Buddhist Meditation Groups in English:
Online / Virtual Buddhist Classes: www.StudyBuddhism.com and more listing at https://georgiameditation.org/online.html
Chattanooga / Southeast Tennessee:
NEW GROUP!
Paramita Center Southeast - Guided Meditation and Buddhist Study Group!
https://buddhismsoutheast.org/
NEW GROUP!
Paramita Center Southeast - Guided Meditation and Buddhist Study Group!
https://buddhismsoutheast.org/
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Nashville / Central Tennessee
Padmasambhava Buddhist Center
Nashville Tibetan Buddhist Group 419 E Iris Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 http://www.pbc-tn.org/ Several different regular weekly events in English at the location near Vanderbilt University 100 Oaks, including beginner's meditation sessions; retreats at Padma Gochen Ling retreat center near Monterey, TN. Newcomers are especially welcome Sundays at 11am. 
Music of the Heart: Lay mindfulness practice group affiliated with Thich Nhat Hanh tradition in Nashville
Meets weekly for mindfulness meditation www.musicoftheheartsangha.com The Buddhist Temple
99 Lyle Lane, Nashville TN 37210 www.thebuddhisttemple.org [site down 2021] A very small place, an experienced American monk leads guided meditation (open to beginners and experienced alike) every at Sunday 9am (last verified Oct 2022). |
Memphis / West Tennessee
Magnolia Grove Meditation Practice Center
A 120-acre Buddhist monastery in rural Batesville (northern Mississippi near Memphis and Arkansas) in the tradition of Vietnamese master Thich Nhat Hanh, Magnolia Village is open to visitors for retreats - please visit their website to learn more and to register in advance. Magnolia Grove Monastery is a place to practice meditation and mindfulness. It is where every breath we take reminds us of the wonders of life. A place to sit and relax. A place to walk and kiss the earth beneath our feet. A place to rest under a willow tree on an island in a lotus pond. A place to eat together and savor every bite. A place to listen deeply to the sounds of life and the sound of our hearts. A place to work together to build a community of love and understanding. Magnolia Grove is a place where we can stop running, and discover peace with every step we take. A place to remind each one of us that the present moment is a wonderful moment. http://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/ Tennessee Buddhist Vihara
4901 Ross Road Memphis, TN 38141 While many events are for the Sri Lankan community, the Bhantes (resident monks) also host weekly meditation groups and Buddhist classes in English, pre-covid. http://www.tnbvihara.org/ |
Knoxville / East Tennessee
Losel Shedrup Ling Tibetan Buddhism Center in Knoxville / East Tennessee Regular meetings for learning Buddhism and meditation sessions in English - please visit website for updated details. Lotus Light Contemplative Center 501 Arthur St, Knoxville, TN 37921 http://lslk.org/ Lotus Light Center lotuslightcenter.org Mountain Mindfulness Society Satigiri Sangha satigiri.com Abhaya Dàna Meditation Society of Knoxville
This group has regular guided meditation session in English - Knoxville Insight Sangha: http://knoxvillesangha.org Milarepa Retreat Center Part of Palpung, an American Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the rural Smoky Mountains www.mocd.org 
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There are also several lay-led "Western" mindfulness and meditation groups rooted in various Buddhist traditions in the Nashville area. Some were formerly at the 12 South Dharma Center, now defunct, some have existed for decades, and others are relatively new. These include Snow Lion Nashville Meditations (formerly Nashville Shambhala Center), Wild Heart Meditation Center in East Nashville (formerly Against the Stream and Refuge Recovery, and the defunct Dharma Punx), One Dharma Nashville, Tara Buddhist Center (Tibetan), and Nashville Zen Center (Soto Zen lineage). Check them out to find your group!
