[FCM-news] The Sangha and the New Year

[Andrew Solis]

Dear Sangha,

 

The New Year is upon us and our Sangha continues to evolve and grow in a way
that fills my heart with wonder and happiness.  Just six short years ago,
the Sangha consisted of a handful of people interested in meditation that
periodically met in Fred's home.  In mid 2003, Fred returned from a
month-long solitary retreat and offered to assume the traditional role of
teacher in the Buddhist tradition.  Fred's commitment to the Sangha in 2003
was the catalyst that caused this small group, which included several from
Tampa, St. Pete, and Miami, to blossom into a community with members
committed to the practice located throughout Florida and North Carolina.   

 

Fred's relocation to the Tampa/St. Pete area three months ago marks another
transition for the Sangha and its teacher. Our community has grown
considerably with new members joining weekly.  As a result of this
geographical growth, the Sangha changed its official name to the Florida
Community of Mindfulness, Inc., in order more accurately reflect its broader
membership.  Fred also has deepened his commitment to the Sangha and the
Dharma by retiring from his private practice as a therapist and devoting
himself full time to teaching the Dharma. There are currently over forty
members involved in the six month intensive entitled "Deconstructing the
Myth of Self."  Two weeks ago Fred lead a retreat entitled "Holding On to
Nothing - The Radical Practice of the Heart Sutra" attended by approximately
40 members from all over Florida and North Carolina. Consideration is being
given to having more retreats during the year to ensure that all have the
opportunity to deepen their practice in a retreat setting.  Fred is also
offering teachings in Naples, St. Pete, and Tampa on a weekly basis. 

 

Fred's increased commitment to the Sangha is both an opportunity and a
challenge for each of us to deepen our own commitment to awakening, to
supporting each other, and to supporting Fred on his bodhisattva path.
Traditionally, Dharma students supported the teacher through the practice of
Dana, which means generosity in Sanskrit.  As a practice, Dana, is one of
the six paramitas or perfections and helps us develop a open, non-attached
and generous heart.  Becoming a member of the community, while definitely
not required when attending our weekly public teachings or meditation
sessions, is one form of Dana.  It is the main source of revenue through
which FCM offer its support to Fred and pays for its very limited expenses,
which are comprised of rent for the locations in St. Pete, Tampa, and Naples
and miscellaneous administrative expenses.   Members of FCM make the formal
commitment to support the Sangha and its teacher, and to support its
practice and activities.  It is also a way to connect to the living lineage
of teachings passed down from the Buddha through Lin Chi, Thich Nhat Hanh,
and now Fred.   Please consider becoming a member of the Sangha in 2007 and
becoming part of this living lineage.  Information regarding membership can
be found on the Sangha's new website at www.floridamindfulness.org
<http://www.floridamindfulness.org/>  or through your local Sangha.

 

I would like to express my heart-felt thanks to all of you that have joined
us on the Path and that have so sincerely practiced Sangha over the last
year.  I would like to give a very special thanks to Angie Parrish and Beth
Schroeder, whose organizational skills have made the Naples and Dancing
Waters Sanghas run so smoothly. Thank you to Jacqueline Schuett for laying
the ground work for the new St. Pete Sangha.  Special thanks to our noble
Webmaster, Wes Cowley, whose generosity and tireless efforts have given the
Sangha a new, fully functioning website with email capabilities.  I would
also like to thank Dennis Brown for sharing his legal and accounting
expertise in reviewing the Sangha's finances.  

 

Last, it has been my privilege and honor to act as President and to serve on
the Board of Directors over the last few years.  It has been a wonderful
opportunity to deepen my own practice with everyone in the Sangha.   Over
the last few years, the annual retreats have taken on the feel of family
reunions, which has made them all the more meaningful.  I look forward to
the New Year as the Sangha continues its evolution and hope that I can spend
more time getting to know all of our members outside of the Naples area. 

 

In the Dharma,

 

Andy Solis

 

 

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.floridamindfulness.org/private.cgi/fcm-news-floridamindfulness.org/attachments/20070129/feb9bfad/attachment.html