Expanding Opportunities to Heal and Transform with the Addition of Our New Residential Center

We are happy to report the current progress on our community’s endeavor to build Great Cloud refuge.

The cottage was recently demolished, so we can now begin to see the footprint for our new hall! The permitting process is nearing completion, with the Residential Retreat team now awaiting final comments from the City. Once that occurs, shovels in!

On Sunday, April 8 our community will join together with visiting monastics from the Plum Village tradition for the Consecration Ceremony for Great Cloud Refuge, our soon to be built residential retreat facility. You are invited to join us at the Tampa Practice Center in person or via livestream at 10 am for our Sunday Meditation, Dharma Talk by Brother Phap Hai, and the Great Cloud Refuge Consecration Ceremony. Inspired by an ancient Buddhist tradition, we will place into the earth one or more consecrated earth treasure vessels on the site that Great Cloud Refuge will be built. Earth treasure vessels are filled with prayers and precious offerings and are intended to bless and empower the earth, transmit positive energy and mind states, and bring about protection, healing and transformation to the earth and surroundings where they are placed.

When complete, the new Great Cloud Refuge building on our Tampa Center Campus will include: 4,000 square feet for sleeping rooms to house 24-42 people, additional spaces for individual meditation, and flexible gathering spots for meditation or small group meetings. (Please click below to see the attached beautiful architectural renderings for four views of the completed building and landscaping).

Please click here to hear our teacher Fred speak about his vision for retreats at the Practice Center and here for a Q&A with Fred.

Envisioning Great Cloud Refuge

• A larger number of 2-, 3-, and 4-day retreats;
• Individual retreats to explore specific areas of healing and transformation under the guidance of a teacher/mentor;
• Accommodations for visiting teachers who can offer teachings at the Center;
• A wide range of mindful living weekend course offerings, e.g. transforming relationships, working with emotions, mindful parenting, mindful leadership, etc., that would appeal to both Buddhist practitioners and the general public, and would contribute to the happiness and well-being of our broader Florida community.

…and other purposes yet to be envisioned.

Informed by the advice of architects, construction experts, and experienced retreat facility managers, we have undertaken a thorough process of assessing how the space can be used to maximum advantage, serving the sangha’s needs for years to come. The result is a lovely 4,000 square foot space that will support our retreat aspirations and both blend with and enhance our current Practice Center campus. We hope to begin offering retreats at Great Cloud in the first quarter of 2019.