Tennessee's Asian-American Buddhist Temples and Monasteries
Email us at info@georgiameditation.org for more info
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Nashville Area Buddhist Associations:
The Buddhist Temple 99 Lyle Lane, Nashville TN 37210 www.thebuddhisttemple.org Padmasambhava Buddhist Center Nashville Tibetan Buddhist Group 419 E Iris Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 http://www.pbc-tn.org/ Chua Phat An [Vietnamese Buddhist Temple] 2558 Una Antioch Pike, Antioch, TN 37013 Tu Vien Phap Vu [Vietnamese Buddhist Temple] 3618 Pin Hook Road, Antioch TN 37013 Wat Amphawan [Thai Buddhist Temple] 4880 Barfield Crescent Rd, Murfreesboro TN 37128 Wat Buddharam [Lao Buddhist Temple] 5214 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Wat Lao Buddhapathip [Lao Buddhist Temple] 104 Glenmont Drive, Nashville, TN 37210 Wat Lao Xaoput [Lao Buddhist Temple] 14131 Old Hickory Blvd, Antioch, Tennessee 37013 https://www.facebook.com/watlaoxaoput Wat Lao Phrathatluang [Lao Buddhist Temple] 1730 Stewart Creek Rd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Chùa Tịnh Tâm [Tinh Tam Vietnamese Buddhist Temple] 867 Summerly Drive , Nashville, TN 37209 Dhammakaya Meditation Center Tennessee [Thai] 2033 Ghee Rd, Murfreesboro TN 37127 Saddhamma Gon Yaung Myanmar Buddhist Temple [Burmese] Myanmar Buddhist Association of Tennessee 2725 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville TN 37207 http://www.myanmarbuddhisttn.org Karen (Kayin) Myanmar Buddhist Temple [Address redacted] Flat Rock Rd, Murfreesboro TN 37130 Wat Muniratanaram [Cambodian International Buddhist Temple] 131 Dellway Dr., Nashville, Tennessee 37207 Chùa Phước Bình [Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Tennessee] 1046 Louisville Highway, Millersville TN 37072 http://chuaphuocbinh.com/ |
Memphis Area Buddhist Associations:
Magnolia Grove Monastery Magnolia Village Meditation Retreat and Mindfulness Practice Center 123 Towles Rd, Batesville MS 38606 http://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/ Chùa Quan Am [Vietnamese Buddhist Temple] 3500 South Goodlett Street, Memphis, TN 38118-5014 Chùa Chánh Tâm [Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Memphis] 1368 Jefferson Ave, Memphis TN 38104 https://www.facebook.com/tuvien.chanhtam Viet-America Buddhist Temple 3943 Hawkins Mill Road, Memphis, TN 38128 Wat Buddharam [Thai Buddhist Temple] 1580 Robin Hood Lane, Memphis TN 38111 Wat Dhammaratanaraingsei [Cambodian / Khmer Buddhist Temple] 5111 Bryndale Ave, Memphis TN 38118 Tennessee Buddhist Vihara [Sri Lankan / Sinhala Buddhist temple] 4901 Ross Rd, Memphis, TN 38141 http://www.tnbvihara.org/ East Tennessee Buddhist Groups
Knoxville Area: Losel Shedrup Ling of Knoxville [Western / Tibetan Buddhism] 501 Arthur St, Knoxville, TN 37921 http://lslk.org/ Chùa Pháp Bảo [Vietnamese] 9909 Dutchtown Road, Knoxville, TN 37923 Chattanooga Area: Paramita Center Southeast [American / Tibetan Buddhism] Chattanooga Meditation Group Temporary address: 5 Crescent Park, Ridgeside TN buddhismsoutheast.org Bo De Tu Bodhi Buddhist Temple [Vietnamese] 11025 Matthew Rd, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 A Vietnamese temple near Chattanooga, Bodetu is in a former Baptist church building. Wat Lao Buddhamanodham [Lao] 364 Davis Rd, Chickamauga, GA 30707 |
Other Southern States:
Georgia: Visit www.AtlantaBuddhism.org
South Carolina: Charleston Tibetan Society
North Carolina: Visit www.CarolinaMeditation.org
Georgia: Visit www.AtlantaBuddhism.org
South Carolina: Charleston Tibetan Society
North Carolina: Visit www.CarolinaMeditation.org
Alabama:
Losel Maitri Tibetan Buddhist Center of Birmingham
3224 Green Valley Road, Cahaba Heights AL
Guided meditation groups in Birmingham AL led by authentic Tibetan Buddhist monk
www.loselmaitribuddhist.org [Site Down 2024]
http://www.facebook.com/LoselMaitriBuddhist/
Meditation Center of Alabama in Mobile
3821 Airport Blvd Mobile, AL 36608
http://meditationcenterofalabama.weebly.com/
Alabama Buddhist Vihara
Sri Lankan temple in Birmingham AL with occasional English activities
alvihara.com
Buddha Heart Village -- Chinese Buddhist Temple in Auburn AL
Losel Maitri Tibetan Buddhist Center of Birmingham
3224 Green Valley Road, Cahaba Heights AL
Guided meditation groups in Birmingham AL led by authentic Tibetan Buddhist monk
www.loselmaitribuddhist.org [Site Down 2024]
http://www.facebook.com/LoselMaitriBuddhist/
Meditation Center of Alabama in Mobile
3821 Airport Blvd Mobile, AL 36608
