12South Dharma Center > Against the Stream Nashville

AGAINST THE STREAM

Meditation and Dharma Talks

Sunday Evenings, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

New to Meditation?

Have a lot of questions about your practice?

Interested in Buddhism but don’t know where to start?

This weekly sitting class is designed for those who are new to meditation or those who would like more direction and guidance with their practice. There is simple instruction in the practice of mindfulness (vipassana) meditation and the basics of what the Buddha taught as a design for living. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and there is a brief talk on one of the core teachings of the Buddha. The intention of this group is to offer simple and practical instruction on how mindfulness meditation and Buddhist practice can enrich your daily life and help you cultivate a more meaningful relationship with yourself and the world around you. We discuss and emphasize the importance of bringing your meditation practice into all areas of your life. We focus on the Buddhist teachings from the Theravadan tradition, “way of the elders,” based on the pali canon which is commonly know as the oldest teachings of the Buddha. Contact therebelsaint@gmail.com for more information.

The Theravada tradition, also known as “Insight Meditation”, has been practiced and cultivated during the last 40 years here in the Unites States. Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield are the teachers most popularly known for this movement.

Buddhist Recovery Meditation and Meetings

Wednesday Evenings

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Our intention is to investigate Buddhist principles applied to recovery from addiction of all kinds. Our group recognizes and respects multiple perspectives and multiple approaches to recovery; we are gathered in the spirit of investigation and deepening of our practice. This is not meant to be a substitute for any recovery program but rather a further support for your own spiritual awakening.

This 1-hour long group follows this format:

We begin each session with a guided mindfulness meditation;
We introduce recovery principles and concepts from the 12 steps and offer guidance and instruction on how they can be applied from a Buddhist perspective. How can Dharma practice and recovery compliment each other?
Open discussion for all on the topic that has been presented.

This meeting is open to all forms of recovery from addiction. There is no requirement for attendance and we welcome all those who are seeking freedom from addiction. We will explore how Dharma practice can deepen this process.

ABOUT AGAINST THE STREAM-NASHVILLE

*Dave Smith has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1993. He has studied and sat retreats for many years at the Insight Meditation Society and in Barre MA. His background is in Theravadan Buddhism. Dave has graduated from a training program with Noah Levine at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in Los Angeles California and will continue studying with Noah over the next several years to become an empowered teacher of Buddha Dharma. Dave has currently started a local office for the Mind Body Awareness Project; which takes mindfulness interventions into jails, prisons, and youth detention and treatment centers in the Nashville area. For more information, or if you would like to help; contact Dave at therebelsaint@gmail.com.

*Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx, Against the Stream and The Heart of the Revolution, is a Buddhist teacher, author and counselor. He was trained to teach by Jack Kornfield of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. He is the founding teacher of Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, with a center in Los Angeles and over 20 affiliated groups around North America. He teaches meditation classes, workshops and retreats internationally. Noah holds a Masters Degree in counseling psychology. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Buddhist Recovery Network. Levine lives in Los Angeles.

AGAINST THE STREAM NATION IS GROWING!!!

Who We Are.

Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society was founded by Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx, Against the Stream and The Heart of the Revolution, to make the teachings of the Buddha available to all who are interested. We wish to create and sustain communities of healthy, accountable, wise and compassionate people from every walk of life. We welcome people from all racial, economic, sexual, social, political and religious backgrounds and preferences and believe that the path of awakening is attainable by all and should be available to all.

The Story So Far.

Thanks to the contributions of some extremely generous donors, we opened our Melrose, California doors in February 2008. In early 2009, we moved into the Santa Monica Center. Over the years we have continued to grow and as of now, we have 12 weekly classes and sitting groups serving over 250 people. We also offer special class series, daylongs, facilitator training and advanced practitioner study. Dave Smith was encouraged by Noah to carry the ATS teachings to the Southlands; in 2009 Against the Stream Nashville was born.

What's Next?

Part of our core mission is a commitment to social action. We are moving in this direction with projects to feed the homeless, work with gang and prison populations and those in recovery centers. We are continuing to engage our community and build a center that serves its population in ways that will support the dharma and our practice both on and off the cushion.

How You Can Help?

Come out and sit.support the sangha and deepen your own awakening! Join us as we continue to be at the forefront of American Buddhism, a tradition influenced and inspired by the wisdom and compassion teachings of all the Buddhist traditions. The Buddha said his path to awakening was one of rebellion - a subversive path that is against greed, against hatred, and against delusion. It is a path of radical, engaged transformation, a path of finding freedom and spending the rest of our lives giving it away. It is a path that goes Against the Stream.