Padmasambhava Buddhist Center of Tennessee, Nashville & Monterey
- lvenegas13
- Aug 16
- 9 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Love, Compassion, Wisdom
The Yeshe Tsogyal Temple, Nashville
Open Tuesdays 7-8pm Heart Sutra Practice, Saturdays 10am-12pm Ngondro Practice, Sundays 9:30am-12p Calm Abiding/Mindfulness Practice
Padma Gochen Ling, Monterey
660 Rock Springs Road, Monterey, Tennessee 38574
Open Sundays 12p-1pm Medicine Buddha Practice
https://www.pbc-tn.org. Please see this link for a schedule and to learn protocols and what to expect during practices.
If you believe that the world would be a better place with peace, love, understanding and more compassion, then Buddhism might be for you, and there’s a lovely temple in Nashville to help you on your path – the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center.
When outside there are wars and their devastation,
inside there is peaceful contemplation.
When outside there is chaos, anger, and sadness,
inside there is stability and acceptance.
When outside there is hate or anger,
inside there is love and compassion.
The Padmasambhava Buddhist Center of Tennessee (PBC-TN) is one of the region’s largest Tibetan Buddhist centers and is located in Berry Hill, with a center in Monterey that holds Sunday practices and retreats. It was established in 1990 by the Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche from eastern Tibet, who began opening Buddhist centers in 1988 in the US (the largest is in NY), Puerto Rico, Russia and India. The wonderful thing about this temple is that it is run by volunteers who are American with an American Lama, so if you’re an English speaker that has been interested in exploring this path but have been concerned you wouldn’t understand a foreign language, this is a great place to go. Tucked away in Berry Hill it may not be large, but what it does have is positive energy you can feel.
“What is Dharma? What’s the purpose of all these teachings? We should always think and reflect on that. The purpose of the teachings is to dispel negativity, and the root of negativity is ego-clinging. Ego-clinging is surrounded by many emotions, such as attachment, anger, jealousy, hatred thoughts, arrogance, and skepticism, or doubt and hesitation…the consequence is always pain, suffering, and sadness for oneself and those around you…. And they don’t just spoil things in a small, localized way or for a short time – their effect is huge and wide, ruining things now and long into the future…That’s why we practice the Dharma. Dharma is the antidote. Dharma is the technique or method that will ease negative emotions now, and with continued practice, it will completely uproot them so they no longer disturb us or any other living beings, and no longer interrupt our future destination. That’s why Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Dharma and it’s the purpose of meditative practice.” Excerpted from Venerable Khenpo Rinpoche’s book “Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha: The Path to Freedom.”
The prayer hall and altar of PBC-TN 
The prayer hall at PBC-TN 
A beautiful chandelier hangs in the PBC-TN
Well known authors such as American Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chodron and Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh have made the tenets of Buddhism widely appealing to those who wish happier lives. And of course, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has huge international acclaim as one who urges us to find our compassion towards others. Themes such as mindfulness, meditation and reincarnation have become so mainstream in the west that taking the leap to other Buddhist practices isn’t a difficult one to make. So, what do Tibetan Buddhists believe, and how is this school different from other types of Buddhism?
Central to the core of Buddhism is Gautama Buddha, a man who was born a prince named Siddhartha. One day when he is around 29 years old, he leaves the palace compound and sees the Four Great Sights: an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a holy man. He suddenly realizes the inevitability of aging, illness, death, and spiritual suffering. With this discovery, he chose to renounce his life of privilege and comfort. Instead, he devoted himself to asking hard questions of spiritual masters. He wanted to know why people suffered, and why people had such difficult lives. The answers he was given were unsatisfactory to him, and in time he came to understand that he must search for the answers within. Such was his devotion to seeking the happiness of all beings that he was willing to practice solitary ascetic practice until he learned the answers to these questions. After six years of austerity and meditation he gained loving-kindness, compassion, joy and wisdom towards all living things (bodhichitta). He then sat under a Bodhi tree and vowed to never move again until he had reached enlightenment. Millions of demonic forces (maras) tried to distract him, but he overcame their attacks through love and compassion, and when he awoke the next morning, he did so as the Buddha Shakyamuni, or Fully Awakened One, and founder of Buddhism.
These are the Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) and Sangha (the community of followers). They define Buddhist identity and practice, and taking refuge in them is when you commit to becoming a Buddhist.
