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Moving the Meditation HallMoving the Meditation Hall (en Español)Back to 2011 GalleryThe Meditation Hall is at the very heart of the community; it is essential to the life of a monastery. Visitors tell us that when they enter the Meditation Hall, they instantly feel the stillness and peace there, created by the presence of the many Buddha images and the accumulated energy of thousands of hours of meditation and Dharma teachings that took place in the Hall. This well-loved, one-of-a-kind Meditation Hall also sits on the best possible site for the Abbey’s soon-to-be-built guesthouse, Chenrezig Hall. And so, with enthusiastic effort, the community has decided to move our beloved Meditation Hall up the hill to make way for the much-needed Chenrezig Hall. (Click here to make an offering to support the effort ) ![]() In 2004, we transformed the original log-cabin-style garage into the beautiful log-cabin Meditation Hallthat we have today. ![]() “All for one and for all!” The community pledges to work together harmoniously, each doing our part in the effort to move the Meditation Hall up the hill ![]() Tim Wilson, architect for Gotami House who is designing Chenrezig Hall, paces off the new site for the Meditation Hall, which is currently right behind him. ![]() Mike Rubert, an experienced local house-mover, explains to Ven. Chodron the intricate process of jacking up and rolling the building to its new location. ![]() Community resident Terri, a former Navy Chief Petty Officer, will oversee the project. John Perry, our trusted excavator on many Abbey projects, will create a new, secure foundation for the Meditation Hall. ![]() Students from Eastern Washington University join us for the October Sharing the Dharma Day. Immediately after the program ends, we begin to disassemble the Hall and recruit the students’ help. ![]() First order of business: relocate the central Buddha statue. Local volunteer Stan outlines a plan for moving the several-hundred-pound statue. ![]() The students gently hoist the Buddha up onto a table, then back out the door . . . ![]() . . . moving the Buddha into Ananda Hall where he will radiate love and compassion until we take him back to the altar in the new location. ![]() Next we begin to move the kangyur and tengyer, the precious texts containing the Buddha’s teachings and the Indian commentaries. Everyone pitches in. ![]() Jessie and Choon Fah, dear Dharma friends from Singapore, carefully wrap the texts so we can keep them in order. ![]() Then everyone joins in the procession to carry the texts to their temporary home in the community room. ![]() Dani, a new resident recently arrived from Germany, integrates quickly into the community effort. ![]() The community room quickly fills with furniture and holy objects. Here too, Abbey residents and guests are all engaged in the activity. ![]() Terri begins the next step: prying up the laminate flooring. We will re-use this in Chenrezig Hall, as the Meditation Hall will be carpeted in its new location. ![]() Soon all that remains is the altar, which will require care and skill to disassemble, store, and then reassemble in the new location. ![]() A beautiful light showers the Meditation Hall and its future location, with the entrance facing the large rock in the left central photo. Photo Gallery |




















