Gratitude and Progress: An Update on the Pacific Hermitage Retreat House

AI rendering of the proposed Meditation Room

The Sanghata board would like to express our sincere gratitude to supporters of the Pacific Hermitage. We are deeply grateful to see how the emerging Monastic Retreat House project has resonated with people locally and around the world.

Since July, we have received $72,036 in donations and pledges dedicated to this effort. We are encouraged by this warm response to a facility that will provide a peaceful respite for elder monastics from the West and beyond.

Remarkably, donations from the Pah Bah event have continued to arrive over the last month, reflecting strong ongoing support for the Retreat House.

To help bring the vision to life, one of our 2026 sponsors hand-built a 3D scale model of the Retreat House based on current architectural plans and renderings. Each floor can be lifted to view the interior layout, and the entire model rotates on a turntable. It is currently on display at the Pacific Hermitage—we invite you to visit and take a look!

The architectural design and engineering was completed in 2025, and we are ready to begin construction once additional funding is raised. The total estimated cost is $1.2 million, based on the typical new construction cost of about $500 per square foot in the Columbia Gorge. Given that this dwelling will provide safe and comfortable retreat space for elder monastics and significantly more indoor gathering space for our growing community, we think it’s a profoundly wise investment.

Currently, donor funding for the Retreat House stands at $162,263, about 13% of the total needed. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so on the Sanghata website. (Please note in the comment that it is for the Monks Retreat House.)

Earlier AI rendering of the design, the model and plans are more accurate representing the final design.

Digital modeling has also helped us envision the finished building nestled into the hillside at the top of the Pacific Hermitage property. In this rendering, moonlight illuminates the Retreat House’s Buddharupa, a replica of a ~500 CE sculpture housed in Varanasi, India. Gifted by friends in Thailand, the statue is already in place where it will reside permanently. The community dedicated it with a recitation of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta during Pah Bah weekend.

Monastic sangha and guests chanting the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta at the building site. September 2026

We at the Sanghata–the financial stewards of the Pacific Hermitage–extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support as we work toward our shared goal of supporting monastic elders in the Ajahn Chah tradition. To learn more about this project, and to follow the latest developments, watch the Retreat House page at Sanghata.net.

With warmth and appreciation,

Jessica Swanson, Sanghata Vice-President

The Pah Bah, the Woodchucker’s Ball, & More

A Beautiful Day for a Pah Bah

It was spectacular weather for the Pah Bah this year, with the kind of perfect Autumn brightness that seems to bring even more joy. Beautiful flowers and garland offered by lay supporters added to the festive atmosphere. Cāgasiri and Chris Holcombe were the initiating sponsors this year. Across the weekend, nine monastics joined at various times, including Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Kassapo, Tan Abhayo, and Anagārikas Kyle and Tristan from Abhayagiri, and Ajahns Kovilo and Nisabho from Clear Mountain Monastery.

The events were all very well attended, including the Friday evening Portland Friends of the Dhamma gathering, the Saturday afternoon meditation event and new Buddha Rupa dedication, and Sunday’s official Pah Bah. Many community members came together to share in the auspicious occasion, with about 120 people joining on Sunday.

This year there was an additional special event: the Saturday evening dedication of the new Buddha Rupa offered for the Retreat House. More than 60 people attended this very special event, chanting the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which the Rupa depicts.

More than $45,000 was donated for the Pah Bah. These funds will go toward building the Monks Retreat House, which we hope to begin construction on by the Hermitage’s 20th anniversary in 2030. The idea of the Retreat House was brought to life for community members with a newly-created model of it made by Cāgasiri.

Anumodana to all who joined in these special days!

Time for the Woodchucker’s Ball

The annual Woodchucker’s Ball 2-day Garden Party event will be this weekend, October 3rd & 4th. This is the final Garden Party of the year, and an important one in preparing the Hermitage for winter months. In the spirit of “many hands make light work,” it is quite helpful if there are more than 10 people each day. There will be a broad range of jobs – something for everyone – from light stacking of wood, to sweeping, and putting logs in the wood splitter (all fun :).

It will be a wonderful chance to come together as a community for the last Garden Party of the year. The schedule for both days is as usual, with the meal at 11:00 (come by 10:30 if you are bringing a dish), and the work schedule from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.

Much work has been completed by Ajahn and generous community members at this year’s Garden Parties to care for the Hermitage and the land. The landscaping surrounding Ajahn’s kuti has been completed, and significant fire safety work has been done. The pond restoration is in progress as well. Anumodana!

Meal Dana

Cāgasiri has now passed the Meal Dana Coordinator reins over to Chris Holcombe. Much gratitude to Cāgasiri for the care and attention to managing the meal dana needs of the Hermitage monastics, sadhu! And many thanks to Chris for generously having stepped into this important role.

Ajahn Sudanto will continue to be the sole monk at the Hermitage through the rest of the vassa. As always, you can sign up for specific days by emailing the dana coordinator (dana@pacifichermitage.org), or by filling out the online form.

More details about the Meal Dana Coordinator and offering meals will follow in a separate post soon.

Comings & Goings: Sanghata Board of Directors

Mike Jolliffe has served on Sanghata’s board since 2023, and has been a member of the Hermitage community for many years. He recently ordained as an Anagārika at Abhayagiri Monastery, and so he is stepping down from his role on the Board. We are very grateful for his service and his many contributions, and joyfully wish him the very best in his monastic journey.

We are happy to welcome Bruce Anderson as a new Sanghata Board member. Bruce has known Ajahn Sudanto for more than 25 years, and he has been a good friend to the Hermitage. Many thanks to Bruce for generously taking on this new role as a Board member.