Doors to the prayer hall at PBC-TN 
Doors to the prayer hall at PBC-TN 
A beautiful sign that you've found PBC-TN
There are quite a few different types of Buddhism, but Tibetan Buddhism is unique in that it is a blend of Mahayana Buddhism, Mi-Chos (the Tibetan indigenous folk religion), and Bon (Tibet’s pre-Buddhist shamanistic and animistic beliefs).
I’ve been drawn to Buddhism for many years, and my first exposure was through hearing His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak about always holding love and compassion for oneself and others, and the dangers of the ego. While I am not committed solely to Buddhism, I think western people like me have found some of the core teachings of the Buddha (Dharma) and practices of mindfulness and meditation to be hugely helpful in everyday life, but especially during times of great stress. Buddhism is considered a religion, but some who dip their toes into the teachings do not believe it interferes with their other religious or spiritual beliefs, and in fact may actually enhance them. Buddhists welcome those who are drawn to further study of the Dharma, but at a certain point one must commit to the Three Jewels in order to advance as Buddhists. And since there are a variety of schools of Buddhism, finding the one that's the best fit for you is vital.
I don't know about you, but I'm thrilled that Buddhists are devoting their spiritual lives to praying for the end of suffering for us all! And in my experience, some of the happiest, calmest and kindest people I've ever met are Buddhists. But what do Tibetan Buddhists actually believe?
A picture of Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, founder of PBC-TN 
A Dharma protector on the altar at PBC-TN 
The seat saved for the Venerable Rinpoche or Lama Jinpa.
The PBC teaches from Foundational Buddhism, and especially Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism and the Nyingma school, of which Dzogchen (the Great Perfection) is the ultimate goal. Let’s break this down so it’s easier to understand.
Mahayana developed after Theravada, the oldest surviving Buddhist school, which focuses on personal enlightenment, monastic discipline and understanding the nature of reality through the study of early Buddhist teachings. Theravada is part of the Southern Asian Buddhism tradition. On the other hand, Mahayana is Tibetan (Himalayan), and emphasizes the path of the Bodhisattva, which accentuates universal compassion and enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, and focuses on incorporating additional sutras such as the Lotus Sutra and Heart Sutra.
Vajrayana is a vehicle of the Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition, and its goal of rapid spiritual awakening is obtained through rituals and esoteric transmission, where teachings are passed directly from teacher (guru or vajrācārya) to student through initiation ceremonies. These teachings originated with the Buddha Shakyamuni sometime around the 5th century BCE and are passed down from teacher to student in a lineage-based transmission that preserves the content and value of the teachings. This is why, if you’re serious about taking this path, it is essential to have a guru to guide you as you learn the tenets of Buddhism and receive the teachings.
The Vajrayan was revealed in Tibet in the 8th or 9th centuries by Padmasambhava (‘Born from a Lotus'), also known as Guru Rinpoche ('Precious Guru'). He is considered to be a Buddha that was foretold by Buddha Shakyamuni. His students include the great female masters Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava (hence the names of the Buddhist center and temple in Nashville).
Mandarava, the Mother of Buddhism 
Padmasambhava, the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism 
Tara statue at PBC-TN
The PBC practices the Nyingma school, a part of the Vajrayāna tradition and the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism: the Gelug, the Kagyu, the Nyingma, and the Sakya. (The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is part of the Gelug branch.) The Nyingma teachings on the Great Perfection or Dzogchen, also founded by Padmasambhava, are considered the highest of all Buddhist teachings and the most direct path to becoming a Buddha. You can see over 550 free teaching videos of the Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche on YouTube at padmasambhava.com/youtube on Vajrayana and Dzobchen teachings!
The PBC is a warm, welcoming place, and my one-on-one visit with Melina, the temple coordinator, was so wonderful. I have found her and others there very kind and patient with the many questions I have about Buddhism, and the practices inspiring. The prayer room is inviting, fascinating, and peaceful. There is a wonderful little bookstore there where you can find publications as well as statues and other Buddhist items. I'm looking forward to visiting the Monterey temple for a retreat or Medicine Buddha practice!
