With Guo Gu

Dates:  September 25 - 28
Registration Deadline: August 22
Suitability
This retreat is suitable for both  new and experienced practitioners. Participation is open to all (both FCM members and non-members).

Please note that registration does not confirm acceptance into the retreat. Shortly after the registration deadline (Aug 22), we will review applications and make final decisions as to acceptance. Notifications will be made by Aug 27.  

Description

“The  Supreme Way is not difficult,

if only you do not pick and choose.”

So begins Faith in Mind 信心銘 (xinxin ming), a seminal poem in the Chan tradition traditionally attributed to the Third Patriarch, Sengcan. This succinct and evocative text presents a complete view of the Chan path—one that points beyond dualities, conceptual frameworks, and goal-oriented striving.

In this four-day residential retreat, Chan teacher Guo Gu will offer teachings grounded in both textual study and intensive sitting meditation. The retreat will provide a structured space to reflect on the key principles embedded in the poem and explore their relevance in one’s own embodied practice. Guo Gu’s commentary will not emphasize historical or philosophical interpretation but will highlight the poem’s pragmatic orientation toward the realization of non-discriminating mind. 

The verses of Faith in Mind address the fundamental obstacles in practice: attachment to views, clinging to states of stillness, and the subtle operations of preference and aversion. Through periods of seated meditation, Dharma talks, and integrated reflection, participants will investigate what it means to rest in the immediacy of mind itself, free from grasping or rejection. Suitable for both new and experienced practitioners, this retreat offers an opportunity to encounter Faith in Mind not as doctrine, but as living instruction in the path of buddhadharma.

Retreat Leader

Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He studied under the late Master Sheng Yen for over 30 years, nine of which as his attendant monk and most senior and closest disciple. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination(2021).
Fees

The fee for in-person participation is $270 for overnighters and $210 for commuters. Your full payment is required no later than September 12 to secure your spot, should you be admitted into the retreat. A full refund will be granted for those not admitted into the retreat. 

Retreat Scholarships are available; 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.

Retreat Logistics

The retreat will offer both in-person participation at FCM ’s Tampa Center and online participation. THIS REGISTRATION PAGE IS FOR IN-PERSON (Overnighter and Commuter) PARTICIPATION ONLY. Please visit the Online Retreat page if you wish to attend online.

The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Thursday, September 25 and ends after lunch on Sunday at 1:00 pm, September 28. Participation is open to all (both FCM members and non-members).

Please note:

• The deadline for application for this retreat is August 22. Please understand that this application DOES NOT guarantee you a spot in the retreat; all acceptances are subject to approval. 
• We will notify all applicants by August 27 as to whether or not they have been accepted into the retreat. The retreat registrar will be sending additional information to accepted registrants once registration is closed. 
• For those accepted, the fee will be due by September 5, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant.
• Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.
• New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page. If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

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. All retreat dana will go towards supporting the retreat teachers.

Questions?
Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

With Guo Gu

Dates:  September 25 - 28
Registration Deadline: September 19
Suitability
This retreat is suitable for both new and experienced practitioners. Participation is open to all (both FCM members and non-members).

Description

“The  Supreme Way is not difficult,

if only you do not pick and choose.”

So begins Faith in Mind 信心銘 (xinxin ming), a seminal poem in the Chan tradition traditionally attributed to the Third Patriarch, Sengcan. This succinct and evocative text presents a complete view of the Chan path—one that points beyond dualities, conceptual frameworks, and goal-oriented striving.

In this four-day retreat, Chan teacher Guo Gu will offer teachings grounded in both textual study and intensive sitting meditation. The retreat will provide a structured space to reflect on the key principles embedded in the poem and explore their relevance in one’s own embodied practice. Guo Gu’s commentary will not emphasize historical or philosophical interpretation but will highlight the poem’s pragmatic orientation toward the realization of non-discriminating mind. 

The verses of Faith in Mind address the fundamental obstacles in practice: attachment to views, clinging to states of stillness, and the subtle operations of preference and aversion. Through periods of seated meditation, Dharma talks, and integrated reflection, participants will investigate what it means to rest in the immediacy of mind itself, free from grasping or rejection. Suitable for both new and experienced practitioners, this retreat offers an opportunity to encounter Faith in Mind not as doctrine, but as living instruction in the path of buddhadharma.

Retreat Leader

Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He studied under the late Master Sheng Yen for over 30 years, nine of which as his attendant monk and most senior and closest disciple. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination(2021).
Fees

The fee for online participation is $105. Please make your full payment no later than September 19.

