Is carpooling from Portland available, and how does it work?

Yes, there is an optional gathering point in Portland for carpooling. Rides are coordinated by email, so you need to include the requested carpool details when you RSVP. The hermitage is at 65 Barnedt Rd, White Salmon, WA.

Will David Sudar be leading a meditation or teaching at this event?

The organizer's description doesn't list a formal teaching or meditation session led by David Sudar. The day centers on offering a meal, eating together, and talking with the resident monks. David is a Portland-based insight teacher and former Theravāda monk who trained 21 months in Myanmar with Sayadaw U Tejaniya, which gives a useful context for the dhamma conversation.

Who is this Service Day for, and what is it meant to accomplish?

It suits people who want informal connection with the sangha, want to support monastics living a dedicated practice life, or are curious about visiting a quiet hermitage and talking with its residents. The Sangha Service Days aim to put the Buddha's teaching on sīla (virtuous action) into practice and to build spiritual friendship. It's less suited to anyone looking for a structured daylong silent retreat, which alternates in other months.

Spiritual Gathering

Sangha Service Day: Meal Offering

Name: Sangha Service Day: Meal Offering
Start: 2026-12-12T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-12-12T22:30:00.000Z
Location: Pacific Hermitage

Date

Dec 12, 2026

9:00 AM – 2:30 PM PST

Location

Pacific Hermitage

White Salmon, WA

Tap to see on map

At a Glance

Featuring

David Sudar

Duration

5.5 hours

Start time

9:00 AM

Description

Sangha Service Day at Pacific Hermitage is a Buddhist meal offering and community gathering in White Salmon, Washington, for people from the Portland sangha and anyone drawn to Theravada practice. Together we offer a meal to the three monks who live full-time at Pacific Hermitage, eat with them, and spend time in conversation. The monks are in the Ajahn Chah lineage and often travel to Portland to give teachings, so for some this is a chance to visit them at home.

The day is part of a monthly series that alternates between daylong meditation retreats and service days. Service days put the Buddha's teaching on sīla, virtuous action, into practice through generosity and loving-kindness. They are also an informal way to build spiritual friendship, which the Buddha described as the whole of the path.

What to Expect

The day runs from 9 am to about 2:30 pm. The flow is simple:

- 9:00 am: gather in Portland for carpooling (optional)
- 10:15 am: arrive at the hermitage
- 11:00 am: offer the meal to the resident monastics, then eat together
- About 12:00 pm: meet informally with the monks, ask questions, and join a dhamma discussion
- About 1:00 pm: departure

Think of it as a potluck where three of the guests may not prepare anything and eat only once a day. The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, with time to talk with the residents rather than only listen to them.

The Setting

Pacific Hermitage is a quiet, peaceful hermitage in White Salmon, Washington, where three monks live and practice. The shared lunch is eaten at the hermitage. Those coming from Portland can carpool, arranged by email once you RSVP. If you want a ride, include the requested carpool information with your RSVP so rides can be organized in time.

Before You Go

No particular level of meditation experience is needed. The day is built around sharing a meal and conversation, and it is held in English.

- RSVP by email is requested.
- Bringing food is welcome but not required.
- Shared lunch with the resident monastics is part of the day.
- Transportation to White Salmon is not provided unless you join the optional carpool.

The hermitage keeps a Q&A about the practice of meal offering, which is worth reading beforehand if you are new to the custom.

Featuring

Lineup

David Sudar

Meditation Teacher

David Sudar is a Buddhist and insight meditation teacher based in Portland, Oregon. A former Theravāda Buddhist monk, he has spent over three years on Insight Meditation retreats,…

Venue

Pacific Hermitage

65 Barnedt Rd, White Salmon, WA 98672

White Salmon, WA, US

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Common Questions

FAQs

Registration is by RSVP email to sanghaserviceday AT gmail DOT com. If you want to carpool from Portland, include the requested carpool information in your RSVP by December 7th so rides can be organized in time.

Bringing food isn't required, but the organizers say it's helpful. They describe the day as a potluck where three of the guests, the resident monks, aren't allowed to prepare anything. The monks also eat only once per day, so the shared meal is the center of the visit.

Three Buddhist monks live at the hermitage full-time, engaged in deep practice. They are in the Ajahn Chah lineage and often visit Portland to give teachings. Many in the organizing sangha have a meaningful connection to this tradition.

Arrival is around 10:15am, followed by offering the meal to the monastics and then eating together. After that comes an informal gathering with the monks to ask questions and have a dhamma discussion, with departure around 1:00pm. Times like the discussion and departure are approximate.