Meal Dana FAQ | Pacific Hermitage

(Frequently Asked Questions)

Hello! Anumodana for your kind generosity. This page, in combination with the Meal Offering page and the Local Alms page, is to help provide answers to questions you might have about offering a meal to Pacific Hermitage monks. This information is regularly updated, so please check back every now and again to see if there are changes.

Should you still have any further questions after reading this, please email the hermitage dana coordinator at dana@pacifichermitage.org

Below is the list of all the questions answered on this page, with all the answers further below. You can quickly jump to specific answers by clicking on the links.

How many monks are in residence at the Hermitage?

There are normally 3 monks living at the Hermitage. Sporadically, there may only be one or two monks, or more than 3 when other monastics visit, but the usual number is 3. Please check the dana calendar about a week before your scheduled visit and you will see the accurate number of monks in residence displayed on the calendar.

How many meals per day can the monks consume, and when?

According to the Vinaya (the code of conduct for Buddhist monastics), monks are allowed to eat between dawn and midday. In the summertime midday can be as late as 1:00 PM due to the longer days, while in the wintertime, the meal must be consumed by noon. At the Hermitage, the monks typically eat only one meal at 11:00 AM. Thus, they typically eat more than an average person who consumes three meals a day would eat. Please consider this (and how many monks are in residence) when determining how much food to bring.

Do any of the monks have food allergies?

There are currently no monks at the Hermitage who have food allergies or sensitivities.

Are there any food preferences or restrictions the monks have?

The monks are grateful for whatever food is offered for their daily sustenance. However, the Buddha listed certain foods that the monks may not consume. These foods include raw meat (for example sushi), or meat from an animal that was specifically killed to offer to the monks – for example, if someone slaughtered a chicken (or had one slaughtered) exclusively for the sake of the monks.

An aspect of the monks’ training rules is to receive whatever food is offered. After receiving the food they can decide what foods they wish to individually consume. Please feel free to bring whatever food you are comfortable with offering.

If you have any questions about food items allowed, please ask the monks about these rules when you visit with them.

If you’re curious:

To learn more about the monastic rules that guide when and what the monks can eat, you might find the below resources of interest (but not necessary for offering meal dana).

The Latukikopma Sutta (Majjhima NIkaya 66) to understand why monks only eat in the morning time.
You can learn more about the monks’ rules by reading this comprehensive guide for lay people, or the monks’ rules on food.

When can I visit the Hermitage to offer a meal?

On the weekends, visitors may arrive around 10:15 am and stay until 1:30 pm. Please check the calendar and sign up for when you would like to bring a meal by emailing the dana coordinator at dana@pacifichermitage.org. All are welcome! If there are already one or several people signed up on the Dana Calendar for a particular day, visitors are still welcome to join the event and should not worry that they are encroaching on another person’s meal dana offering.

What are the weekend meal offering visiting protocols?

The meal is typically offered to the receiving monk by 11:00 AM. Once the meal has been offered, the monks will chant a blessing, and then take their meal in silence. You are then welcome to take your meal and eat outside or in the kitchen area. Once the monks have finished the meal, the monks are available to visit and answer questions, usually around noon.

NOTE: Although meal offerings may be brought to the Hermitage any day of the week, it is only on the weekends that the monks receive guests after the meal.

Do I have to offer a meal to visit the Hermitage?

No, you do not. On the weekends, if you would like to visit the monks without participating in the meal offering, you may do so by arriving at noon. Please note that this is not possible on the weekdays.

Do the monks need food items other than the meal? (“allowables”)

In the Theravada Tradition, monks are allowed to consume “tonics” or what are also called “allowables” in the afternoon/evening/early morning to stave off weakness or illness. These include things like cheese, butter, dark chocolate, etc.. Once received, these items may be stored for up to seven days (some types of consumables like tea/coffee may be stored for longer).

If you are interested, you can read this explanation of the Vinaya rule about “tonics”. These tonics include: honey, sugar, molasses, butter/ghee and other oils, cheese and plain dark chocolate.

Are there other non-food and material goods needed?

The monks can sometimes use regular household items. These items are posted on the Support Page under the title: “Needed and Useful Material Items.” The needed items can be brought to the Hermitage or sent via any type of US parcel service. Please use this specific form of address if you send a package: The Pacific Hermitage, 65 Barnedt Rd. Apt. 803, White Salmon, WA 98672.

There are additional ways to support the monks through offering your services or monetary donations. Please visit the hermitage Support page for more information.

How much and what should I bring when offering a meal to the monks?

When can I visit, and what are the meal offering protocols?

Can I offer other items besides food for the meal?