Knoxville Community of Mindfulness
We are a gathering of spiritual friends supporting each other in the process of healing and awakening. Some of us are new to the practice of meditation; others have decades of experience. We are grounded in the practices of mindfulness, insight, loving-kindness, and compassion. Read more below.
A Program for a Year of Practice
Beginning in January 2021 John Blackburn is offering a year-long program, From Mindfulness to Wisdom: Essential Meditation Practices from the Buddhist Tradition. These eight courses are taught in a developmental sequence, in which the practices learned in each class build upon prior classes. This program is designed to help organize and focus our meditative development. The emphasis will always be on practices, things we can actually do to make these wisdom teachings come alive in our own experience. The objective is not to become a Buddhist or an expert on Buddhism but to become a human being capable of living an awakened life. For More Information
Upcoming Classes
Upcoming Retreats
Opening the Heart Through Loving-Kindness Retreat
Who We Are
Our community is particularly inspired by the living example and teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and our aspiration is to practice the way of awareness in order to benefit others. We offer a refuge where our innate capacities for kindness, wisdom, peace, and joy are nurtured and can find expression. Our members come from all walks of life and a variety of spiritual traditions..
Our Leader
John Blackburn has led the Knoxville Community of Mindfulness for over a decade. John has studied intensively with teachers in the Vipassana, Mahayana, and Dzogchen traditions and practiced meditation for over 45 years. John also served on the board of directors of Southern Dharma Retreat Center from 2006-2020.
Sangha (Weekly Meetings)
Thursdays 6:30-8:00 pm
Sangha is the traditional name for a gathering of spiritual friends who are practicing the path of awareness. Our Sangha meeting includes guided meditation, a period of teaching, and discussion. It is suitable for both experienced and new meditators.
"When you allow yourself to be in a sangha the way a drop of water allows itself to be in a river, then the energy of the sangha can penetrate you, and healing and transformation become possible." Thich Nhat Hanh
The Sangha meets on Zoom Thursdays from 6:30-8:00
You can go directly to the Zoom meeting by clicking the following:
If you join the Sangha from your own Zoom account, you will need:
Passcode: 536081
Classes Offered
Classes are taught by John Blackburn, PhD. John has practiced meditation for over 45 years and studied intensively with teachers in the Vipassana, Mahayana, and Dzogchen traditions.
Dharma Friendship Groups
The purpose of Dharma Friendship Groups is to facilitate Sangha members getting to know one another more deeply and to support each other's practice. Each group has 5-7 members who meet on Zoom for one hour a week and discuss a topic chosen by the group. Members share the intention to speak from the heart and listen deeply.