Entering Winter Retreat

Days are short and the wood stove is crackling at the Hermitage. Weather's changing unpredictably. It’s a time of year that encourages turning inward. From January 2nd to March 31st, we’ll put aside building work and unnecessary travel, and enter a period of Winter Retreat. This has become a tradition in our western branch monasteries, taking time in the winter to simplify our schedules and devote the majority of our energies to cultivating our understanding and practice of the Buddha’s teachings. For the next three months the focus of life at the hermitage will be long hours of meditation, and a deepening of our efforts to grow in peace and wisdom. We’ll still go on alms round in White Salmon every day. There will still be a sign up for meal offerings at the Hermitage four days a week. On those days we'll be available to talk after the meal if people have questions. We’ll try to limit the time and return to meditation by 1pm at the latest. We won’t have anyone staying with us who can store or cook food, so the meal offering situation won't change much from our current routine. The Meditation and Dhamma talk at Yoga Samadhi will continue every Tuesday 7-8:30pm throughout the retreat. We'll postpone the first Saturday of the month teachings until April. If all goes according to plan, Ajahn Sudanto will return from Thailand on January 21st to join us for the winter retreat at the Hermitage. Best wishes for a peaceful and happy new year, The Pacific Hermitage Monks