The Buddhist Temple

Place reeks of devotion, and seems to draw a very lovely (buy way small) crowd. It’s super legit, though just a small house behind another house, and might be intimidating to some. but highly recommended.

A place of peace, compassion, and happiness. This Theravada Buddhist temple, one of many Buddhist centers in the Nashville area, welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds for meditation sessions. Talks in English are held on Sunday mornings 9am-10:30am and on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm. The typical Sunday begins with some introductory recitations in English and Pali of taking refuge in the Triple Gem and upholding the moral Five Precepts, as well as loving-​kindness mindfulness. Then, the monk leads 30 – 45 minutes of silent meditation, to focus the mind on the true nature of being. If you are new, he will spend a little bit of time introducing Vipassana (insight) meditation techniques. For some beginners, sitting for half an hour may be a little long and lead to some mild uncomfortableness or muscle soreness, but it is acceptable to quietly and slowly shift positions or get up and move around if the pain is causing a mental distraction. Just maintain mindfulness of the present moment, and note that all feelings are subjective and impermanent. Improvements and mental calmness come with practice — just like playing the piano, you are not an expert on the first try! The second half of the service consists of ~30 minutes of a discussion on a dharma-​topic, such as how to focus the mind, or free ourselves from mundane associations and remove greed, ignorance, and hatred. We end with a wish to share our compassion and merit with all living beings.
True Buddhism is very deep and can be quite easily misunderstood or wrongly interpreted if one only gets a superficial view. Hence, the monks are open to questions at all levels, especially those brand new to mindfulness, meditation, or Buddhism. The previous monk was born in Kentucky and very conversant; the current monk hails originally from Burma. Currently, on a typical Sunday, there are a dozen or so participants, so you will not be overwhelmed by crowds and can have plenty of time to interact and ask questions. Occasionally, there will be snacks after service at the gazebos. The main downside is the facility — the buildings themselves are fine, but the driveway has only about 4 spots for cars, the rest of the parking is on the grass in the back. However, no matter where you park, after attending a meditation session and talk, you leave with a refreshed mind and increased appreciation of joy in life.
Please call for information on weekly activities in Burmese. Their website is