Coronavirus Pandemic Response, Our Community, and Virtual Sangha

In Person Meetings Cancelled
Circumstances around the novel coronavirus continue to change rapidly, and with great care and attention to CDC and other public health recommendations, the Advisory Council has decided to suspend our in-person Sangha gatherings, at least through the end of the April - we will re-assess as we move forward.  We are trying to be mindful and compassionate for the health and well-being of us all, and this seems the wisest action to take.

Virtual Sangha Active!!
But!  We are still meeting!!!  We are using a Zoom platform as a digital meeting space for us to socially connect across distance. Refer to our ASBS calendar for meeting information.  Sessions do require a passcode, so please contact us if you need this information.  

*** New Online Resources Added ***
As we are currently not able to meet in person, we are striving to provide "in  person" resources for using during these isolated times.  Therefore, we have added a new section to our website.  This special resource section will be specifically designated for upcoming live meditation offerings, in many cases being provided due to travel restrictions and distancing orders.  You will find the new Special Live Resources page here. 
 
We seek to stretch and to develop new rhythms of interaction that can sustain both our health security and our sense of community.  

Atlanta
Secular Buddhist
Sangha

A group of spiritual friends who gather together to sit in meditation
and study the Dhamma.

A Few Words
About the ASBS

The Atlanta Secular Buddhist Sangha is a group of spiritual friends who gather together to sit in meditation and study the Dhamma. Collectively, we are committed to the journey of living a peaceful life.  As a group, we take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and Sangha.  By taking refuge in the Buddha, we embrace the historical Buddha and his teachings on working with the mind and heart.   We also take refuge in our own awakened heart.  We take refuge in the Dhamma, the teachings that guide us in developing our own understanding of the path to peace and freedom.  And, we take refuge in Sangha, this community of friends who support one another as we face life's challenges and joys.

ASBS is dedicated to the secular teachings of the Buddha as presented in the Theravada tradition.  Our Sangha is open to anyone interested in living the Dhamma.

We welcome everyone and strive to be a diverse and inclusive Sangha.  Specifically, we aim to be a welcoming environment for people of color, members of the LGBTQIA community, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.  We ask everyone who practices with us to come in the door with a welcoming attitude of love, acceptance, and openness for all living beings.

As this Sangha is secular in nature, we also welcome people from all faith traditions, as there need not be conflict between our study and practice and any personal religious affiliation.

We are committed to Engaged Buddhism.  Through volunteer efforts within our own community, we look for ways to apply the insight gained form meditation practice as well as from the teachings on LovingKindess and compassion to issues of social, economic and enviornmental justice.

Dana

In our Sangha we practice Dana.

Dana is the Pali word for generosity. The Buddha described Dana as one of the highest forms of letting go. In giving freely we practice renunciation and further our understanding that the path to freedom is found through letting go, not accumulation. We are grateful for any and all Dana as we are a fully volunteer supported group. Your donation helps pay our teachers, rent, utilities, and supports the development of our website, which will allow others to find us and share in the Dhamma.

Mindful Dialogue during our Sangha

In our Sangha we practice Mindful Dialogue.

Bow in to speak and bow out to end sharing

Listen deeply to yourself when speaking, being mindful of what motivates you to speak and your intention

Speak only from your heart, felt experience and understanding. Practice minimizing intellectual or philosophical sharing, long story telling, and judging and criticizing yourself or others

Listen deeply to the sharing of others

Allow silence between shares and leave time for others to share

Please do not offer advice unless requested 

Where we meet

675 Seminole Avenue, NE
The Highland Building, Suite 102
Atlanta, Georgia  30307

When we meet

ASBS meets weekly, on Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8pm ET.

6:30-7:00 Silent Meditation
7:00-8:00 Dhamma talk & discussion 

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding our Sangha, please send an email to info@atlsangha.org.  We will do our best to respond to your emails as quickly as possible.

launch email

Atlanta Secular Buddhist Sangha

Atlanta, GA