July 5 – August 29

This eight-week Dharma Path/Wisdom Path Intensive for this summer continues the yearlong exploration of “The Seven Points of Mind Training,” (Lojong in Tibetan) begun in February 2022. Learning to think and act as an altruistic being is the subject of the text. 

As noted previously, it is a much loved and deeply venerated text, well known for its slogans that help us apply the full breadth of the Buddha’s Mahayana teachings to daily life. These 59 slogans or mind trainings focus on how the Unconditioned Awakened Mind can beneficially manifest in the life of ordinary beings in order to give rise to lovingkindness, compassion and understanding in all the activities of our lives. The transformation of seemingly adverse situations into the path of awakening is a unique focus of these mind trainings.

In this Summer Intensive, Fred and Ken will continue to guide participants in understanding the slogans and how to practice them. While each participant will be studying the entire text along with commentary, the leaders will regularly assign specific slogan(s) to work with, which will provide an opportunity for each participant to directly fit the text into the context of their current life condition. 

This Intensive is open to FCM members who participated in the 2022 Winter/Spring Engaging Life with Wisdom and Compassion Part 1 Intensive. Members with previous Lojong experience at FCM may join with Fred’s approval. Mentor Group assignments will be the same, unless we need some modifications based on how many people register for the summer Intensive.  Either Fred or Ken will lead all mentor groups. If you have any questions about the logistics of this Intensive, please contact Nancy Natilson at nnatilson@cs.com.

The path of practice for this Intensive will include readings and assigned slogans to practice in formal meditation and in daily life. The required books are the same as Part 1. Bi-weekly group mentoring video-conference calls on Zoom will provide individual guidance and support. Five Dharma talks will be offered to participants via Zoom and will be recorded. 

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.

• Spend a minimum of one hour daily in formal meditative practice, study, and/or other practices related to this Intensive.
• Read Dharma texts assigned for the Intensive
• Regularly attend your local Sangha’s weekly meditation and daylong retreats as possible.
• Participate in your assigned bi-weekly mentoring group (via Zoom)
• Be present for bi-weekly Dharma Talks (via Zoom)

There is a suggested donation of $75 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. 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.

Please note that participation in this Intensive is only open to members of FCM who took part in the Winter/Spring Intensive of the same name. Members with previous Lojong experience in the FCM may join with Fred’s approval. For information about membership, please access our website at www.floridamindfulness.org.

Registration will close on June 20th. Please register as soon as you can to support our efforts to have everything organized in a timely manner.