The Nashville Buddhist Festival Board
The Nashville Buddhist Festival is administered by a board of volunteers made up of members from the varying traditions of Buddhist practice in Nashville. They provide guidance for the festival and serve as liaisons to the participating centers.
In addition, there are many friends and volunteers who come together to help make this event possible. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact us.
Lisa Ernst – Treasurer
Lisa Ernst has been meditating and practicing Buddhism for over 18 years. She began her practice in the Zen Buddhist tradition, studying closely with several Zen Masters and attending numerous mediation retreats. Since the late 90s Lisa has also studied and practiced in the Theravada tradition. In 2006 Lisa founded One Dharma Nashville, a meditation group that focuses on the core practices of loving kindness, compassion and mindfulness, which reflect foundational Buddhist teachings. Lisa has been involved with the Nashville Buddhist Festival in various capacities since its inception in 2003 and served as committee chair in its inaugural year. Her livelihood is art, which is seen in the logo for the Nashville Buddhist Festival. Email Lisa.
Skip Ewing
Skip Ewing is an ordained Tiep Hien (Order of Interbeing) member, and the founder and coordinator of the Nashville Mindfulness Center. He was ordained in June of 2006 by beloved Zen master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh in a ceremony held in the the Lower Hamlet at Plum Village in Thenac, France. He is an experienced meditator and practitioner of many years and has had the immense good fortune of studying with some of the world’s most renowned spiritual teachers. His livelihood is music. Email Skip.
RIta Frizzell
Rita Frizzell met the dharma in 1995 through a dissertation on the nature of experience by her friend, John Casey, PhD. Soon after, she met her teachers, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, of Padmasambhava Buddhist Center. She has a special interest in Shedra (philosophical school), having completed six years of Shedra at Padma Samye Ling and currently enrolled in her second year with Namdroling Montana. She is bringing that interest in education to a new dharma project, Luminous Mind.
She is a graphic designer, and has had the pleasure of designing many dharma books, as well as a conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Email Rita.
Paul Felton – President
Paul Felton spent 9 years in the Vedanta tradition of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during which time he became a TM instructor. Since 1995 he has been practicing in the Shambhala community, studying both its Tibetan Buddhist and Shambhala curricula. In 2004, together with his wife, Jill Bates, he started the Nashville Shambhala Group, and they co-coordinate its activities. He is in his fourth year of involvement with the Nashville Buddhist Festival and is the President of the Board. Email Paul.
Lee Olsen
Lee Olsen has been active with the Nashville Insight Meditation Group since 1992 and currently serves this peer-led group as a co-facilitator with Barbee and Hap Heilman. He has been involved with the Nashville Buddhist Festival in several different capacities since its inception. Email Lee.