Florida Community of Mindfulness

Attendees at Sunday sangha in Tampa on July 21st were deeply moved by Ruth Eppsteiner's (Fred's mother) sharing of her path of practice and how it has touched her life (and so many others!). Ruth's freshness at age 96 and her open embrace of life are an inspiration to all of us.

In this Dharma talk, Fred teaches that the practice of mindfulness means being present to whatever is in front of us right now, including work. We want to be fully present in our work, rather than approaching it as a "necessary evil" or something to be done with. Work provides us with an opportunity to practice letting go of preferences and judgements and to be of service in whatever way is beneficial to others.

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

 

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

Since the earliest days of Buddhism, countless teachers have pointed out the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Unfettered by conditioning and emotional reactivity, this mind has the capacity to guide and support us spontaneously in living an awakened life.

During a 7-day silent retreat in June 2013 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner used the meditative text, 'The Mirror of Clear Meaning' from the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) tradition, to guide participants into the world of the Buddha Mind and demonstrated how to integrate this awareness in all circumstances of daily life.

Fred discusses the paramita of generosity. To practice true generosity is to move beyond our comfort zone. Rather than giving items that we no longer need or time that is not otherwise committed, our practice should be to offer to others what is of high value to ourselves. We should experiment with generosity, saying yes to being of service in any way that benefits others, without attachment to our personal preferences. Fred also discusses the opposite of generosity - greed - and how this is a manifestation of the "self."

Fred discusses the six realms of existence, six states of suffering that we cycle through throughout our lives. There is a path out of the realms, but many of us are bargainers who want to keep part of the realms. Our spiritual path provides the means for us to awaken from the dream and false promises of the six realms, to see through our conditioning and realize that who we are is so much more than a person endlessly driven by needs and drama. Fred reminds us that this is why we sit and practice mindfulness, so that we can see life clearly and connect with our authentic self, with others, and with our planet.