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.
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.
The Pah Bah
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.