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, “no doing, just being.”

A Half Day of Mindfulness will be held by the Naples Community of Mindfulness in the home of Andy Solis 79 Ridge Road, Naples, Florida on Saturday, June 6th from 9 am until Noon. The day will involve sitting and walking mindfulness meditation, guided meditations and dharma discussion.

Please be a part of this wonderful time dedicated to restoring and nourishing our minds and bodies; to developing and deepening our practice of mindfulness and meditative awareness; and to devoting ourselves to practice the art of living in the present moment in daily life.

Participants are requested to please respect and appreciate noble silence during the formal activities, an opportunity for deep sharing and mindful conversation will be provided towards the end of the morning. This event is free and open to all practitioners.

What to bring:

This day devoted to mindfulness practice will be held at the Lotus Pond in Tampa from 9 am until 4:30 pm. The Day will involve sitting meditation, mindfulness walking meditation, guided meditations, a Dharma teaching by Fred, an opportunity for questions and answers, silent meals, some lazy time and mindful movements.

Please be a part of this wonderful time dedicated to restoring and nourishing our minds and bodies; to developing and deepening our practice of mindfulness and meditative awareness; and to devoting ourselves to practice the art of living in the present moment in daily life.

Please join us on Saturday, April 25th for an invigorating beach experience at the Delanor Wiggins State Park, located at the western end of Immokallee Rd in N. Naples. We will gather at parking lot # 5 for a picnic and beach meditation.

Fred and Angie will be joining us from St Pete. This is open to all of FCM and friends and family too. Anyone from out of town is encouraged to join in. Should you wish to spend the night, we can find suitable accommodations for you.

Please bring your good cheer, a vegetarian dish to share and a towel, blanket or chair and your own plate, cup, and cutlery. We will supply bottles of water to drink.

Festivities begin at 5PM and will end when the sun goes down. This state park is a wonderful place to get refreshed and renewed. There is a parking fee of $5 for each car.

This retreat offers a special and unique opportunity to step out of the hectic pace of daily living for personal renewal and relaxation. Blend the movement and health benefits of yoga with the mindfulness of Buddhist philosophy.

Val Spies will guide you through a yoga practice fit for all levels that will connect you to your body and uplift your spirit.

Fred Eppsteiner will lead the group in seated & walking mindfulness meditation and dharma talks on mindfulness and daily life.

Together the group will explore practical ways to deal with the transformation of our current times and discuss methods of finding ease and comfort through the application of mindfulness practices.

Bring a lunch and enjoy the beautiful grounds of the Lotus Pond during midday rest and relaxation time.

Please join us on Saturday, April 18 for a sangha canoe trip on the lovely Hillsborough River near Tampa. We are grateful for the wonderful energy of Dan Martin and Chris Gahles for arranging and leading this trip. More information on the trip is provided below.

All sangha members, new and old, are very welcome to join us for joyful paddling and companionship!

Hillsborough River State Park
Thonotosassa, Fl 33592

Saturday April 18, 2009
8:45 AM until 2:00 PM

Enjoy the natural beauty of Florida while canoeing down the Hillsborough River. This event will provide an opportunity to reconnect with nature and enjoy each other’s presence in an informal setting.

We will canoe down the river for about 1.5 hours to a resting spot, have lunch and then canoe back to our original launching location. The round trip will take about 4 hours.

Family and friends are welcomed!

Please arrive at 8:45 to settle in.

Location: 4810 Hickory Wood Drive, Naples, Florida

Please be a part of this wonderful time dedicated to restoring, and nourishing our minds and bodies; to developing and deepening our practice of mindfulness and meditative awareness in silence; to devoting ourselves to the practice art of daily living in the present moment and touching the wonders of life that are right here.

Our location is in the home and meditation center of Yolanda Becker in Naples Florida. (See map)
Please park away from the front door and garage.

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, “no doing, just being.”

We are safely home by now, with Obama's inaugural address greeting us as the perfect welcome back to the United States!

In order to complete our summary of the pilgrimage to India, following are highlights of the last third of the trip - from our arrival on January 13 in Lumbini, Nepal to our departure from Delhi on January 19. The last three locations on Buddha's "circuit" were less crowded and more rural than the previous ones, and offered us more opportunities for sitting and Dharma talks.

Dear Noble Sangha,

Greetings from Buddha's land! We are about two-thirds through our pilgrimage and wanted you to know we think of you often! Following is a summary of some highlights of our journey along the path of awakening in the footsteps of the Buddha.

We gathered in Delhi and met Shantum, our guide/teacher, and welcomed three new, wonderful pilgrims to our traveling sangha (one from California and two from Calgary, Alberta). Our first visit was to Gandhi Smriti, commemorating the site where Gandhi's life ended abruptly. We were impressed with the story of this great man's simple life and the impact he had on the world. We were again deeply moved when we saw actual bone relics of the Buddha in the National Museum. The day ended with dinner at Shantum's home, with his wife and young daughters, parents, and close family friends - all so warm and welcoming.