(Please Note: Registration for the Intensive closes on September 22. If you plan to register, please do so now or mark the closing date in your calendar.)
Deconstructing the Myth of Self, A Six- Month Practice Intensive
Part I: October 2 -December 18, 2017
Part II will be offered in the Spring of 2018
“To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things. To be enlightened by all things is to be free from attachment to the body and mind of one's self and of others.” -- Zen Master Dogen
For students of Dharma, the issues of ‘self and ego’ and ‘non-self and non-ego’ are central to our spiritual quest and awakening. The intellectual and, most importantly, experiential resolution of this seeming paradox – i.e. what appears to be solid and real is not – has major implications for the well-being or ill-being that we experience daily in our personal lives. The Buddha stated that our belief in the permanent and solid nature of oneself in a world of other solid selves is the major cause of our ensnarement in self-created dissatisfaction, confusion and emotional afflictions. It is this fundamental ignorance of the way things really are (Reality) that prevents us from experiencing our fundamental oneness and connection with everything and everyone.
The focus of this Intensive and the overriding commitment of all participants is to undertake a deep, comprehensive and penetrative look at the self in an intellectual/analytical, psychological, and, most importantly, experiential/meditative manner. The intent is to ground participants in the traditional Buddhist philosophical and psychological teachings and practices related to self/non-self, as well as to personalize and individualize these practices for each participant.
Participants in this Intensive will be provided with a path of practice that will include mentoring, readings, meditation practices, and daily living assignments. Dharma talks by the senior students leading the Intensive will be offered through Zoom video-conferencing. Mentoring by senior students will be done in a group format using Zoom video-conferencing. Peer group meetings, offered in-person or by Zoom, will provide an opportunity for participants to share and provide mutual support to each other; for this Intensive, peer groups will be on an optional, drop-in basis. Finally, Fred will offer a Forum in Tampa to answer questions and interact with participants. The Forum will be live-streamed so that those in other locations can participate.
The commitments for this Intensive are listed below. Before registering for the Intensive please read the commitments and reflect carefully on whether you will be able to keep them
Commitments for each Intensive participant:
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The commitment to a minimum of one hour of daily formal meditative practice, study, and/or other practices related to this Intensive, e.g. maintaining a daily log/journal.
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The commitment to participate in your assigned bi-weekly video-conference mentoring group.
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The commitment to be present for the Zoom Dharma Talks.
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The commitment to be present for the Forum with Fred, in person or by livestream.
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The commitment to read Dharma texts assigned for the Intensive.
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The commitment to attend all the practice periods of your Sangha during the Intensive, as possible
There is a suggested donation of $100 associated with this Intensive. This is a suggested donation, and participants are free to donate more or less, depending on their individual practice of Dana and their financial situation. Please note that participation in this Intensive is only open to members of FCM. For information about membership, please access our website at www.floridamindulness.org.
While this is a two-part intensive, we are only asking that people sign-up for Part 1 at this time. Part 1 will begin October 2 and continue through December 18. Dharma texts to be read will be announced once registration has been completed. You may pay on-line or send your check made out to the Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) to Florida Community of Mindfulness, 6501 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33604.
Registration will close on September 22. Please be sure to register by this date. For the past several years the number of people requesting to join the Intensive after registration has closed has been increasing and this greatly increases the workload for Intensive organizers. Thus, out of consideration, and to ensure your acceptance into the Intensive, please register immediately or mark the registration closing date in your calendar now.
NEW REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:
Please read the information below before you click to register!
We are implementing some changes in registration this fall designed to simplify the process of organizing intensives.
When you register, you will be asked to indicate the preferred location for the in-person or phone optional Peer Groups (Fort Myers, Naples, St. Petersburg, Tampa, or by phone). In addition, for Tampa only, you will be asked to indicate your preferred meeting times (Sundays 8:40-9:40 am and/or Sundays 12:45-1:45. pm).
When you register, you will also be asked to indicate your preferences for the required bi-weekly Mentoring Groups offered through Zoom. The following seven small groups will be listed, and you will be required to score each group as one of the following: my first choice, my second choice, cannot do, or could do but not preferred. Please have your calendar available when you register so that you can complete this part of the registration process accurately.
Group #1: Tuesdays 8:00-9:00 am Oct 10, 24, Nov. 7, 21, Dec. 5
Group #2: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 pm Oct 10, 24, Nov. 7, 21, Dec. 5
Group #3: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 pm Oct 17, 31, Nov. 14, 28, Dec. 12
Group #4: Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 am Oct 11, 25, Nov. 8, 22, Dec. 6
Group #5: Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 am Oct. 18, Nov. 1, 15, 29, Dec. 13
Group #6: Wednesdays 4:00-5:00 pm. Oct 18, Nov. 1, 15, 29, Dec. 13
Group #7: Thursdays 8:00-9:00 am Oct. 12, 26, Nov. 9, 23*, Dec. 7
*Thanksgiving Day-call will be re-scheduled.
