A lay community gathering to support the Pacific Hermitage.
Honored Guests
We’re honored to have Luang Por Pasanno back with us this year for the Pah Bah. Abbot Ajahn Jayanto and Ajahn Caganando from Temple Forest Monastery will also be joining us, along with Abhayagiri’s Co-Abbot Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Sek, and several more monastics from Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.
Location: Mtn. View Grange, 1085 N Main Avenue, White Salmon, WA
Saturday, September 21: Meditation retreat with the monks (half-day)
Sunday, September 22: Almsround, meal offering, Pah Bah ceremony
More information: pahbah@sanghata.net
Everyone is welcome. Come for any or all activities. It’s free. Donations are welcome, but not required.
Schedule for the Weekend
SATURDAY: Meditation Retreat
1:00-5:00 PM: Meditation Retreat
Upstairs at Grange (door on Main Ave)
Monks will lead sitting and walking meditation and offer Dhamma reflections. Chairs will be available, but please bring your own cushions if you want to sit on the floor.
SUNDAY: Family-Friendly, Food, Friends and Pah Bah Ceremony!
UPDATE: There will be a Children’s/Family Area downstairs during Sunday’s Pah Bah ceremony. No adult supervision or organized programs are planned, but there will be books, toys and games.
8:30-9:15 AM: Alms Round
Jewett Blvd & Main Ave, White Salmon
The monks will walk almsround starting on E. Jewett Blvd. at about 8:30 AM, then north on N. Main Ave., arriving at the Grange about 9:15 AM. All alms food will be put on the meal offering table.
10:30 AM: Meal Offering/Potluck
Downstairs at Grange (door on Estes Ave)
Please arrive no later than 10:30 AM, if you’re bringing food. Bring your food ready to serve, in your own serving bowl/plate, with your own serving utensil. The meal will be offered to the monks at about 11:00 AM. Please plan to take home any leftovers.
1:00-3:00 PM: PAH BAH CEREMONY
Upstairs at Grange (door on Main Ave)
The Pah Bah ceremony includes the offering of robe cloth and material goods as well as monastic chanting and Dhamma reflections by senior monks. No meditation. Other languages may be spoken, but English will be the predominant language. This is a family-oriented event and you are free to come and go as you please. Chairs will be available. Please bring your own cushion if you want to sit on the floor.
A Pah Bah is a traditional Thai ceremony, originally to offer cloth for monks’ robes. In modern times, it has also become a gathering of friends (old and new!) for a potluck meal and offering needed material goods and monetary donations. Pah Bahs are initiated by members of the lay community, and Sanghata, the board of stewards for the Hermitage, helps organize the event. Children are welcome.
Volunteers appreciated — Help would be appreciated for setting up and taking down chairs, tables, tents, etc. at these times: Sat. 9:00 AM – noon, Sun. 9:00 – 10:30 AM, and Sun. 3:30 – 5:00 PM. Contact pahbah@sanghata.net if you’d like to help or have additional questions.
Offering Support for the Pacific Hermitage
Support comes in many shapes and sizes — offering alms food or meals, material goods, transportation, gardening skills, etc. Visit the Pacific Hermitage Support page for more information. See below and visit Sanghata for information on offering monetary support.
Financial offerings are welcome and necessary — The Hermitage is funded entirely by donations. Since Thai Forest Traditions monks are not allowed to receive or handle money, donations and all financial matters are entrusted to a lay board of stewards. For the Pacific Hermitage, that board is Sanghata. They help you support the monks so the monks can focus on practice, study and offering teachings.
For information about Sanghata, Hermitage finances, or different methods of offering donations, please visit the Sanghata website, send an email, or stop by the dana (donation) table at the Pah Bah. Regular monthly offerings, small or large, are especially helpful for Hermitage planning and budgeting.
Dana list (needed items) — To offer material goods, check out the dana list, or email us for information. Please do not offer the items listed as “Not needed.” There is little storage space at the Hermitage, so excess quantities are given away. Gift cards are a helpful alternative. Hermitage stewards use them to buy items when they are needed. Amazon, Home Depot or Ace Hardware cards are most useful.
Pacific Hermitage Mailing List
Are you on our mailing list? Is your information current?
Please use the form on our website pages to sign up for event notices, informational emails and postal mailings. If your contact information has changed, you’ll need to fill in the form again.