The 2026 Pacific Hermitage meditation retreats at Birken Forest Monastery will be in May, and registration is now open. Applicants can apply for one of the two ten-day sessions, scheduled for May 1st-10th and May 15-24th.
This timing allows for traveling on a Friday and beginning the retreat that evening, and finishing on the following Saturday night. So there are eight full days of teachings and meditation. The final Sundays are scheduled for returning home.
The theme: Dependent Origination in an Atmosphere of Lovingkindness
This will be a clear and accessible exploration of the somewhat intellectual study of dependent origination. It will be presented in a supportive atmosphere of lovingkindness to help deepen understanding and internalize the teachings. As usual, there will be an evening group tea time Q&A discussion with Ajahn Sudanto, and group meditation practice sessions throughout the day.
Members of the community interested in attending can request to participate by filling out this application and requesting either one of the two sessions.
Please pre-register by January 21st 2026, and those accepted will be notified by January 31. Please note that:
The selection of retreat spots is not done on “first come, first serve” basis nor by lottery. The main selection criteria is available spaces with preference given to active supporters of the Pacific Hermitage and members of Portland Friends of the Dhamma.
Details about logistics and coordinating carpools will be shared closer to the time.
Each participant will have a single room.
If you have any questions, please email Ajahn Sudanto at hermitage@abhayagiri.org, and put “2026 Birken Retreat” in the subject line.
Birken Monastery is a beautiful setting quite conducive to meditation, investigation and reflection. We are glad that Ajahn Sona and the Birken community are willing to host us again for this beautiful tradition, and offer us the chance to continue receiving these precious teachings!
Ajahn Sudanto returned to the Hermitage on Friday, December 5th, after his travels in Thailand and Japan. The Hermitage is now settling into the stillness of Winter Retreat, which is from January 1 – March 31. Any work projects are stopped during this time, as are most outside events (except Yoga Samadhi).
Ajahn Sudanto will be the only monastic in residence through the end of March 2026. This is the first time that Ajahn has had the chance to spend winter retreat at the hermitage alone, and he is very much looking forward to a time of peaceful, dedicated practice. There will be a few shifts in meal dana opportunities, and our dana coordinator Cāgasiri wanted to share an update on offering alms during the winter season.
DECEMBER
Alms round and weekend meal offerings are continuing as usual for the balance of December. Ajahn Sudanto will be away briefly from December 24 through December 26, and this is already reflected on the alms calendar. There is an opportunity to offer the meal on Sunday, December 28th (as well as the first weekend in January 2026), please email dana@hermitage.org if you are interested in offering.
WINTER RETREAT, JANUARY – MARCH
Visiting the Hermitage
During the winter retreat period, Ajahn will not be receiving guests or hosting group meal offerings on weekdays (with the one exception of the PFoD Upasikas gathering one Tuesday each month). There is still the opportunity to speak with Ajahn and have Dhamma conversations on weekends, and on Tuesday evenings at Yoga Samadhi, which will continue.
If you would like to offer a weekend meal, please email dana@pacifichermitage.org with the date you are interested in; you can view available dates on the meals calendar here: https://pacifichermitage.org/calendar/meals-calendar/
A gentle reminder that while Ajahn Sudanto may receive alms from anyone, he is only able to visit and offer Dhamma reflections when a male is present.
Alms Round
January 5th-16th: Ajahn Sudanto is planning a period of fasting beginning after the New Year. The initial plan is to fast Monday through Friday for the first two weeks, January 5th– 16th. During that time, Ajahn will pause the weekday alms round (weekend meal offerings will continue). Ajahn may decide to extend the fast another week or two, he will update us at the time.
January 19th-March 16th
Ajahn will go on Alms round on weekdays as usual.
March 16th– April 1st: Ajahn Sudanto will be away during this time, so alms round will not occur. (Weekend meal offerings will be paused as well, as shown on the meal dana calendar).
If you regularly offer along the alms route and anticipate being out of town for any part of the winter, please feel free to email the Dana Coordinator at dana@pacifichermitage.org to share the dates you will be away.
Anumodana
We are very happy that Ajahn Sudanto, who is so generous with his time, is taking more time in solitude during this year’s winter retreat period. Anumodana to all whose support make this beautiful gift possible. Thank you, as always, for the care, attentiveness, and generosity that continue to support the Hermitage.
Our new Dana Coordinator, Cāgasiri, has shared an update on all the ways the community can participate in this beautiful act of generosity.