http://meditationcenterofalabama.weebly.com/
Alabama Buddhist Vihara
Sri Lankan temple in Birmingham AL with occasional English activities
alvihara.com
Buddha Heart Village -- Chinese Buddhist Temple in Auburn AL
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Vietnamese Buddhist temples in Alabama:
Tu Vien Vien Am -- Montgomery AL An Quang Buddhist Temple -- Birmingham AL Chua Chanh Giac -- Bayou La Batre, AL (near Mobile) Chua Giac Lam -- Huntsville, AL Chua Tu Quang -- Dothan AL Lien Tri Monastery -- Mt. Vernon, AL |
Southeast Asian (Thai, Lao, Cambodian, Khmer) temples:
Wat Buddharaksa -- Irvington AL (near Mobile) Wat Lao Buddhavihara -- Irvington AL Wat Montgomery Buddharam -- Montgomery AL វត្តវេឡុវ័ន Wat Veluvana -- Irvington, AL |
(Addresses are hidden due to safety concerns being diverse minorities in a deeply Christian Bible-belt area. Please contact us at info@georgiameditation.org if you would like to visit.)
How to find a right teacher and practice community:
Look into the various Buddhist teachings and practices so that you can find the approach that is right for you. Note that the “right” practice may not be the one you find easiest. Rather, the "right" practice addresses your suffering on a deeper level given your personality, affinities, and conditions. For example, meditation promotes concentration and mindfulness; bowing develops humility and counteracts pride; and so on. Commit yourself to a few practices that truly benefit you and stick with them.
Having a good teacher is like having a good doctor; they can see your afflictions and address them through instruction and guidance. However, when looking for a teacher, make sure at the very least, they abide by the five precepts and are not out for fame or profit or other ulterior motives. Having a strong authentic lineage helps. In Buddhism, we often look to the monastic Sangha as they have dedicated their lives to the Buddhist practice and have clear guidelines on how to interact with students. (Yet, there are even those who become monastics out of ill-intentions, so just because someone is wearing monk or nun's robes does not automatically qualify them as a wholesome teacher.) In addition, joining a community of fellow practitioners provides support, motivation, and advice. Being surrounded by good people naturally brings out your own wholesome qualities.
Note: There are other meditation groups and teachers which may claim to practice the Buddhist path, but on deeper examination, whose intentions and actions may not be altruistic, or may even be negative or "cult"-like, or even seek to harm you or others! When searching for a new group/teacher, be sure to use wisdom -- in general, the places listed here come from reputable backgrounds.
Look into the various Buddhist teachings and practices so that you can find the approach that is right for you. Note that the “right” practice may not be the one you find easiest. Rather, the "right" practice addresses your suffering on a deeper level given your personality, affinities, and conditions. For example, meditation promotes concentration and mindfulness; bowing develops humility and counteracts pride; and so on. Commit yourself to a few practices that truly benefit you and stick with them.
Having a good teacher is like having a good doctor; they can see your afflictions and address them through instruction and guidance. However, when looking for a teacher, make sure at the very least, they abide by the five precepts and are not out for fame or profit or other ulterior motives. Having a strong authentic lineage helps. In Buddhism, we often look to the monastic Sangha as they have dedicated their lives to the Buddhist practice and have clear guidelines on how to interact with students. (Yet, there are even those who become monastics out of ill-intentions, so just because someone is wearing monk or nun's robes does not automatically qualify them as a wholesome teacher.) In addition, joining a community of fellow practitioners provides support, motivation, and advice. Being surrounded by good people naturally brings out your own wholesome qualities.
Note: There are other meditation groups and teachers which may claim to practice the Buddhist path, but on deeper examination, whose intentions and actions may not be altruistic, or may even be negative or "cult"-like, or even seek to harm you or others! When searching for a new group/teacher, be sure to use wisdom -- in general, the places listed here come from reputable backgrounds.