with Fred Eppsteiner
Description
From the time of the Buddha, enlightened teachers consistently have pointed out that our thinking mind is merely a functional capacity of our true, original, natural mind. Mistakenly identifying with and attaching to this conceptually constructed mind, we never experience the innate simplicity and spontaneous wisdom of our true mind. Instead, we live in an ever-changing thought created reality that often produces chronic unease, unbalanced emotionality, and dissatisfaction.
Yet, if we learn to unfetter our natural mind from its historical conditioning and emotional reactivity, it has the capacity to guide and support us in living a life of emotional ease, inner contentment and total openness, i.e., an awakened life. The teachings and practices of the Chan/Zen and Great Perfection traditions show us how this can be readily accomplished.
This retreat will focus on facilitating participants’ meditative experience of their original and natural mind and show how to integrate this understanding into the circumstances of daily life. Directly experiencing the mind as it is and all the things that appear in it (especially the self!) as empty of any substance or solidity allows one to break through into the totally open and spacious mind nature. This is the basis of true transformation.
This retreat is a Wisdom Path Retreat and is appropriate for those FCM members who have previously participated in a Wisdom Path Intensive or retreat, or for those who are walking the Dharma Path and feel ready for a deeper exploration of their mind through meditation and guided reflection. Due to the nature of the teachings, the interaction with the teacher, and the importance of a deep, silent container for practice, this retreat will be residential only (overnighters and commuters).
Logistics
This retreat is being offered in-person only to be of most benefit to participants.
FCM's retreat center in Tampa, Florida provides a beautiful and serene refuge from the noise and business of our everyday lives. Set among our bamboo gardens, walking paths and pond, our center offers comfortable double-occupancy accommodations in our Great Cloud residence hall, nourishing vegan meals and ample indoor and outdoor meditation spaces for personal reflection.
The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Saturday evening, June 3, followed by dinner at 5:45 and the opening session at 7:00. The retreat will end on Saturday, June 10 at 1:00 pm. Full payment will be due upon acceptance into the retreat.
The fee for in-person participation is $560 for overnighters and $420 for commuters, with a $50 deposit required to register. The balance of the fee will be due by May 12.
FCM aspires to support the retreat experience for all who are on this path, and thus retreat scholarships are available and encouraged if it would support your participation. Please click here to see FCM ’s Retreat Scholarship Policy and for an application, which needs to be submitted prior to the registration deadline for this retreat. The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e., generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage.
The Retreat Coordinator will be sending additional information to registrants closer to the retreat start date.
The last day to register for this retreat is May 6.
Retreat Leader
Fred Eppsteiner 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.
Questions?
For more information, please contact Angie at parrish26@gmail.com