Meal Dana Coordinator Update
Recently, there was a meal offering organized to bring folks out to the Hermitage who had never offered a meal to the monastics before. There was a palpable joy felt in the room when a new supporter lifted a dish and offered it into the hands of one of the monks for the first time. Watching this scene unfold was a beautiful reminder of how this simple act of offering food nourishes both the receiver and the giver. It is an exchange that lives on in the heart, and can be recollected again and again to brighten the mind.
There are a number of ways that anyone who wishes to can participate in this beautiful act of generosity. We wanted to share an update on some of the possible ways to join in.
Join the Weekly Alms Round
Each Monday through Friday, the monks walk into the White Salmon on their alms route. Supporters in White Salmon can choose a day to have the monks stop at their home each week to offer them a meal. It is a wonderful chance to be generous and to connect with the Hermitage monks.
Currently, there is a gap specifically on Mondays, since a supporter who had been offering alms on Mondays has moved away. Anyone interested in being a part of the weekly alms route in White Salmon and filling this open spot on Mondays, we would love to hear from you! Please email the Hermitage directly at hermitage@abhayagiri.org or call (509) 416-6654. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about the details of how this works.
Offer a Meal at the Hermitage on the Weekend
On the weekends, the monks warmly receive visitors at the Hermitage between 10:00 – 1:00, with the meal offered at 11 AM (since the monks may not eat past mid-day). If you would like to sign up to offer a meal on a Saturday or Sunday, you can email the Dana Coordinator at dana@pacifichermitage.org to sign up. Emailing the dana coordinator lets the Sangha know that the monks will have alms offered that day, and the names of those who have signed up appear on the Meal Dana Calendar on the website.
If there is a name on the Meals Calendar for a particular weekend day, please know that additional supporters are always welcome to sign up for the same date, or to spontaneously join in if they are inspired to do so.
Note that when you sign up to offer a weekend meal offering, you can either bring food to offer in person, or order a restaurant meal if you aren’t able to be there. You sign up for the day in the same way by emailing the dana coordinator, and mentioning that you will be placing a restaurant order. Please note whether the food will be delivered or if the monks will need to pick it up. More details and a few restaurant options are listed at the end of this post.
This way of offering alms can be a great alternative if your schedule, health, or the weather make offering in-person difficult. It may be especially useful as we transition into the winter, when snowy or icy roads can make travel difficult.
Join the Emergency Rescue Squad Group
Another beautiful part of the Hermitage’s web of support is the Emergency Dana Rescue Squad — a group of friends who can be contacted when a weekend meal offering date is open, or when there’s a last-minute cancellation. When this happens, the dana coordinator sends a group email to all those who have signed up for this list, and anyone who wishes may reply to sign up to offer that day (in person or by restaurant offering).
If you feel inspired to join this circle of helpers, please email dana@pacifichermitage.org to be added to the email list.
We are deeply grateful for all who continue to support the Hermitage with your generosity of food, time, and care. These offerings help sustain both the monastics and the wider community, and bring much joy to all.
Local Restaurants for Meal Offerings
Here are three local restaurants that make Restaurant Offerings possible:
White Salmon Baking Co (509) 281-3140
Best to order one day in advance; monks pick up the next day at 8 AM
Open every day 8am–3pm (closed Tuesdays)
Nativ Café (509) 426-5341
Best to order one day in advance; monks pick up the next day at 8 AM
Open every day 7am–3pm
Beneventi’s (509) 493-2177
Best to order one day in advance
Delivery to the Hermitage is available on Saturdays at 10 AM
Open Monday–Saturday 10:30 AM–8 PM (closed Sundays)
Visiting monastics at the Mitchell Point Tunnel looking across the Columbia River at Underwood, Washington.
Comings & Goings
Ajahn Sudanto will depart the Hermitage on October 8th for the Abhayagiri Kathina. After that, he will leave directly from there to begin his travels in Asia; he will return to the Hermitage on December 3rd. As is customary at the end of the vassa, Tan Sirimedho and Tan Jino will return to Abhayagiri on October 8th. We have so enjoyed spending time with them during the vassa, and wish them safe and beneficial journeys.
Ven. Sirimedho and Ven. Jiino at Beacon RockMike Jolliffe and Ven. Jino at Mt. MargaretVen. Sirimedho and Ven. Jino
Yoga Samadhi Tuesdays
Given Ajahn Sudanto’s upcoming travels, our Yoga Samadhi meditation and Dhamma discussions will change as noted below. From Tuesday, October 14th through December 2nd:
The 5:15-6:15 PM meditation sits will continue during this time, led by various members of the community. Note that during these weeks, people are welcome to join for a portion of this time, and are not required to attend the entire hour, as is normally the case.
The 6:30-7:30 PM meditation and Dhamma discussions will be on hold through December 2nd.
Both Tuesday evening programs at Yoga Samadhi will resume as usual on December 9th.
