Florida Community of Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh’s Dharma: Create Communities of Resistance (2020)

7-19-20 

 

In this talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner shares with us early teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh tells us “What we lack is awareness of who and what we are, and what our true situation in life really is. And by this awakening we will discover our human sovereignty. The way of salvation is through a new culture in which humanity can discover itself. ”

 

Fred continues to ask us “how can we create communities of resistance to this cause in which so much suffering manifests? How can our sangha manifest as a community of resistance in order to heal and transform the individual and society?”

Understanding Karma is the Key to Transformation (2020)

7-5-20

In this talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner continues the topic of the importance of understanding karma and how it is the key to transformation. Fred shows us how to reflect on the teachings of karma; to reflect deeply on what is presented and ask ourselves “Is that true for me?”

All the things we dwell upon in our mind, are creating our experience of life. In the meditation hall, in our homes, in all our activities; are we aware that whatever we are “chewing on” in our mind is shaping our experience? Do I understand and believe this is true for me? Does it accord with my logic and experience?

Fred encourages us to spend time reflecting and looking deeply to see if we really do believe that I become what I think. I am the product of my thoughts and mind states. My experience of life is shaped by my mind. Is that true for you?

And if we have determined this is true for me, what does my mind dwell on all day? What do I think about all day? And is what I dwell on congruent with my aspirations for this life?

Understanding Importance of Collective Karma (2020)

6-21-20

In this talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner speaks about the importance of understanding collective karma and how it is an essential thing we have to acknowledge. We all have conditions watering our seeds. Political forces, social forces, and many other conditions that are reinforcing people's seeds. Each of us carry these social historical conditionings and do not know it. But as we practice we begin to know this. Because the whole idea behind Buddhist practice is to realize and come back to this original state. And to realize that all the conditioning, all the view, all the ideas I have are simply views which are conditioned. And when all of this is stripped away, one can realize and experience that everyone is just like me. We do not exist in separation and independence, but are interconnected and inter-are with everyone else in world.

Reflections on a Wisdom Retreat (2020)

6-14-20

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner encourages us to turn our attention away from what is going on "out there," and instead look inward to see what is going on within our own minds. He explains how retreat is beneficial for developing clarity, wisdom and refining our patterns of thought as it gives us the time to do the work of looking inward without so many external distractions.

Retreat is a time of concentrated investigation into the nature of mind - of reality. It has many aspects: meditations to stabilize and calm the discursive mind; meditations to analyze the mental and sensory continuum; meditations to directly experience the mind nature; meditations to completely rest the mind. Retreat is disciplined experience so that our ordinary habits do not take over and it is rhythmic so that the work of mindfulness, concentration and insight can continue to be refined day after day.

Non-violence as a Way of Life (2020)

6-7-20

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner teaches us how to be a true and honest friend to all. Fred shows us how non-violence can be way of life. He explains how we relate to things, is how we relate to the world. And shows us how we can move about the world with a degree of ease and humility. He goes on to explain how to welcome everyone and everything with humble gratitude, including criticism; allowing us to take joy in all beings. And how only in the face of violence do we become nonviolent.

Man is Not Our Enemy (2020)

5-31-20

In this talk at the Tampa Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner explains Applied Buddhism through the compassionate eyes of Thich Nhat Hanh and other Bodhisattvas's wonderful poems and verses written during times of great suffering. As Thich Nhat Hanh wrote in his poem, A Prayer for Peace;

 

"Help us remember we are just one family...

Help us rekindle our compassion and brotherhood,

and transform our separate interests

into loving acceptance for all.

 

May your compassion help us overcome our hatred.

May Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s love

help the flowers bloom again in the soil of our country.

Humbly, we open our hearts to you,

so you may help us transform our karma and water the flowers of our spirits...

 

I am determined to cultivate only thoughts

that increase trust and love, t

o use my hands to perform only deeds

that build community,

to speak only words of harmony and aid."

A Mother’s Love and How to Love Your Mother (2020)

5-10-20

In this talk on Mother's Day, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner explains the deep understanding of a mother's love and how we can practice love and understanding to not only love our mother but to see all beings as our mothers with the eyes of love and understanding.

Birthing a Buddha for the World (2020)

5-3-20

During this talk, our teacher, Fred Eppsteiner, explains the profound significance in the Buddha's birth and life. Fred share with us the meaning of being a Buddha, and how we can reflect and celebrate on this most wonderful manifestation of wisdom and compassion in the life of the Buddha.

Am I Taking Dharma Medicine As Prescribed? (2020)

4-26-20

Building off of the three previous talks Fred has given in the past month, Fred reviews the teachings and practices of the Three Fierce Mantas, powerful words that can cut through our confusion and anxiety in this life. Fred reviews the Five Remembrances and how we can reflect on them and put them into practice as well as the teachings on the six human "sicknesses" or "knacks" and how they habitually arise and manifest in our daily lives.

Fred asks us to examine our own life and practice and to ask ourselves "Am I Taking Dharma Medicine As Prescribed? Am I reflecting on the teachings, so they will be useful and of benefit to me?" Fred illuminates the three steps the Buddha gave to listen to the teachings, to reflect on the teachings, and then if they make sense to us; to practice them in our daily life.

Six Human "Sicknesses" To Be Wary Of and the Dharma Road to Health (2020)

4-19-20

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner explains the six human "sicknesses" or "knacks" and how they habitually arise and manifest in our daily lives. If we examine our lives closely, we may notice these "knacks" such as the knack for neediness, for being naughty, for violence, for laziness and carelessness, for being dependent, and for wrong view.

However through awareness of our life and our actions of body, speech, and mind, we can not only see how these sicknesses afflict us; but can see a way to health and well-being. Fred goes into details on how we can travel the Dharma road to health by cultivating being satisfied with oneself and one's life; cultivating a knack for goodness and virtue; cultivating a knack for protecting life and nonviolence; cultivating a knack for diligence and discipline; cultivating a knack for self responsibility and empowerment; and to cultivate a knack for right view.