"Dharma friends small groups are a wonderful addition to my experience of spiritual family within the sangha. I feel open and trusting while sharing explorations of the dharma, life situations, and my inner landscape. To hear others do the same cultivates and nurtures a heartfelt feeling of community and understanding."

"The Sangha Friends Groups have been a wonderful opportunity to get to know the members of our Sangha on a deeper level.  The small groups provide a place to share thoughts, ideas and feelings as we put into practice the teachings we receive.  We also become friends, sharing in each other's life journey."

"We are so diverse it turns out, and yet we could have met each other any where along our individual paths.  Our introductions were detailed enough to reveal that.  If only 'enemies' could begin again as strangers.  I will keep that in mind."

"Being a newcomer to Knoxville, the Dharma Friends group has provided a safe place for me to share my thoughts, and discuss challenges in my practice, which is not always possible in a larger Sangha, especially when you haven't met folks in person. With deep gratitude to John and facilitators for launching the Friends Group. 

With Metta,"

"For me, relationships with others in Sangha have often been limited to those members I have known before or those few I have interacted with at weekly sessions. The Friends groups have allowed me to get to know other members of the Sangha better, enhance my relationships within the group, and focus more intently on specific topics. The small groups have benefitted my practice and allowed for a more personal means of sharing."

"Dharma Friendship Circles, via Zoom, have provided safe and effective avenues to satisfy the human basic need for connection in these times of necessary safety measures due to COVID.

Over four to six weeks each member of the circle takes a turn at facilitating a weekly topic discussion and personal check in. During these four to six weeks a remarkable trusting bond knits members together. 

When the time for changing up the circle occurs there is a reluctance  to let go of the comfort of new found friends for the unknown.

Guess what? Within the first week or two of the new circle formation trust is once again established and the circle members thrive, adding these new friends to the wealth gathered with old friends."

"The Dharma Friends small groups are very nice.  They are relaxed and informal, and give a chance to get to know other members of the Sangha on a more personal level than you would otherwise.  It is a diverse and interesting bunch, and universally supportive.  And I have been surprised at how much I have learned from these groups.  Being fairly new to the practice, I have found it helpful to hear from folks who have been at it longer.  I particularly like the format of picking the topic for each meeting a week in advance, giving the whole week to reflect on the topic, perhaps do some reading, and prepare what I would like to say.  For me the groups have been most productive and I highly recommend them."