Dharma Ground is rooted in the Buddha’s teachings (dharma) of ethics, meditative training, and wisdom. We offer retreats, classes, weekly community meditations, and other programs exploring the Naturally Arising Practice Method. This method offers a highly practical approach to finding freedom and meaning in life as well as supporting greater access to the mysterious dimensions of consciousness. The primary teaching method is guided meditations in which one starts with the felt sense and direct knowing rather than concepts.
The non-profit Dharma Ground was created in response to the enthusiasm of a community of practitioners and is dedicated to stewarding and sharing this approach to liberation of the heart and mind with all those interested.
Every program at Dharma Ground is offered by donation, in the Buddhist tradition of dāna (freely giving).
To get oriented to some of the core aspects of the Naturally Arising Practice Method, you can explore writings, short teaching videos, and guided meditations.
From there, you are encouraged to join an upcoming program to practice in community and get to know the teachers.
Once you’ve participated in your first program, you are invited to join our weekly drop-in Community Meditations, which are a great way to stay engaged with the practice in community.
We are inspired and influenced by the Thai Forest Tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Phillip’s primary teacher is Ajahn Sumedho from whom he learned the Twelve Insights of the Four Noble Truths. Most importantly, we honor the Buddha.
Phillip learned the Nine Bodies map of consciousness from Sri Swami Balyogi Premvarni at his ashram in Rishikesh, India. As the three co-founders of Dharma Ground, we wish to acknowledge both the gift of this map of consciousness from Sri Swami Balyogi Premvarni as well as his reportedly harmful behavior towards female students (read more).
Dharma Ground is in the lineage of the Theravada Insight tradition. Dharma Ground teachers are authorized Insight Meditation teachers and uphold the Teacher Code of Ethics.
We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. We aspire to walk this path of liberation in community, with dignity and integrity, for the benefit of all beings, in this life, just as it is.
