Florida Community of Mindfulness

Zen and Great Perfection Masters - Key Points of the Path of Awakening (2016) (1 of 4)

Four-day Retreat | October 2016

Members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness retreated together in October 2016 with Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner to study and practice "The Key Points of the Path Awakening." Fred used various teachings from Masters of both the Zen and Great Perfection lineages as a source for study and practice during the retreat.

Cultivating a Calm Mind Through our Actions (2016)

Tampa | October 2 , 2016

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner explains the importance of attending to our actions of body and speech in order to develop harmony in our lives and in our minds. He says that if we want to develop a calm mind, then before we even begin a meditative path, we want to clean up our actions so that the activities of our day no longer stir up our minds. He goes on to introduce the Anapanasati Sutra and explain some of the fruits of the meditative path.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings, Values, and the 2016 Election (2016)

Tampa | October 30 , 2016

In this talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner comments on a chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Zen Keys" and explains how if we really want to make fundamental changes in our world, we need to first develop the ability to look deeply into our situation. When we see the big picture of what is really going on in our culture, and what is being nourished in our children, it becomes clear that true change will not come from an election or legislation. Rather, it is only through supporting the development of stable, healthy, balanced people that can resist the pulls of modern society that we can affect true change in our culture. Individually, we should be clear on how we want to be in this world, and manifest that in all our actions, large and small. Fred also explains the importance of building communities that can help people develop themselves in this way and reconnect with their basic humanity.

Secular Mindfulness vs Buddhist Mindfulness (2016)

Tampa | September 4, 2016

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner discusses the meaning and practice of mindfulness in a Buddhist context. Nowadays, mindfulness teachings and practices are often presented as stand-alone techniques, but it is important to remember the context in which they originated. In Buddhism, the purpose of mindfulness is not simply bare attention. Mindfulness is not just noticing where and how you are, but also remembering where and how you want to be. All of the mindfulness practices are in the context of the journey towards the cessation of suffering.

Suffering is Created by our Innerworld, not the Outerworld (Commentary on Lama Mipham) (2016)

Tampa | August 20, 2016

In this talk, Dharma Teacher Fred Eppsteiner comments on a poem by Lama Mipham. He points out that the happiness and suffering we experience is not created by the outer world, but rather by our own inner world. By believing that the outer world is where we can find happiness, we constantly struggle and only find momentary happiness at best. Mipham suggests that an inner happiness is possible which is not based on how things are or are not going in our lives.

The Forty Tenets of Plum Village (2016) (3 of 3)

Summer 2016

After returning from the Order of Interbeing's 50th Anniversary Retreat held at Plum Village Monastery, Fred comments on some of the "Forty Tenets of Plum Village," a document compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) and his monastics, which elucidates Thay's deep understanding of the Dharma gained from a lifetime of study, practice, and realization.

PV Tenet #18: Free Will is Possible Thanks to the 3 Trainings

The Forty Tenets of Plum Village (2016) (2 of 3)

Summer 2016

After returning from the Order of Interbeing's 50th Anniversary Retreat held at Plum Village Monastery, Fred comments on some of the "Forty Tenets of Plum Village," a document compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) and his monastics, which elucidates Thay's deep understanding of the Dharma gained from a lifetime of study, practice, and realization.

PV Tenet #3 and #5: Nirvana is the Absence of Ignorance and Afflictions and Can be Touched in the Present Moment.

The Forty Tenets of Plum Village (2016) (1 of 3)

After returning from the Order of Interbeing's 50th Anniversary Retreat held at Plum Village Monastery, Fred comments on some of the "Forty Tenets of Plum Village," a document compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) and his monastics, which elucidates Thay's deep understanding of the Dharma gained from a lifetime of study, practice, and realization.

PV Tenet #15: Awareness of Suffering and the Conditions for Happiness

Lojong - Drive All Blames into One; Be Grateful to Everyone (2015)

Fall 2015 / Winter 2016

Through the fall of 2015 into the spring of 2016, Fred will be offering (at Sangha, Retreats, and via the Dharma Path Intensive) the priceless teachings on the Lojong Trainings, or “The Seven Verses (or Points) of Mind Training.” Retreat talks are posted in the Talks section of the website separately, while Fred's Dharma talks at weekly sangha will be available via the links on this page.

These profound teachings are foundational and essential for our path of transformation, and we are deeply grateful for Fred's generosity in sharing his wisdom and that of the masters.

Lojong - Change Adverse Conditions Into the Path of Awakening (2015)

In this Dharma talk to students of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, Fred Eppsteiner continues to explain the Lojong teachings within the point "Transforming Adversity Into the Path of Awakening" in light of the terrorist attacks on Paris, France.