October 5 - December 21, 2020

Our year-long intensive with the practices of Shantideva’s The Bodhicaryavatara continues. Desiring to live a life informed by the aspiration for liberation from an existence of narrow self-centeredness, constricted emotionality, and underlying dissatisfaction in order to better connect to, understand, love, and bring only goodness to our fellow beings, we practice together with this wonderful text as our guide. In this way, we carry forth into the twenty-first century the way of the bodhisattva or the ‘path of the awakened and compassionate warrior’. 

In this final phase of this year-long Intensive, we will be studying and practicing with the last four chapters of The Bodhicaryavatara, on Diligence, Meditative Concentration, Wisdom and Dedication. This Intensive is open to FCM members who participated in the Winter/Spring or Summer Intensive, The Path of the Enlightened Being, although members with previous experience in studying with this text in FCM may join with Fred’s approval.

We will continue to utilize assigned readings in The Bodhicaryavatara and in recommended commentarial texts. Bi-weekly group mentoring video-conference calls on Zoom will provide individual guidance and support. These mentor calls will alternate between being led by Diane Powell and Ken Lenington, both senior students of Fred. Bi-weekly Dharma talks by Fred will be offered to participants via Zoom.

Participant Commitments

• A minimum of one-hour of daily formal meditative and/or other practices related to this intensive.
• Reading the Dharma texts that will be assigned to participants.
• Participation in bi-weekly Mentoring Group Zoom calls with Diane and Ken during the intensive.
• Being present for the Zoom Dharma Talks with Fred.
• Attending all the practice periods of your Sangha during the Intensive, as possible.

Mentoring

As in the Winter/Spring and Summer intensives, each Mentoring Group will meet every two weeks, alternating between Diane and Ken as mentors.  The Mentoring Group assignments will continue as they have been during the Summer intensive (or as assigned in the Winter/Spring Intensive for those who did not participate in the Summer Intensive).  If you need to change the group you are in, are new to this intensive, or if you have questions about the mentoring groups, please contact Diane at dslpowell@gmail.com or 813- 334-8888.

Registration will close on Sept 16. Out of consideration for our intensive organizers, and to ensure your acceptance into the intensive, please register immediately or mark the registration closing date in your calendar now.

If you have any questions about this intensive, please contact Ken or Diane. Contact information:

·       Ken: kenlen108@gmail.com, 828-768-1143

·       Diane: dslpowell@gmail.com, 813-334-8888