October Garden Party
The October Garden party will be held on Saturday, October 4th. This will be the last one of the year, and as is our tradition for October, we will be focused on preparing wood for the winter (more organizing the wood than cutting it).
This is a great opportunity to be generous while enjoying the autumn weather in the beautiful surroundings of the Hermitage. It is also a chance to connect with Ajahn Sudanto before he travels for most of October and November, and to see Tan Sirimedho and Tan Jino before their return to Abhayagiri.
This year is the 15th anniversary of the Hermitage, so it was especially joyful to have thirteen monks from three different monasteries join us for this auspicious event. We were quite happy to see Ajahns Jayanto and Cāganando from Temple Monastery; Ajahn Cunda, Tan Suddhiko, Tan Hemako, Samanera Gunākaro, and Anagarikas Andrew and Theo from Abhayagiri; and Ajahns Kovilo and Nisabho from Clear Mountain Monastery. It was such a gift to hear the voices of so many friends, supporters, and monks – the sound of spiritual friendship.
This year’s event was sponsored by both Takaaki Okada and by the Portland Friends of the Dhamma Upasika group. For the group of Upasikas – those who ‘draw near,’ – this was a culmination of the year of monthly gatherings. The tradition of the Upasikas coming together each month at the Hermitage to offer a meal and discuss Dhamma with the monks has been a mutually fruitful and joyful endeavor.
Approximately $31,600 was donated through the Pah Bah to fund the Monks’ Retreat House. Designed to be a two-story dwelling to comfortably accommodate elders and senior monks for visits and periods of solitary retreat, this project will be our biggest one to date. The vision and the planning for the project are in place, though the funding is still in early stages at this point.
Why is this project important? Today, there is not a place at the hermitage to house our esteemed elders such as Luang Por Pasanno and Luang Por Sucitto, and this generation of senior monastics. Just imagine if we could invite Luang Por Sucitto, for example, to spend the vassa with us right here in White Salmon. That we could offer alms, engage in Dhamma discussions, and practice with him – in that small town, unstructured way that can happen in a place like the Hermitage. This is the aspiration. We are grateful for this year’s offerings to this worthy project, and hope that the momentum for it continues to increase.
The Pah Bah was a beautiful weekend of Dhamma, generosity, and spiritual friendship. Here is one reflection of how the Pah Bah was experienced …
…The Pah Bah: Through the Eyes of an Upasikā
–by Cāgasiri
The feeling of caga – a Pali word that means generosity as well as renunciation – could be felt from the very first day of the event as a palpable warmth and openness of heart. The Dhamma talks given throughout the weekend picked up on this theme and offered opportunities to reflect on the radiance of giving while letting go of expectations, and letting things be.
Inspired by the Thai flower arranging workshop given Apple, a longtime supporter of Abhayagiri, handwoven strands of flowers streamed from the walls and swayed in the breeze as they hung from the outdoor pavilion. The altar and stage were a forest of green foliage, muted orange and mauve blossoms, with the glow of white sunflower petals. The flowers helped the event come to life with color, texture, and movement, allowing the community to magically transform a simple basketball court into a temple.
This year, the Saturday meal for the monastics was hosted at the event site. This created a continuity of caga – the attendees felt the radiance of their generosity flow into the afternoon of sitting and walking meditation. A guided meditation by Ajahn Kovilo asked us to explore a felt sense of mettā in the body, asking questions like, “Where is mettā in the body? In what way is mettā breathing?”
Throughout the weekend, groups of laypeople and monastics gathered near the slideshow that showcased a wide array of moments at the Pacific Hermitage over the years, dating back to its inception. There was a palpable delight in seeing friends and noting the faces (and the reality of aging!) of the lay supporters and monastics who have passed through the Hermitage over the years. Ajahn Caganando shared many memories of his five years spent at the Hermitage in the early days. It was such a gift for everyone present to experience the beautiful communion among laypeople and monastics – the Dhamma-family we create together with the bonds of mutual support, care, learning, and being seen.
As the robe cloth was offered, the sponsors all placed one arm on the shoulder of another to form a single entity of spiritual friendship, a tender matrix of merit. In addition to the traditional cloth offering, the Pah Bah is also a chance to proffer other requisites to the monastic community, such as donations for dwelling places. Ajahn Sudanto kindly gave tours of his kuti both evenings after the Pah Bah events, which prior year Pah Bah donations helped to complete.
At its core, the Pah Bah ceremony was a warm hearth that all participants drew close to for the weekend. As the radiant sun set over the hills of White Salmon, Washington, the glow of the day radiated like caga in action: many acts of generosity … as the day faded away.
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
