Florida Community of Mindfulness upcoming events

Karma: What It Is and Why It Matters | Daylong Workshop (25 Apr 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

With Fred Eppsteiner and Angie Parrish

Every moment of life – through our our speech, our actions, and particularly the thoughts we entertain – we are creating the basis for our future happiness or unhappiness. The Buddha called this truth, this reality of cause & effect - karma. Essentially, when we think, speak or act from a wholesome place – from motivations that are generous, kind and wise – we create the conditions for happiness for ourselves and others, both now and in the future. And when our actions spring from unwholesome motivations, like greed, anger or confusion – we create the conditions for unhappiness.

The law of karma – of cause and effect – is one of the most important and essential teachings of the Buddha. Our world is challenging, from personal and relationship challenges to global issues such as the climate crisis, wars, polarization and conflict in society. In the midst of all these challenges, if we truly wish to live with a calm mind –with clarity, equanimity, and emotional stability - and to be a force for bringing goodness into the world, we need to understand these teachings. We can then both live with compassion and understanding for how the world is today AND know how to live in a way that brings more happiness and helps alleviate suffering for ourselves and others.

So what exactly is karma? How do individuals and societies create their karma? Why focus on karma if everything is essentially “empty,” as the Buddha taught? How can we and societies change our karma? And how does understanding karma give rise to the understanding of emptiness and the arising of compassion?

Join Fred Eppsteiner and Angie Parrish on Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm to explore these questions and learn how the understanding of karma is of utmost importance for our spiritual development.

Logistics

The workshop is open to everyone, with a cost is $70 (reduced rate of $35 for those with financial need) for the day. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org. This workshop will be offered both in-person and online.

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch. Water and tea will be provided.

Workshop Leaders

Our teacher Fred Eppsteiner will be using his training as a family therapist, plus his experience as a meditation and Dharma teacher, to create a challenging and opening environment for workshop participants to learn practical and easily applicable means to facilitate the workshop’s goals. Theoretical and psychological presentations, mindfulness practice, and guided experiential meditations will all be utilized during the workshop.

Fred has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 40 years, and was a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in the Buddhist meditative traditions the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing.

Angie Parrish has been a student of Buddhism and mindfulness for over 20 years. After a 1999 retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh, she became a student of Fred Eppsteiner's and a member of the Florida Community of Mindfulness. Angie brought the fruits of her experience in mindfulness and meditation into her professional career as an employee benefits consultant for a wide variety of organizations, including many employee training programs.

Angie is a Dharma Instructor with FCM, having been given permission by FCM’s teacher Fred Eppsteiner to share the Buddha’s teachings with the sangha. She is also a Qualified Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and is a frequent teacher of classes and retreats at FCM.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation | A Four-Week Class (06 May 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

with Diana Fish and Christina Cherian

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation is a four-week course designed to support the practice of mindfulness, helping us develop the skills and attention to be fully present to our lives in the present moment, and to touch each moment deeply. It is intended for those new to mindfulness and meditation, as well as for those who want to review the basics and establish a more consistent daily mindfulness and meditation practice. The course includes basic instruction as well as an exploration of practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily activities.

Learning Objectives:

Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This four-week course will begin on Wednesday, May 6, 13, 20, & 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person. The cost is $75 for all four sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

Reverend Diana Fish, BCC, is an interfaith palliative care chaplain at BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, FL. Diana joined FCM upon moving to Florida and was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2019. In 2018 she was ordained as a Buddhist Chaplain by Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbott of Upaya Zen Center and author of Being with Dying. After completing Clinical Pastoral Education at Tampa General Hospital in 2019 she was hired as a Staff Chaplain. She received board certification by the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2021.

Christina Cherian has been a student of mindfulness and meditation for over a decade, completing multiple silent retreats and integrating these teachings into her work. She is a Family and Lifestyle Medicine physician and founder of Lotus Lifestyle Medicine, where she supports individuals in preventing and reversing chronic disease through mindful, plant-based living. Christina helps lead Wake Up Tampa Bay, a mindfulness and meditation group for young adults, and is passionate about helping herself and others reconnect with presence, compassion, and ease.

From Reacting to Relating: Mindful Tools for Difficult Communications Workshop (23 May 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

With Angie Parrish

Do difficult conversations leave you feeling reactive, defensive, or misunderstood? Particularly in this day and age, when conversations can quickly become tense, polarized, or exhausting—even with the people we love most—it’s easy to fall into habits of reacting rather than relating.

In this experiential workshop you’ll learn practical mindfulness tools for staying present, listening deeply, and speaking honestly—even when communication becomes challenging. Drawing on the principles of mindful communication, we’ll learn how to recognize when we’re triggered, pause the momentum of reactivity, and reconnect with what truly matters in the moment.

Through short teachings, guided reflection, meditation, and structured partner practices, participants will explore how to:

Clarify aspirations that help support the “container” for important relationships
Notice the inner signals that tell us we’ve left presence and how to return
Cultivate greater understanding for ourselves and others
Listen in a way that helps others feel genuinely heard
Speak honestly without blame, defensiveness, or withdrawal
Stay connected even when there is disagreement or difference

This workshop is not about winning arguments or fixing others. It’s about cultivating the inner conditions that make real understanding—and real connection—possible.

