This upcoming 12-week Winter/Spring Intensive will combine our Dharma/Wisdom Path practitioners into one stream of study and practice. Participants will continue to focus on the teachings and practices of either of the two recent Dharma/Wisdom Path Intensives: “The Seven Points of Mind Training” (Lojong), or “The Bodhicaryavatara” by Shantideva.
We will use slogans or stanzas from these texts as the model/guide inspiring and challenging us to live a more enlightened life of purpose and meaning. For those with background in past Wisdom Intensives and retreats, i.e. ones based on Chan/Zen and Dzogchen teachings, bringing these profound teachings and practices to deepen their Intensive meditative experience is encouraged. Obviously, both the Mind Trainings and the Shantideva text emphasize that emptiness and non-self are essential ingredients for those seeking to walk the bodhisattva way.
In this self-development and self-directed Intensive, each participant will study and practice those slogans or stanzas that are personally meaningful and applicable to themselves. Each participant will have the opportunity to select the specific areas upon which they wish to concentrate and develop their individualized goals and objectives for their Intensive. Supportive activities for this Intensive will include continued study of the text and commentaries, bi-weekly peer support groups (on Zoom), and tri-weekly forums with Fred.
Please note that this Intensive is open only to FCM members who have previously participated in a Dharma/Wisdom Path Intensives on The Seven Points of Mind Training or The Way of the Bodhisattva, or with Fred’s permission.
Commitments for each Intensive participant:
- Each participant will identify the area(s) they wish to focus on and a concrete plan for the Intensive. In the first forum with Fred, they can solicit his feedback.
- The commitment to a minimum of one hour of daily formal meditative practice
- The commitment to attend all the practice periods of your sangha during the Intensive, as possible
- The commitment to participate in facilitated peer support groups that will meet every two weeks during the Intensive.
- The commitment to read and study Dharma texts in the area you’ve selected for focus.
- The commitment to be present for the five forums with Fred, which will be every third Tuesday, beginning Feb. 28, from 6-7 pm (2/28, 3/21, 4/11, 5/2 and 5/23).
There is a suggested donation of $100 associated with this Intensive. (There is no fee for Supporting and Sustaining FCM members.) 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 the FCM sangha. For information about membership, please access our website at floridamindfulness.org.
This intensive will begin February 27 and continue through May 23. 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 February 12. Out of consideration to our Intensive organizers, and to ensure your acceptance into the Intensive, please register immediately or mark the registration closing date in your calendar now.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:
Please read the information below before you click to register.
Peer Support Groups. When you register, you will also be asked to indicate your preferences for the Peer Support Groups offered through Zoom. The following five peer support groups will be listed, and you will be required to score each group as one of the following:
- my first choice
- my second choice
- could do but not preferred
- cannot do.
If there is more than one group that will work well for you, please mark all these as “my first choice.” This will provide us with added flexibility in making group assignments. Please have your calendar available when you register so that you can complete this part of the registration process accurately.
Peer Support Group #1: Tuesdays at 7:30 am
Peer Support Group #2: Wednesdays at 7:30 am
Peer Support Group #3: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm
Peer Support Group #4: Thursdays at 7:30 am
Peer Support Group #5: Thursdays at 6:00 pm
