A new chapter is unfolding at the Hermitage with the creation of the Retreat House, a building project that will support the monastic community for years to come.
Tucked into the forested hillside, this two-story structure is designed to serve several important needs within the community. It will be the final major building project for the Hermitage, completing the long-term vision for its facilities.
Accommodations for Elder Teachers
The lower level will offer comfortable, accessible accommodations for elder teachers visiting the Hermitage. Features include an accessible sleeping room with an en-suite bathroom, separate living space for an attendant, a kitchenette, and restrooms.
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. Many are now in their eighties and nineties. 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 alongside them. It is the kind of unhurried, small-town gathering that can only happen in a place like the Hermitage.
A Meditation Hall and Gathering Space
The upper floor will house a peaceful meditation hall with expansive views of the forest, welcoming up to fifty practitioners for community events, Buddhist holy days, and times of shared practice. This hall will also become the home for the Buddha Rupa, recently gifted to Ajahn Sudanto from Thailand.
It is easy to imagine the quiet moments that may unfold here. Practitioners gathered outside in the evening light, the forest settling into stillness around them. A few cups of tea shared together. Drawing close to revered teachers, hearing the Dhamma and receiving the gifts of their time and presence.
Projects like this begin as a simple aspiration. With the steady generosity of many people, that aspiration gradually takes form.
The Retreat House is estimated to cost $1.2 million.
About ten percent of the needed funds have already been offered. We are hoping to have the project largely funded by 2027 so it may be completed by the Hermitage’s 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.
If you would like to help bring this vision into being, donations can be designated for the Retreat House through the link below.