I was so surprised to find this little Buddhist gem meditation "room" tucked away in an unassuming…read morearea of Nashville! My family is Buddhist so I grew up frequenting many temples in Southern California and it was definitely nice to discover a place for Buddhists in the city while spending 2 years in TN. This isn't really a temple though, so don't look for a traditional temple exterior; instead, it just appears to be a small house. The space only accommodates approximately 10 people and a monk--my first time seeing a Caucasian monk which was pretty cool--but it makes for an intimate, cozy spiritual experience. Meditation sessions are free (but please consider donating, as that's what enables the monk to live there and provide teachings). You meditate as a group on provided cushions and pillows for about 30ish minutes and then the monk spends the rest of the session providing a short lecture on aspects of Buddhism. All are welcome so definitely stop by and try a session/class for yourself! I believe they have them Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Get there early as space can be limited. And don't forget to take note of the cool quotes attached on the trees that line the driveway!

A place of peace, compassion, and happiness. This Theravada Buddhist temple, one of many Buddhist…read morecenters 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 http://thebuddhisttemple.org/

I came to this place hoping for the best experience they had to offer and nothing happened. It was…read moregreat! Being unschooled in Buddhist teachings and never having experienced this school of meditation I was planning to do my own thing. I did do my own thing, meditate, but was surprised at how warm and inviting the energy is here. I have since let go of some of my resistance to following the crowd due purely to their acceptance of me where I am. The space itself is austere with high ceilings and natural light. The cushions are comfy. The atmosphere created by the simple structure of the sit gives room to get into a deep inner place. The conversation at the end if the sit feels communal and more like fellowship than a lesson or instruction. There is plenty of street parking as well as a rough gravel parking lot. Make sure to get there on time on weeknights because the building is locked. The fee is donations​ or membership and the staff is volunteer based. Everyone obviously loves what they do. Their acceptance, openness, and wholesomeness make them a great addition to the community.

From the owner: Snow Lion offers meditation instruction in the Buddhist tradition, regular group meditation…read morepractice, dharma discussion, community gatherings and events, meditation retreats, and much more. This is a wonderful community of practitioners, and we hope that you will join us!

We just happen to visit Nashville on the same weekend as the Lao New Year celebration. This was our…read morefirst time going here. We didn't expect this place to be as big as it is. There were so many vendors here for food, drinks and other items like jewelry, t shirts and hats. Parking can be tight on the dirt road due to lots of attendees. This event was crowded. There is so much food here. Each vendor prices varies so make sure you look around first. For example, sugarcane is $8 at one place, $10 dollar at another place for the same cup. Overall this place is a great place to go during the Lao new year celebration during memorial weekend. The celebration open from Friday to Sunday and it opens late until 11pm. Admission is $15 cash per person.

Peaceful except on busy road. Needs some maintenance but my son enjoys the statues and awareness…read morevibe.

Traditional Nyingma Vajrayana. Beautiful Temple. Beautiful Shrine. Beautiful Rinpoche. Great…read morePerfect Teachings.

