posted Sep 14, 2011 6:54 PM by Rachel Uris
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updated Oct 6, 2011 3:44 PM
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Lay supporters of the Pacific Hermitage, Scott & Joan Benge, and Rachel Uris would like to share this information:
Dear friends of the Pacific Hermitage monks:We hope you’ll come celebrate with us!On Saturday, October 15th, there will be a Pah Bah ceremony sponsored by the lay community that sustains the
Pacific Hermitage monks. Since the time of the Buddha, offering ceremonies have been made to celebrate the interdependence of the monastic and lay community and to mark the end of the three-month summer Vassa Retreat. This ceremony is an opportunity for friends of the monks to offer support for their shelter, clothing, and other material requisites needed in the new year. The offeringAs lay supporters, Scott, Joan and Rachel have chosen to focus this Pah Bah on making offerings where the need is greatest. We would like to let you know that monetary donations are deeply appreciated and especially necessary now to provide a permanent residence for the Hermitage monks. In order to purchase this ideal small parcel of forested land at 65 Barnedt Road in White Salmon, the lay stewards of the the Pacific Hermitage secured a five year loan. $93,000 has already been offered. And we have tremendous faith that the remaining $368,000 will be fully-funded by 2016. Please contact Scott Benge at PahBah2011@gmail.com or call 503-781-3588 to ask any questions or make a gift specifically to this fund. You can also go online to make a gift of any amount, and designate it for any purpose. If you are interested in viewing a list of the material needs of the hermitage, please see the Useful Item Dana List or contact Joan Benge at PahBah2011@gmail.com or 503-636-9836.*We’ve seen directly for ourselves that gifts of all sizes and kinds provide needed support and bring much happiness to both givers and recipients!*The scheduleThe day will begin with the meal offering promptly at 11:00 am. We will be meeting at the Mountain View Grange,
1085 N. Main Ave, in White Salmon, Washington. After the meal, the offering ceremony will take place, beginning at 1:00 pm, followed by a Dhamma talk and informal tea and conversation with the community until 4 pm.
Tours of the new Pacific Hermitage land will be available throughout the afternoon.
VolunteeringIf you’re interested in managing the volunteers for the day, please contact Rachel Uris at PahBah2011@gmail.com
or call 503-754-7481. And if you wish to help with any of the practical aspects of the day, we have a list of volunteer needs and a sign-up sheet.All are WelcomePlease feel free to bring your whole family: we intend to include children in the offering ceremony.We look forward to seeing you on this special day! ----Scott and Joan Benge, and Rachel Uris
More about the Kathina-season Pah Pah ceremony and ways of getting involved
(based on an essay by Jeannie Bendick at Abhayagiri.org)
Since the earliest days of Buddhist monastic life a three-month Rains (Vassa) Retreat has been observed in Southeast Asia. During this time, the renunciants would commit to staying in one place to live and practice together. As the name suggests, the monsoon season was a logical time to stop the wandering aspect of the homeless life since travel during this time was so difficult. When this practice period was over, the lay community supporting the monastery gathered to celebrate the completion of the retreat with a festival called the Kathina. Although an official Kathina ceremony can only take place when there are five or more monks in residence for the Vassa, a Pah Bah can be offered to a community of any size.
Though the monsoon season affects life less in modern times, the tradition of the Rains Retreat continues. And while summer and early autumn are the driest times in the Pacific Northwest, this Kathina-season Pah Bah also marks the end of the Rains (or “no rains”!) Retreat. The day begins with a traditional meal offering and is followed by chanting and taking the precepts. A Dhamma talk is offered and the celebration includes gifts of supplies that are needed by the community for the coming year.
If you can’t attend because of distance or calendar conflicts, you can still take part in the Pah Bah offering. A Kathina/Pah Bah “wish list” of specific items that would be useful is available, and many items can be sent by mail. You can notify Joan Benge at PahBah2011@gmail.com when you’ve chosen what you’d like to give, and she will update the list accordingly, which helps eliminate duplication. Financial offerings are also gratefully received. The Pacific Hermitage has many ongoing expenses: you can designate your gift for general operating costs such as medical insurance or utility bills or earmark your contribution for the Pacific Hermitage land purchase. Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated!
Whether you are able to come and enjoy the actual day of Pah Bah or can only participate “in spirit,” it is a rich experience to lend a hand, in whatever way, to the support of the Pacific Hermitage. The monastic Sangha, as alms mendicants, exists only through the generosity of lay supporters. With this support, the monastics can live a simple life devoted to the practice, and freely share the Teachings of the Buddha. Their generous example helps our Dana (generosity) flow out in response. It’s a lovely circle of giving and receiving between the lay and monastic communities.
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