Retreat Scholarships are available; 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.

Retreat Logistics

The retreat will offer both in-person participation at FCM ’s Tampa Center and online participation. THIS REGISTRATION PAGE IS FOR ONLINE PARTICIPATION ONLY. Please visit the In-Person Retreat page if you wish to attend in person.

The retreat will begin with the opening session at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 25. The retreat will end with at noon on Sunday, September 28. Participation is open to all (both FCM members and non-members).

Please note: 

• The deadline for registration for this retreat is September 19. 
• Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.
• The retreat registrar will be sending additional information to accepted registrants once registration is closed. 
  
• New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page. If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teacher freely gives 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. All retreat dana will go towards supporting the retreat teacher.

Questions?
Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

With Bryan Hindert and Bill MacMillen

Dates: October 24 - 26
Registration Deadline:  September 26

Suitability

This retreat will be beneficial for both newcomers to meditation and more experienced mindfulness practitioners with an interest in living with more ease in the present moment. 

Description

In our modern world, we have countless ways to stay busy, informed, entertained, and otherwise distracted from the moment we wake up until we go to bed at night. We can easily spend our entire day completely disconnected from our actual experience and unaware of what thoughts and mind-states we are cultivating throughout our busy days. If we do have a moment to stop, we may find that we feel uneasy, agitated, bored, anxious, stressed, in despair, or otherwise uncomfortable in our bodies and our minds. 

Fortunately, as so many people throughout the world are discovering, there is another way. Through what the beloved Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh called, “The Miracle of Mindfulness,” we can learn how to be at ease in the present moment. We can learn to use our minds in a way that nourishes our well-being and helps us to feel whole again. Through cultivating mindfulness of the body, breath, and mind, we can learn to develop peace within ourselves and to enjoy the simple experience of being alive.  

In this two-day Introductory Retreat, participants will learn mindfulness and meditation practices that calm and nourish the body and mind. There will be both formal instruction as well as “off-the-cushion” practice in areas such as walking, eating, mindful movements and work meditation. There will be periods of Q&A and deep sharing within a setting that is mostly silent, offering participants the opportunity to retreat from digital devices and other distractions that so often clutter our minds and cover the natural spaciousness that lies beneath the “noise.”

This will be a silent retreat. The silence affords us the opportunity to deepen our meditative experience while absorbing the experiential meaning of the teachings and practices presented.

Retreat Leaders

Bill Mac Millen has been a Dharma practitioner with the Florida Community of Mindfulness and a student of FCM's teacher Fred Eppsteiner since 2013; in 2018 he completed the three year Dharma Transmission training taught by Fred. Bill was ordained as a member of the Order of Interbeing at Thich Nhat Hahn’s Magnolia Grove monastery in 2019. Aspiring to be of service to the community, he is on the Leadership Council overseeing the area of Center Care and also teaches and facilitates various classes and Intensive study programs offered by FCM.

Bryan Hindert has been following the Buddhist path since 2008, when a strong desire to make changes in his life and to develop a better relationship with his mind drew him to the Florida Community of Mindfulness. This path has helped Bryan to transform his life in profound ways and continues to be a source of guidance, support, and joy in all of his endeavors. In addition to helping to develop and lead Wake Up Tampa Bay, a mindfulness and meditation group for people in their 20s and 30s, Bryan has served by teaching classes and presenting on mindfulness and on Buddhism, and leading intensive practice periods. 

Fees

The fee for in-person participation is $180 for overnighters and $140 for commuters. 

Retreat Scholarships are available; 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.

Retreat Logistics

This retreat is in-person only (either staying overnight or as a commuter) participation at FCM’s Tampa Center. The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Friday, October 24 and ends after lunch on Sunday at 4:00 pm, October 26. Participation is open to both FCM members and non-members.

Please note: 

• The deadline for registration for this retreat is September 26. 
• We will send a retreat acceptance letter by September 30 with additional information to help you prepare for retreat.
• The full fee will then be due by October 6, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant.
• Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.
• If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.
  
• New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

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. All retreat dana for this retreat will go towards supporting future programs at the FCM center. 

Questions?
For more information, please contact Bill at bmacm21@gmail.com. Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

with Fred Eppsteiner (Save the date)

Description

Join Fred for this three day exploration of how to become free from this "self" that seems to hold so much sway over our lives.

This retreat is appropriate for practitioners who have been participating in FCM's Deconstructing the Myth of Self Intensive, currently or in the past.