Spiritual Friendship

Kalyana Mitta refers to the Buddhist concept of spiritual friendship. KM Sangha Circles embody spiritual friendship through the formation of small networks (6 – 10 individuals) of sangha members who gather regularly to support one another in the application of spiritual practice to daily living.

KM Circles gather every two to four weeks to discuss practice-related matters, dharma teachings, or particular themes, such as grief, parenting, living with illness, or other themes chosen by the group. Mindful listening and communicating are emphasized in the group interactions.

KM Sangha Circle Objectives

In group meetings, we have these goals:

• To deepen our practice by sharing our personal experiences and what we have learned
• To encourage and learn from each other
• To deepen our understand the dharma through focused discussion
• To build mindful friendships and spiritual connections

KM Sangha Circle Guidelines

In our meetings, we follow these guidelines:

• We begin with 15 – 30 minutes of silent sitting to become more collected and present.
• Each of us may have a period of uninterrupted time to describe our recent personal experiences and practice.
• We commit to the intention – and allow the time – to listen deeply to one another.
• We describe the ways our practice has affected our lives.
• We select specific topics of focus.
• We speak mindfully and economically.
• We allow time for sitting in silence to absorb our shared experiences and our collective presence
• We conclude by briefly sitting in silence to instill peace within ourselves, and we then wish each other well.

Meeting Times and Location

Each group meets on dates, at times, and in locations agreed upon in advance by the group members.

Join a KM Sangha Circle

For more information, or to join a group, please contact the KM Sangha Circle Coordinator, Roger Byrd, at km@ashevillemeditation.com or at 828-545-8735.