No prior mindfulness experience is necessary. All are welcome.

Logistics

The cost is $80 (reduced rate of $40 for those with financial need) for the day. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org. This workshop will be offered both in-person only.

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch. Water and tea will be provided.

Workshop Leader

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation | A Four-Week Class (06 Sep 2026)

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

with Dani Hall and Carl Newman

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Learning Objectives:

Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This four-week course will begin on Sunday, September 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Classes will be held in-person. The cost is $75 for all four sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

Dani Hall joined the Florida Community of Mindfulness in 2019 and embraced the Five Mindfulness Trainings in 2021. As an Order of Interbeing (OI) aspirant and Selfless Service Coordinator, Dani actively integrates mindfulness into daily life. With passions for regenerative gardening, creating Florida native wildlife habitats, and developing food forests, Dani embodies a deep commitment to spiritual growth, environmental stewardship, and mindful living.

Carl Newman joined FCM in the spring of 2022 through an introduction to mindfulness class. After a lifetime of spiritual practice within the Unity Church, transitioning to the Dharma with Fred and the FCM Sangha felt both natural and joyful. Beyond FCM, Carl serves on several boards, including the National Science Foundation’s Earth Observation Laboratory. Professionally, he leads a team of aircraft professionals. Carl is married to Amy and is the father of two adult children, Chris and John. He finds his greatest joy in the garden—especially when working alongside fellow members of the Sangha.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation | A Two-Week Class (24 Oct 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

with John McHarris and Raven Dreifus-Kofron

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Learning Objectives:

Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This two-week course will be on Saturday, October 24 & 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person. The cost is $75 for both sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

John McHarris is a Dharma Instructor with the Florida Community of Mindfulness. He has been a student of FCM's teacher Fred Eppsteiner since 2011. John completed FCM's three year Dharma Transmission Group program, and is an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing. He has Co-led various FCM offerings such as the Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation class, FCM Intensives, and Days of Mindfulness. Although based in Naples, he's also a part-time Tampa resident; in conjunction with FCM's Residency program.

Raven Dreifus-Kofron, as a seeker learning about different paths, was curious about Mindfulness and found the Florida Community of Mindfulness in 2018. She was drawn to the leadership, community, and common sense tools and skills, and joined right away. Since joining FCM, she is active helping and coordinating New Membership, Sangha Building, Teas, Dinners, Spiritual Friends groups, Thanksgiving and other selfless service opportunities. Her career included advertising, corporate communications and corporate recruitment. She has also been practicing Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga and meditation for eighteen years and loves the congruence of the messages. In addition to her practices, she enjoys time with friends, the beach, and buying and selling vintage/retro. Raven, her husband Keith, and dog Leela, live in Brandon.

[Self-Paced] The Four Thoughts That Turn The Mind Toward Dharma | Enroll Anytime (31 Dec 2099)

Thu, 31 Dec 2099 14:00:00 GMT

Dates
This is a Self-Paced Course for members of FCM—Enroll Anytime and Complete on Your Schedule
Suitability
Members at any stage of practice, from beginner to more experienced, who wish to establish a strong foundation of "Right View" for practicing on the Buddhist path. If you are not a member, joining is easy! Click here for more information.

Description

The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward Dharma - Precious Human Life, Impermanence, Defects of Samsara, and Cause and Effect - are an essential foundational teaching in Buddhist practice. Without a deep understanding and integration of these teachings, we will not build the strong foundation needed to support our continued development on the spiritual path.

In this five-module course, our study and contemplation of the Four Thoughts will guide us in turning away from the distractions of samsara—the endless cycle of suffering—and toward the path of genuine liberation. When understood deeply and practiced sincerely, these reflections have the power to illuminate the mind with wisdom, dissolving the delusions and misunderstandings that give rise to suffering.

This 5-part, self-guided, pre-recorded audio course will help you to::

Gain both an intellectual understanding of the Four Thoughts and a heartfelt recognition of the nature of existence.
Learn how to reflect on these contemplations and bring them into our life experiences.
Awaken a sense of clarity and urgency about why we practice the Dharma.
Be inspired to turn our minds toward the Dharma so that we can focus on what truly matters and begin to align our lives with wisdom and compassion.

The course includes recorded talks by FCM's founding teacher Fred Eppsteiner, readings, guided meditations, reflection questions, and suggested practice opportunities. A participant Discussion Forum is also provided for sharing insights with the course mentors and other participants in the course.

This course is open to members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness (click here for more information about membership and to join). It is a Self-Paced course, conducted entirely online, with access to a Course Mentor. Total expected time to complete the course is estimated at 15-25 hours, but participants complete the course on their own schedule.
Course Instructors
Fred Eppsteiner has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 50 years and was a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in the Buddhist meditative traditions the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing. He is the founding teacher of the Florida Community of Mindfulness.
Fees

This course if offered on a donation-basis for FCM members. Members select an amount, if any, that they would like to offer to support future programs at FCM.

Contacts for More Information
If you have any questions about this course or whether it is appropriate for you, please e-mail us at info@floridamindfulness.org or call 813-237-0746.