While traveling in Thailand recently, Ajahn Sudanto was offered a beautiful Buddha statue and stand for the Pacific Hermitage. Depicting the Buddha’s first teaching at Deer Park, the statue is a replica of a renowned piece of Indian art from about 500 CE currently housed in a museum in Varanasi, India. The image shows the …
New Temporary Dana Coordinator
Chris Holcombe, a dedicated practitioner living in Fairview, Oregon, will be serving as our temporary Dana Coordinator. Chris has enjoyed visiting the Hermitage over the years with his family, and steps into this role with a spirit of generosity and care. He looks forward to supporting the flow of dana and connecting with the community. …
A Winter Update
Happy 2026! The Hermitage has entered into the Winter Retreat time, which is from January 1st – March 31st. As previously noted, Ajahn Sudanto will be the only monastic in residence through the end of March. This is the first time that Ajahn has had the chance to spend winter retreat at the hermitage alone, …
Registration for the 2026 Pacific Hermitage-Birken Monastery Retreats is Open
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 …
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A Winter Meal Dana Update
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 …