September at the Hermitage

Tan Jotimanto has left the Hermitage and will spend the second vassa at the Sumedhārāma Monastery in Portugal.  Ajahn Sudanto will be the sole monk at the Hermitage for the vassa, so it is best to have meal offerings in groups with a male present.

Since April, there have been a lot of guests and events, as well as a fair amount of traveling for Ajahn Sudanto (including three weeks away hiking in July). Ajahn’s main focus now is on various monastery projects, maintenance, and improvements at the Hermitage.

It’s Almost Time for the Pah Bah

We are looking forward to the Pah Bah events the weekend of September 19th & 20th, and the schedule is shown below.  Nine monastics are expected to attend, including Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Karunadhammo, Tan Suddhiko, and others from Abhayagiri Monastery, as well as Ajahns Kovilo and Nisabho from Clear Mountain Monastery.  Proceeds from the Pah Bah will go toward the new Monks Retreat House, which we hope to be funded and built in advance of the Hermitage’s 20th anniversary in 2030.  For more details, click here. (Note that if you are donating to the retreat house, please type “Monks Retreat House” in the comment.)

This year, there is a special event added to Saturday’s events.  The shrine for the new Buddha Rupa has been set up, almost exactly where it will be when the Monks Retreat House is built.  At the end of the meditation event at 6:00 PM, we will gather at the Hermitage at the new shrine. We will do blessing chants and recite the Dhammacakkapavatana Sutta – which the new Buddha rupa depicts – on the site of the future Retreat House.  What a meaningful way to conclude the weekend! 

As in recent years, events will be held at the  Underwood Community Center, 951 School House Rd in Underwood, Washington (except the Saturday evening Buddharupa dedication event). 

Saturday, Sept. 19
Meditation Retreat: 1:00 to 5:00 PM

Buddharupa Dedication:  6:00 PM at the Hermitage

Sunday, Sept. 20
Meal Offering: 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Pah Bah Ceremony & Dhamma Reflections: 1:00 to 3:00 PM

September Garden Party

September 5th will be our second to last garden party for the year, and an important one.  In preparation for the Pah Bah, we will set up campsites and tidy the gardens and grounds: planting, pruning, weeding, raking, and grass trimming, plus pond maintenance. This is a great opportunity to connect with the community and Ajahn Sudanto. The weather has been fantastic and no special skills are needed; we hope to see you there. 

The schedule is as usual, with the meal offering at 11:00 AM (come by 10:30 if you are bringing something for the meal), garden work occurring 1:00 – 3:00 PM, followed by tea with Ajahn.

Ongoing Events

Tuesday evenings at Columbia Gorge Yoga (formerly Yoga Samadhi) continue as always, with a one-hour silent meditation sit at 5:15 PM, followed by one hour meditation and Dhamma discussion at 6:30 PM.

There are three organized, group meal offerings each month that all are welcome to join. 

  • There are two meal gatherings organized by the Portland Friends of the Dhamma (PFoD) Upasika group:  The 1st Tuesday and the 3rd Saturday of each month. 
  • The Gorge sangha meal offering group is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Feel free to reach out to the dana coordinator (dana@pacifichermitage.org) for information or to join (or just come 😊), or to PFoD.

UPDATED: Asalha Puja Celebration at the Hermitage Is This Saturday, August 1st

As previously announced, we will be celebrating Asalha Puja at the Pacific Hermitage on Saturday, August 1st. This day marks the Buddha’s first sermon at Deer Park, where he set the wheel of the Dhamma in motion. The schedule is from 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM, you can find full details here.

Following the celebration, we will go right into the Garden Party, shortly after 1:00 PM. The focus will be on cleaning up the area where we will enshrine the new Buddha Rupa. The materials for the Shrine have arrived and construction will begin soon, so it would be great to have the area prepared. Anumodana for your generosity!

UPDATE: Thank you all for your help today.

Thanks to the help of everyone gathered for the Asalha Puja Garden Party today, the site for the new Buddha shrine is clear and ready for construction to start next week.

The New Buddha Rupa Has Arrived!

When traveling in Thailand last year, Ajahn Sudanto was gifted a beautiful new Buddha Rupa for the Monks’ Retreat House that is planned for the Hermitage. The image depicts the Buddha’s first teaching at Deer Park, and the statue is a replica of a renowned piece of Indian art from about 500 CE (more details here in this web post).

It is particularly meaningful that this extraordinary Buddha image offered is the twin of the one at Wat Pah Boonlorm, an Ajahn Chah lineage monastery in Thailand. And it is timely that the offering was made specifically for the new Monks’ Retreat House to be built at the Hermitage. Architectural Plans have been completed, and everything is in place to move forward with this important project as soon as sufficient funds have been raised. And now the beautiful new Buddha Rupa has arrived!

The Monks Retreat House is important because currently there are no suitable accommodations to house esteemed elders in our tradition such as Luang Por Pasanno, Luang Por Sucitto, visiting Thai senior Ajahns, or others in that generation of senior monastics. Once the Retreat House is built, we will be able to invite these elders to spend extended periods of time with us right here in White Salmon.

We are hoping to have the project largely funded by 2027 so it may be completed by our 20th anniversary in 2030.  While it is a bold goal, the immense value to the community and impact on the Sangha makes us hopeful we can achieve it.

For anyone who is interested in contributing, you can donate through the Sanghata organization that supports the monks.  You can designate the funds for the project by putting “Monks Retreat House” in the comment. Anumodana!

And on a Separate Note…Join us for the July Garden Party on July 4th

The July Garden Party will be held on Saturday, July 4th. As usual, the day begins with the meal at 11:00 AM (please join at 10:30 if you are bringing a dish), and work on the land begins after meal cleanup. Tea and Dhamma discussion starts around 3:00 PM.