Florida Community of Mindfulness

Deconstructing the World of Self (3 of 4)

For students of Dharma, the issues of ‘self and ego’ and ‘non-self and non-ego’ are central to our spiritual quest and awakening. At the core of all our emotional dramas and melodramas is our self, the tyrant of our experience that wants to turn all our interactions into a story about “me”. It is this fundamental ignorance of the way things really are (Reality) that prevents us from experiencing our fundamental oneness and connection with everything and everyone.

The Buddha stated that this belief in the permanent and solid nature of oneself is the major cause of our ensnarement in the world of self-created dissatisfaction, confusion and emotional afflictions. The intellectual and, most importantly, experiential resolution of this seeming paradox – i.e. what appears to be solid and real is not – has major implications for the personal well-being or ill-being that we experience daily.

During this four days of this retreat, through targeted teachings and meditations, participants were given the tools and opportunity to look deeply into the very core structure of self/ego to view its essential unreality and phantom-like existence. With a deep and thorough understanding of self or ego and how the “I, me, mine” paradigm distorts our experience to create delusion and afflictive emotions, liberation from suffering can be realized. Then, the possibility of selfless living naturally manifests.

Deconstructing the World of Self (2 of 4)

For students of Dharma, the issues of ‘self and ego’ and ‘non-self and non-ego’ are central to our spiritual quest and awakening. At the core of all our emotional dramas and melodramas is our self, the tyrant of our experience that wants to turn all our interactions into a story about “me”. It is this fundamental ignorance of the way things really are (Reality) that prevents us from experiencing our fundamental oneness and connection with everything and everyone.

The Buddha stated that this belief in the permanent and solid nature of oneself is the major cause of our ensnarement in the world of self-created dissatisfaction, confusion and emotional afflictions. The intellectual and, most importantly, experiential resolution of this seeming paradox – i.e. what appears to be solid and real is not – has major implications for the personal well-being or ill-being that we experience daily.

During this four days of this retreat, through targeted teachings and meditations, participants were given the tools and opportunity to look deeply into the very core structure of self/ego to view its essential unreality and phantom-like existence. With a deep and thorough understanding of self or ego and how the “I, me, mine” paradigm distorts our experience to create delusion and afflictive emotions, liberation from suffering can be realized. Then, the possibility of selfless living naturally manifests.

Deconstructing the World of Self (1 of 4)

For students of Dharma, the issues of ‘self and ego’ and ‘non-self and non-ego’ are central to our spiritual quest and awakening. At the core of all our emotional dramas and melodramas is our self, the tyrant of our experience that wants to turn all our interactions into a story about “me”. It is this fundamental ignorance of the way things really are (Reality) that prevents us from experiencing our fundamental oneness and connection with everything and everyone.

The Buddha stated that this belief in the permanent and solid nature of oneself is the major cause of our ensnarement in the world of self-created dissatisfaction, confusion and emotional afflictions. The intellectual and, most importantly, experiential resolution of this seeming paradox – i.e. what appears to be solid and real is not – has major implications for the personal well-being or ill-being that we experience daily.

During this four days of this retreat, through targeted teachings and meditations, participants were given the tools and opportunity to look deeply into the very core structure of self/ego to view its essential unreality and phantom-like existence. With a deep and thorough understanding of self or ego and how the “I, me, mine” paradigm distorts our experience to create delusion and afflictive emotions, liberation from suffering can be realized. Then, the possibility of selfless living naturally manifests.

Practice Center Opening and Teachings on Interbeing (3 of 3)

Speaking to the FCM Community during the joyful opening of the new FCM Practice Center, Fred talks about the real spirit and meaning of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Interbeing."

Practice Center Opening and Teachings on Interbeing (2 of 3)

Speaking to the FCM Community during the joyful opening of the new FCM Practice Center, Fred talks about the real spirit and meaning of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Interbeing."

Practice Center Opening and Teachings on Interbeing (1 of 3)

Speaking to the FCM Community during the joyful opening of the new FCM Practice Center, Fred talks about the real spirit and meaning of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Interbeing."

Eight Verses for Training the Mind (2 of 2)

Eight Verses for Training the Mind, composed by the Buddhist Master Langri Tangpa (1054-1123), is a highly revered text from the Mahayana Lojong (mind training) tradition. The instructions in the text offer essential practices for cultivating the awakening mind of compassion, wisdom, and love. Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner summarizes and comments on these teachings for students in this two-part series.

Eight Verses for Training the Mind (1 of 2)

Eight Verses for Training the Mind, composed by the Buddhist Master Langri Tangpa (1054-1123), is a highly revered text from the Mahayana Lojong (mind training) tradition. The instructions in the text offer essential practices for cultivating the awakening mind of compassion, wisdom, and love. Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner summarizes and comments on these teachings for students in this two-part series.

The Life and Teachings of Milarepa (4 of 4)

Milarepa is one of the most renowned practitioners in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and most beloved by lay people. The story line of his life encompasses his difficult childhood, his vengeance seeking adolescence and young adulthood, his turning away from the “black arts” with repentance for his past deeds, his embrace of the Dharma Path, his conflicted and difficult relationship with his Dharma teacher, and his sincere and committed meditation practice that ultimately flowers with enlightenment. Overall a life that demonstrates that no matter what the “baggage,” healing and transformation is available to everyone.

Milarepa’s life has been an inspiration to Dharma practitioners for centuries, with most of his preserved teachings in the form of poems that he spontaneously sang to those who came to him for teachings. These Dharma song poems are true jewels of the Buddhist tradition and along with his life story were the subject of the Dharma Talks given by Fred at this four-day retreat.

The Life and Teachings of Milarepa (3 of 4)

Milarepa is one of the most renowned practitioners in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and most beloved by lay people. The story line of his life encompasses his difficult childhood, his vengeance seeking adolescence and young adulthood, his turning away from the “black arts” with repentance for his past deeds, his embrace of the Dharma Path, his conflicted and difficult relationship with his Dharma teacher, and his sincere and committed meditation practice that ultimately flowers with enlightenment. Overall a life that demonstrates that no matter what the “baggage,” healing and transformation is available to everyone.

Milarepa’s life has been an inspiration to Dharma practitioners for centuries, with most of his preserved teachings in the form of poems that he spontaneously sang to those who came to him for teachings. These Dharma song poems are true jewels of the Buddhist tradition and along with his life story were the subject of the Dharma Talks given by Fred at this four-day retreat.