Florida Community of Mindfulness

The Meaning and Practice of Interbeing (Tiep Hien) (2017)

May 7, 2017

In this talk given after the 2017 Order of Interbeing Retreat at the Florida Community of Mindfulness, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner shares about the meaning of Interbeing and the meaning of the original Vietnamese name for the Order: Tiep Hien.

The Order of Interbeing, or Tiep Hien, is an Order within the Buddhist Lineage founded by Zen Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.

Fred begins by sharing how the primary aim of the Order, and of meditation and practice, is to help people get in touch with reality. He shares that although most of us think we are in touch with reality, we are really in touch with our thoughts and stories about reality and live in a self-constructed mental reality. Fred urges us to go deeper than these stories and to touch the reality of life and the reality of who and what we are directly.

Fred then shares that another aim of the order is to help people realize the qualities of an awakened mind. These qualities, like compassion, patience, mindfulness, and loving-kindness can only be realized if we live them. We need to get these practices inside and bring them into all the interactions of our life. Only then can they work their magic and transform our minds.

Fred goes on to explain how the precepts of the Order, the 14 Mindfulness Trainings, help us to accomplish these two aims.

Cultivating the Mind of Patience and Acceptance (2017) (3 of 3)

Three-day Retreat | April 2017

Members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness retreated together in April 2017 with Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner to study and practice the Buddhist teachings on cultivating the mind of patience and acceptance.

Cultivating the Mind of Patience and Acceptance (2017) (2 of 3)

Three-day Retreat | April 2017

Members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness retreated together in April 2017 with Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner to study and practice the Buddhist teachings on cultivating the mind of patience and acceptance.

Cultivating the Mind of Patience and Acceptance (2017) (1 of 3)

Three-day Retreat | April 2017

Members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness retreated together in April 2017 with Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner to study and practice the Buddhist teachings on cultivating the mind of patience and acceptance.

Rejecting Reactivity - Clarity and Insight as the Path Forward (2017)

Tampa | February 5th, 2017

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner shares that in order to gain clarity and insight in these times of reactivity, we need to begin with cultivating understanding of those with different views, looking deeply into the causes and conditions that created the current situation. With this understanding we can experience open heartedness and compassion, while also gaining clarity and insight surrounding wise action that may be available. For example, in times such as these we may see that a movement for uplifting the values of love and compassion in people's hearts, of helping people to see everyone as their brother or sister, would in the long-term be more beneficial than continual conflict over policies. When such values are held dear by many, wise policy that supports the health, well-being and dignity of all beings will flow more naturally.

A Mind of Goodness or a Mind of Negativity - It's Up to You! (2017)

Tampa | January 22, 2017

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner explains that although we all want to be happy, most of us spend a lot of time using our minds in ways that cause us to suffer. He encourages us to look deeply inward in order to see what kinds of "seeds" we are cultivating, and to ask ourselves whether they will bear positive or negative fruit. To simply try and "fix" our issues and then expect to be happy is not realistic. We must realize what causes afflictive mind-states to arise in the first place. Then we need to stop cultivating them and start cultivating positive mind-states. Fred also makes a connection between the cultivation of negative mind-states in the individual and the greed, anger, and violence that plague our society. If we want our world to be one of peace, where people treat each other as fellow human beings, then this can only come about by cultivating peace and compassion in the minds of individuals.

Mindfulness of the Mind: Wholesome and Unwholesome Mind-States (2016)

Tampa | December 17 , 2016

In this Dharma talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner begins by answering questions about physical discomfort, feelings, and the importance of being present to them. He also stresses that the spiritual life is not dependent on what is going on in the world.Then Fred moves onto the Four Establishments of Mindfulness: body, feelings, mind, and dharmas. He explains that the mind should abide in clear knowing, free from desire and discontent in the world. Fred stressed the importance of being aware of one’s mind states, i.e., attached vs. non-attached, as well as the importance of recognizing wholesome and unwholesome mind states.

The Dharma of Scrooge (2016)

Tampa | December 18, 2016

In this Dharma talk Fred Eppsteiner relates the story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens', "A Christmas Carol." Through this story, Fred explains how we can all transform the suffering we experience from living a life devoted to self into a happy, meaningful life filled with love and compassion for others.

A Vision to Share - Our Community's Mission and Core Values (2016)

Tampa | December 11 , 2016

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner shares and comments on the Florida Community of Mindfulness' Vision, Mission, and Core Values. He uses these to illustrate the importance of having a vision of how one wants to be in this world and a clear mission of how one will develop that way of being.

Loving Speech and Deep Listening - A Panel Discussion on the 4th Mindfulness Training (2016)

Tampa | November 13 , 2016

Senior students of Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner share their understanding and practice of the 4th Mindfulness Training on Loving Speech and Deep Listening.