando from Temple Forest Monastery; Ajahn Cunda and a group of monks from Abhayagiri Monastery; and Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho from Clear Mountain Monastery.  All events will be held at the Underwood Community Center, 951 School House Rd, Underwood, Wash. 

Donations will support the development of the “monks retreat house” project.

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

The schedule for the weekend’s events is below.

Saturday, Sept. 20
Meditation Retreat: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
There will be structured periods of sitting, walking, and Dhamma reflections. This is a lovely opportunity to settle into the weekend and the community. Please bring a zafu or cushion if you need one.

Sunday, Sept. 21
Meal Offering: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Pah Bah Ceremony & Dhamma Reflections: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

If you are attending the meal, please bring a dish to share to the kitchen and be settled into your seat by 10:30. Otherwise, please arrive by 12:30. The monks will be available in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday to talk with guests and take photos.

All 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. 

Hope to see you there!

Next Month…

There will be various activities and comings & goings, so watch for an update right after the Pah Bah with more details (and Pah Bah photos!).

“The Buddha praises putting forth effort to arouse skillful states of mind and making that your habit; and joy would be a great one. Just imagine if we were better at kindling joy, at remembering to arouse a sense of wholesome joy in the mind. It helps if we have a storehouse of good deeds, good merit, good karma. But sometimes we haven’t learned how to remember to delight in it, and to nurture and sustain joy, and create the habit of arousing joy in the mind.

In the teachings on dāna and the perfection of generosity, the Buddha talks about one of he aspects that enhances being generous is to recollect acts of generosity that we’ve done and delight in them.” – Ajahn Sudanto

The Next Garden Party is August 2nd

Somehow it’s August already, and time for our monthly gathering to tend to the forest. Anumodana for the care and effort of so many of you participating in these joyful community occasions.

The day will follow the usual schedule, below. And mark your calendars for the next garden parties – 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.

Pah Bah Weekend is September 20th & 21st

The Pah Bah is being held on September 20th and 21st in Underwood, WA. Monks from near and far will be joining us for this auspicious occasion:  Ajahn Jayanto and Ajahn Caganando from Temple Forest Monastery, Ajahn Ñyaniko and monks from Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, and Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho from Clear Mountain Monastery.  All events will be held at the Underwood Community Center, 951 School House Rd, Underwood, Wash. 

Donations will support the development of the “monks retreat house” project.

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

The schedule for the weekend’s events is below.

Saturday, Sept. 20
Meditation Retreat: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
There will be structured periods of sitting, walking, and Dhamma reflections. This is a lovely opportunity to settle into the weekend and the community. Please bring a zafu or cushion if you need one.

Sunday, Sept. 21
Meal Offering: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Pah Bah Ceremony & Dhamma Reflections: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

If you are attending the meal, please bring a dish to share to the kitchen and be settled into your seat by 10:30. Otherwise, please arrive by 12:30. The monks will be available in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday to talk with guests and take photos.

All 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. 

Hope to see you there!

Hello Friends,

Beginning on August 1st 2025,  Amy Boggs will be stepping into the role of meal dana coordinator!  You will love getting to know her as she responds to your emails and helps coordinate meals for the monks at the Hermitage.

Amy was drawn into Thai Forest Buddhism through the emphasis on generosity and being able to wholesomely reflect on one’s giving.  After more than 3 years of offering meals at the Hermitage and having dana be a part of her daily practice and life, she’s so grateful to support the monastics as the new meal dana coordinator.

As with any transition, there will be a learning period for Amy.  We’re excitedly making sure she has the tools and resources to be able to coordinate, update and work behind the scenes so the meal dana calendar runs smoothly.

If you regularly offer meals to the monks, or if you’ve never offered a meal before and you’ve been curious about doing so, Amy would love to answer any questions you may have, starting August 1st.  In the meantime, Matthew and Heather are still happy to hear from you!  There are many ways to get involved offering dana to the monks, including allowables, garden parties, making/preparing food to send to the hermitage with someone else, ordering food from a restaurant in White Salmon or joining the Dana Rescue Squad (stay tuned for separate posts about that!).  As always, feel free to contact us at the meal dana coordinator email address: dana@pacifichermitage.org.

Amy still remembers the first meal she ever offered at the Hermitage – how crossing over the small bridge onto the property felt like being transported into another world.  The peaceful, quietude of the property slowly set in.  Though she’d never met a monk before, she was delighted by their friendliness, humor and open-heartedness that instantly made her nervousness disappear.  She was struck by how the simple act of offering food could have such a deep and profound effect on the giver.  

Monastics in the Thai Forest Tradition try to live as closely to what the Buddha taught over 2,500 years ago, placing emphasis on virtue, renunciation and generosity.  The monks don’t handle money, grow or store their own food or drive cars.  They are solely dependent on the generosity of the laypeople for their daily meal.  In turn, the monks offer their time, listening, wisdom and support and teachings to the community.  The interchange between the monks and the laypeople is an ancient connection that truly benefits all.

It has been inspiring to witness the generosity of the Sangha on a daily basis, and see the genuine care that so many people take in supporting the practice of the monastics.  “It is rare to be born human, rare is the life of mortals, it is rare to hear the true dhamma, rare is the arising of the Buddhas”.  (Dhammapada v.182) A sangha engaged in the practice of dana is a rare and precious thing.  We feel honored to be a part of this and to have served for the last four years.

In deep gratitude, 

Matthew and Heather

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.