Fred Eppsteiner
Lighting the Lamp of Enlightenment
June 2-9
7 nights $420 ($210 deposit) Dana
The Buddha's teachings provide a clear, psychologically sophisticated, and eminently practical guide for the remediation of self-induced suffering. Rather than continuing to endure a life characterized by dissatisfaction, internal conflict, and emotional turmoil (delusion), we are offered an opportunity to awaken to all the positive possibilities and potentials that are readily available within our own mind. Learning to recognize, cultivate, and manifest within ourselves these seeds of wisdom, wholeness, openheartedness, and well-being is the practice of the Buddha’s Way (enlightenment).
During the course of this silent retreat, participants will be led on a journey that encompasses the key teachings and meditation practices that Buddha developed to facilitate the self-healing and conscious transformation that we seek. In a step-by-step approach, we will learn to look clearly and compassionately at our current situation and life condition, and then apply many of the Buddha’s meditation practices, conceptual and analytical, as well as non-conceptual and intuitive, to facilitate healing and liberation. The retreat will draw on Fred's meditative experience in the Zen, Dzogchen (Great Perfection), and mindfulness-based traditions, as well as his many years as a professional psychotherapist.
During the retreat, we will participate in formal periods of sitting and walking mindfulness meditation, guided meditations, daily Dharma talks, private interviews with Fred, and opportunities for solitary practice and enjoyment of the natural beauty and peacefulness of Southern Dharma.
Fred Eppsteiner, MSW, has been a psychotherapist for more than twenty-five years. A practicing Buddhist for thirty-five years, Fred has trained in both Zen and Vajrayana/Dzogchen lineages. He received Dharma Transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the Dharma Teacher of the Florida Community of Mindfulness in Florida, with students in FL and NC. He is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing.
Here is the daily schedule of the Fred Eppsteiner 2006 Southern Dharma retreat. The 2007 schedule may be different.
6:00 Wake-Up
6:30 Meditation
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Work Period
9:45 Clean-Up
10:00 Dharma Talk
11:45 Outdoor Walking Meditation
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Meditation (Guided)
3:00 Solitary Practice
4:00 Mindful Movements
5:00 Deep Listening/Deep Sharing
5:45 Meditation
6:15 Dinner
7:30 Meditation
9:30 Noble Silence