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 …
Meal Dana Update
Our new Dana Coordinator, Cāgasiri, has shared an update on all the ways the community can participate in this beautiful act of generosity. Meal Dana Coordinator Update Recently, there was a meal offering organized to bring folks out to the Hermitage who had never offered a meal to the monastics before. There was a palpable …
Autumn News
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 …