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 Buddha’s hands in the Dhammacakka mudrā, signifying the setting in motion the Wheel of Dhamma. The original is considered one of the most important masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture in world, and it fully conveys the concept of the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the teaching on the four noble truths.
The image offered is crafted from red sandstone, is slightly taller than 5 feet, and weighs more than 1,700 pounds. The offering was made specifically for the new Monks’ Retreat House to be built at the Hermitage (more on this below).
How the Offering Happened
Many kind people were involved in this offering, and how it came about seems quite auspicious. Ajahn Sudanto was visiting the Wat Pah Boonlorm monastery in Ubon, Thailand. The Vice-Abbot, Ajahn Dhirapanno, had commissioned a Buddha statue for a new uposatha hall to be built. As is customary, a twin of the image was made at the same time.
When Ajahn Sudanto admired the Buddha image, Ajahn Dhirapañño coordinated with the sponsor of the images to offer its twin to the Pacific Hermitage. Our community is very grateful to Ajahn Dhirapañño and to the sponsor, Phra Luang Por Suthum Sudhammo, Abbot of Wat Baan Taad monastery, along with a main supporter, Dr. Narirat and her family, for this very generous gift. In addition, a sandstone pedestal base for the image was offered by Khun Sirichai and his family, the owners of the factory where it was made.
As is the custom, Ajahn Dhirapañño offered to name the Hermitage’s image. “Pariyosāna Sakyāmuni,” means “Śākyamuni, the Sage who has attained the serene and consummate fulfillment of Dhamma.”
Ajahn Sudanto went to the factory to chant blessings and invite the Buddha to the Pacific Hermitage. He invited Ajahn Achallo, Abbot of Anadagiri Monastery in Petchabun, Thailand, and Ajahn Ñyaṇiko, Abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery in California to join him for this joyous occasion.
Beautiful Connections to our Roots in Thailand
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 in another sweet connection, even the source of the sandstone is from an area near Kahi Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand where Ajahn Sudanto went on pilgrimage with one of his early teachers, Ajahn Gunha. Having this image enshrined at the Pacific Hermitage will be a powerful symbol of the connection with our Thai Forest family right here in the Pacific Northwest.
The New Monks’ Retreat House to Be Built
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 now everything is in place to move forward with this important project as soon as sufficient funds have been raised.
The Retreat House will be a multi-use space, but its primary purpose is to suitably accommodate senior monks in our Thai Forest tradition for visits and periods of solitary retreat. Features of this two-story dwelling include an accessible sleeping room with an en-suite bathroom, separate living space for an attendant, a kitchenette, and restrooms. It will also have a peaceful meditation and gathering space with expansive views of the forest that may be used for a variety of occasions.
This project 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 in place, we will be able to invite these elders to spend extended periods of time with us right here in White Salmon. The community would have the chance to offer alms, engage in Dhamma discussions, and practice with them – in that small town, unstructured way that can actually happen in a place like the Hermitage.
The Retreat House will be the final major building project for the Hermitage, with only an additional monk’s cabin and some small renovations necessary to complete the vision for the hermitage facilities. 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. And the new Buddha image is certainly a beautiful way to begin!
How You Can Help
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.