Source: The Epoch Times
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/united-states/buddhists-tennessee-5401.html
On a brilliant October 4th, in the Bible Belt, hundreds of people celebrated the Fifth Annual Buddhist Festival. One Dharma, The Insight Meditation Group, The Nashville Mindfulness Center (Zen), The Nashville Zen Center, and the Padmasambhava Budhist Center (Tibetan Vajrayana) introduced their practices, answered questions from the audience, and meditated and chanted with attendees.
Skip Ewing is a board member of the Buddhist Festival and founder and coordinator of the Nashville Mindfulness Center. Nashville is home to 700 Christian churches. Mr. Ewing estimates that last year 700-800 people came to the festival. He said, “Cultivating compassion, awareness and loving kindness—these energies are universally accepted. Although there are different opinions, in Nashville there is no negativity against Buddhism. Sometimes people who define themselves as Christians come and practice with us. Nashville is a beautiful place and we like it very much.”