The Board of Directors
The Sanghata Board of Directors serve as stewards helping the community provide the basic needs – the requisites – of the monastics living at the Pacific Hermitage. This support allows the monastics to live in accordance with the Vinaya (Buddhist monastic code) and to teach the Buddha Dhamma in the Pacific Northwest. The requisites include: food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.
Sanghata receives and holds monetary donations given to the Pacific Hermitage; pays bills, and provides requisites as needed by the monastics. We ensure that financial transactions are carried out legally, fairly, and in consultation with the monastics. We welcome inquiries from the community about the Sanghata organization, our finances, the requisites for the monastics, and the role of stewards.
For more information please contact: dana@sanghata.net.
Scott Benge
President
Scott is a retired business owner. He became a Buddhist practitioner in 2002 and has been inspired by the Theravadan monastic tradition. Scott has served on several for-profit and non-profit boards over the years. He resides with his wife Joan in Bend.
Jessica Swanson
Vice President
Jessica is the Spiritual Director of Portland Friends of the Dhamma and a founder of the Pacific Hermitage. She has been training in the Ajahn Chah/Abhayagiri lineage since 2003. She lives in Vancouver, Wash., with her spouse and two kids.
Jay Harrington
Treasurer
A resident of Seattle, Jay began practicing in the Thai Forest Tradition in 2009. He has been visiting the Pacific Hermitage since 2010, and joined the board in 2020. He is excited to help support monastic Buddhism as it puts down roots in the Northwest.
Mike Jolliffe
Director
Mike is a long-time practitioner in the Ajahn Chah lineage. He joined the Sanghata board in 2023, and lives in Portland.