Dear Friends,

Over the next few weeks, we will be updating the calendar on the Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) website for upcoming activities. In the meantime, we wanted to make you aware of the following scheduled Days of Mindfulness (DOM) that Fred will be leading in 2008:

September 7 - Naples
October 12 - Tampa
November 9 - New Smyrna Beach

Please note that we previously communicated and listed a Day of Mindfulness in Broward on August 9; the Broward sangha is not actually planning to host a DOM on that date, and the FCM calendar has been updated to reflect this correction.

More information about our Days of Mindfulness, which are open to all and are wonderful ways to deepen our practice, will be provided on the website and in future emails. We thank the various Florida sanghas for hosting these DOMs and opening them to all members of our community.

With metta,

Angie and the Board of the Florida Community of Mindfulness

Note: this information is also available in a Word document for your convenience.

Dear friends,

Our pilgrimage to Buddhist India in January, 2009 is now officially a “go.” Over 2500 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha discovered the truth of freedom from suffering and bringing well-being and open heartedness to the individual, family and society. Before he died, the Buddha suggested that it would be of great benefit to those who are interested in his teachings to make a pilgrimage to the places associated with his life. The pilgrimage will be coordinated by the “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” group, They will be making all the within-India travel arrangements for us and providing an English and Hindi speaking coordinator to travel with us. Shantum Seth, the founder of “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” will be with us during the first day of the pilgrimage in New Delhi to introduce and orient the group to the pilgrimage.

Dear friends,

We want to share with you our upcoming Days of Mindfulness that are occurring in different parts of Florida over the summer. These practice opportunities provide us with a full day experience to refresh, renew and deepen our understanding of how to live a life of awareness and mindfulness. During a Day of Mindfulness, we practice sitting and walking in mindfulness, mindful breathing, mindful eating, mindfulness in nature, deep relaxation and other practices to increase our capacity to dwell happily and peacefully in the present moment. There will also be a Dharma talk by Fred at each of these days and he will be guiding our meditation practice.

With metta, Angie

Saturday, June 28th in Naples.

Dear friends,

We recently received communication from the Southern Dharma Retreat Center that Fred's June retreat, Lighting the Lamp of Enlightenment, is nearly full. For those who want to deepen their meditative experience and have the opportunity to hear and practice the teachings in a secluded, tranquil and natural setting, this retreat is a wonderful opportunity to do so. For more information about this retreat and/or to register, please go to the Southern Dharma Retreat Center's website or cut and paste the following link into your web browser,

http://www.southerndharma.org/descriptions/Eppsteiner.htm

With metta,

Angie

A Half Day of Mindfulness will be held by the Naples Community of Mindfulness in the home of Beth Schroeder 188 North Lake Drive, Naples, Florida on Saturday, April 5th from 9 am until Noon. The day will involve sitting and walking mindfulness meditation, guided meditations and dharma discussion.
A vegetarian pot luck will be enjoyed at 12:30.
What to bring:
• Your favorite meditation seating arrangement (e.g., meditation cushion, blanket, and mat,) if you have them. Some cushions, blankets, benches, and chairs will be available.
• A dish to pass if staying for the potluck.

Dear Dharma friends,

A day to let go of our usual responsibilities and activities so we can restore and nourish our minds and bodies. A day devoted to the practice of living in the present moment and touching the wonders of life that are right here. A day to develop and deepen our practice of mindfulness and meditative awareness in silence. A day to relax.

A Day of Mindfulness will be held at the Lotus Pond (see their website for directions) on Sunday, March 16th from 9 am until 4:30 pm. The Day will involve sitting and walking mindfulness meditation, guided meditations, a Dharma teaching by Fred, an opportunity for questions and answers, silent meals, some lazy time and afternoon yoga with Val. Participants are requested to please respect and appreciate noble silence during the duration of the formal activities of the day. An opportunity for sharing and mindful conversation will be provided towards the end of the day.

Dear Friends,

Just a "heads up" about upcoming Days of Mindfulness (DOM) and retreats being offered by the Florida Community of Mindfulness in the coming months. More information about registration will follow shortly, but as many people plan their calendars in advance, we offer the following:

Days of Mindfulness:

  March 8 in Naples
  March 16 in Tampa (at the Lotus Pond)
  March 22 in Fort Lauderdale

Retreats:

  April 10 (evening) through April 13 (noon) at the Franciscan Center in Tampa

  May 31 (evening) through June 7 at Southern Dharma Retreat Center in North Carolina (see their website for information and registration)

With metta,

Angie

The Broward Lotus Sangha is pleased to invite you to our next DOM led by Fred Eppsteiner.
Saturday 3/22/08 from 9am-5 pm in Fort Lauderdale.

Please click here for more information.

Dear Dharma friends,

Below is a letter that I recently received from Anh-Huong. A Dharma
teacher in the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition, she is also his niece. As some
of you may remember, she and her husband, Thu, have co-led retreats with
me in Florida in past years. As this is the time of year when many of us
are contemplating ways to express our appreciation for our good fortune, I
wanted to bring the activities of the Committee for the Relief of Poor
Children in Vietnam to your attention. Obviously, from reading her letter,
gifted monies of any amount will be of significant help to our brothers
and sisters in the third world.

in the Dharma, Fred

Dear Friends:

Twelve years ago Thu and I and some friends created the Committee for the
Relief of Poor Children in Vietnam (CRPCV). We were aware of the suffering
of so many poor children and their families in Vietnam, and we wanted to
reach out to them. Working with Plum Village, we focused our attention on
the needy children of Quang Tri province in Central Vietnam. Monastics and