If you come to the temple in Berry Hill, you’ll find a variety of ways you may seek liberation from saṃsāra (the an ongoing cycle of life, death, and rebirth) and become an enlightened person. Within these calm, beautiful walls are images with mudrās (symbolic hand gestures), as well as mandalās (spiritual diagrams). You’ll find statues of Buddhas, Padmasambhava and deities that you can use during meditation to visualize special qualities you wish to attain. You will hear mantras (sacred sounds) and dhāraṇīs (mnemonic codes) that will help you transcend reality and generate protection and merit as a Buddhist practitioner. You will notice that there are statues and wall hangings that revere sacred feminine energy, such as female Buddha Tara, ḍākiṇīs (spiritual beings), and Yeshe Tsogyal, the Mother of Tibetan Buddhism. But you’ll also receive instruction in classes on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and other teachings. Needless to say, the more you study, the more complex the teachings are, and if you are drawn to deep philosophical discussions that certainly helps to understand concepts like nondualism and the nature of reality! As Marina explained to me, they are a way to give your mind something to chew on, tools to gain awareness and grow in your understanding.
A Tibetan bowl sings to bring focus to a practice 
Yamantaka, the Vanquisher of Death? 
Melina of the PBC-TN 
Wall hangings display deities and other spiritual beings 
Tara with the Dalai Lama and Buddhist deities 
A religious item near the altar
Since one of the practices you can attend at PBC is on the Heart Sutra, let’s explore that a bit. As we’ve seen above, Mahayana practitioners wish to become Bodhisattvas; in other words, they seek to attain Buddhahood so all beings can escape suffering and awaken to their true natures. The Heart Sutra is all about teaching practitioners to let go of ego and attachment by engaging with the concept of emptiness. By freeing the mind of these entrapments, one can let go of outcomes and develop great compassion and wisdom. Add to this the Six Paramitas or Perfections – the qualities you must cultivate - and you will truly be on the path of the Bodhisattva!
Dana Paramita (Perfection of Generosity): Giving without any expectation of getting something in return. This can be monetary, but it can represent time, comfort, wise thoughts, pure actions or kindness.
Sila Paramita (Perfection of Morality): Living an ethical life according to Buddhism means becoming a virtuous person, avoiding harm to others and living honestly.
Kshanti Paramita (Perfection of Patience): Patience means letting anger, insult, suffering and other hardships pass through you without letting them make you agitated or upset.
Virya Paramita (Perfection of Energy): If you are diligent, you can sustain your practices, overcoming any obstacles to your focus and achieve Boddhisatva.
Dhyana Paramita (Perfection of Meditation): Meditation can be full of distractions. This Perfection reminds one that mindfulness and meditation require a clear, tranquil mind.
Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom): By achieving the other five perfections you achieve the last! Through wisdom you begin to truly understand concepts such as the nature of reality and truths that transcend usual norms of knowledge.
Above all, remember that no one is perfect, and unless you become a Buddha yourself you need daily practice to achieve these virtues.
As someone who loves and uses crystals, I was delighted to see them throughout the prayer hall. To Buddhists, crystals serve as symbolic, ritual and meditative tools that may appear in altars, statues, offerings and prayer beads (malas). The crystals are consecrated and assigned meaning, and are used during meditation to ground attention, as ritual offerings, to support chanting or mantras, or worn to keep intentions present throughout the day. The most commonly used crystals are clear quartz, amethyst, jade, lapis lazuli, rose quarts and black tourmaline, but I noticed other crystals being used as well in PBC. Another reason to love them!
Crystals are used as objects to focus meditation and offerings 
A Quartz crystal serve as symbolic, ritual and meditative tools
And isn’t it wonderful how Tibetan prayer flags carry kindness, goodwill, blessings and protection to all beings on the wind? They are also used to promote wisdom, compassion, peace and clear negative energies!
I think this prayer by Shantideva, a Buddhist monk, philosopher and poet who lived around 700AD and is revered by Tibetan Buddhists, is the perfect way to end this post. It is said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recites it every morning, and so it couldn’t come with higher praise. May you all go forward in peace and extend kindness to others throughout your day!
Bodhisattva Prayer for Humanity:
“May I be a guard for those who need protection
A guide for those on the path
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood
May I be a lamp in the darkness
A resting place for the weary
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened.”
If you would like to explore another Buddhist temple, visit my page on Wat Lao Buddharam, a Laotian Buddhist temple in Murfreesboro.
For a list of Buddhist temples in Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Buddhism Portal.
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