A refreshing find - PBC stands for Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, which has a very nice branch here…read morein Nashville! A tradition based on love, compassion, and wisdom, Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism has spread quite far, with the master teachers of this temple among the last group of monastics to have been fully educated in Tibet before the loss of their homeland. The remaining monk who is still alive primarily stays at the main US branch in upstate New York, but visits here yearly to maintain proper guidance of orthodox Buddhism in the Nyingma tradition. Now, if you have no idea what some of those words just used means, don't worry! Almost everyone here started as beginners, and those words are just fancy descriptions. What is more important is understanding the true nature of being, of being able to channel positive energies into focusing the mind and body, of sharing compassion with all. This place certainly provides a nice, quiet, and cozy place for contemplation - as well as a surprisingly large crowd on Sundays for discussions! The Sunday service is suitable for complete newcomers as well as those who are knowledgeable about Buddhism. As there are many different schools and techniques in Buddhism, each temple has a different focus, and this one seems to emphasize discussion about a selected topic each week, such as how to deal with anger on and off the cushion. Indeed, the introductory Sunday service (11am-12pm) is mostly a discussion (although feel free to just sit back and listen, only participate as much as you are comfortable with), with only a short amount of time dedicated to meditation and chanting. There are also other activities during the week: meditation practices, dharma talks and study groups, a little something for everyone. Also, whenever the center is open, there is a small Tibetan gift store and Buddhist bookshop inside. On the positive note, this temple maintains adherence to established Buddhist lineages and the true Dharma - very important to note since as Buddhism takes root in the US, many novices (or outright fraudsters seeking fame and fortune) may establish schools with wrong teachings (something rather common among "Tibetan Buddhist" places) and lead people astray from real Buddhist teachings. Thus, in summary, this is a hidden gem in Nashville - an English-language Buddhist temple with a large congregation that welcomes its arms to all who are interested in discovering the peaceful path. More info at www.pbc-tn.org

Warm, welcoming place to find a way back to yourself. A wonderful place to meditate and learn about…read moreBuddhist teachings. People here do not just speak of compassion, they actually live it.

A good friend brought me to the Sunday night Dharma Talk and Meditation at Wild Heart (formerly…read moreAgainst the Stream) in September when I first moved to town. While I was interested in mindfulness and meditation, I didn't have a regular practice. As someone who thrives with external accountability, however, the idea of practicing in a room full of people at the same time every week was super appealing. After parking at the lot next door at the Plasma Center (Wild Heart is very clear about please not parking in front of or behind their building, but instead along the road next to the building or in the lot next door), slipped off our shoes and took a seat on some cushions on the floor of the large mediation room. There are also chairs and a big bean bag in the corner, along with props and even blankets to make yourself comfortable. Relatively inexperienced at meditation, I was a little intimidated at first, but soon I felt right at home as Andrew offered guidance through the 20 or so minute practice. A 30 or so minute Dharma Talk followed. Again, I was casually interested in Buddhism but had done no formal study or practice. I brought a notebook to take notes, but many people just listened. The topic, cravings, was relevant to my life and seemed to be relevant to many others who chose to share during the discussion later. While the topic was presented through a Buddhist understanding and using some Pali/Sanskrit terminology, there was no doctrine being pushed, only a conversation about what it can sometimes be like to be human. A brief discussion ensued following the Dharma Talk, during which anyone who felt compelled or comfortable to share their experience could, but no pressure. Sometimes people ask questions about meditation techniques, sometimes they share extremely personal stories and struggles, and sometimes no one shares and Andrew has a line for that too. Attending on Sunday nights has been so beneficial to my own self knowledge and my compassion. Every week, I leave feeling like my life has become richer, like I've put a new lens onto my experience of the world, or taken one off. I have brought friends to the Sunday night sessions who all have different backgrounds in meditation and mindfulness, and without fail, we walk out bubbling up with excitement about how somehow it seemed to be just what we needed to hear. I have only attended the Sunday night sessions, but the Center offer so many other groups throughout the week. There are weekly groups for people in recovery, daily yoga offerings, and other mindfulness-related groups throughout the week. They also host guest teachers and retreats on a regular basis, and have special events around the holidays. One of the things I appreciate most about Wild Heart is that it is entirely donation-based in order to accommodate everyone interested in their services, regardless of their ability to pay. Teachers mention this at the end of their classes, but there is never any "hawking" or uncomfortable pressure. As a non-profit, they depend on donations to offer their services and to keep the lights on. After gaining so much from the Center, donating starts to feel like the least I can do. I almost don't want to post this review and keep Wild Heart as my little secret, but in the spirit of metta ("goodwill" or "benevolence" in Pali and an important Buddhist concept), I have to share such a valuable community resource. No matter your experience with Buddhism, mindfulness, or meditation, you will feel at home here.