COMMUNITY

The Jewel of Community

A sangha is a community of friends practicing the Dharma together to bring about and maintain awareness. The essence of a Sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony, and love. When you do not see these in a community, it is not a true Sangha, and you should have the courage to say so. But when you find these elements are present in a community, you know that you have the happiness and fortune of being in a real Sangha."

Thich Nhat Hanh, Friends on the Path

Our name - the Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) - has a deep intentionality to it. In our tradition, in addition to the teacher and the teachings, great importance is placed on the practice of community, or sangha. Thich Nhat Hanh has said that spiritual friends are the most essential element of our practice and that it is difficult to practice without a sangha. The sangha is a true community; together, we create a place of acceptance, trust, love, and support in which transformation and healing of our fear, our suffering, and our feelings of isolation and separation can occur. Under the guidance of our teacher Fred Eppsteiner, we aspire to practice harmoniously as a community, and to resolve any differences, no matter how small, in a caring and skillful way. Please click here to learn more about our approach to "Sangha Harmony."

Our vision and practice of community are fundamental to all that transpires within FCM. For example: 

• Personal Growth and Transformation. Whether one is just beginning to explore mindfulness or is an experienced practitioner of the Dharma, our programs are intended to provide support and connection with other practitioners in the community. Where possible, we support the participation of members outside of the physical communities of Tampa and Naples through the use of Zoom.
• Spiritual Friends and Affinity Groups. "Spiritual friends" and other specialized programs exist to support groups such as families, parents, teens, those in their 20s and 30s, those experiencing illness, and individuals in recovery.  
• Social Activities. A variety of social events such as movie nights, potlucks, vegetarian cooking classes, singing/poetry gatherings and concerts, picnics, and teas provide opportunities to deepen connection in more informal environments. 
• Engagement in the Broader Community. FCM members are involved in a variety of activities to support healing and transformation in the world. Just a few examples include the Prison Dharma Group, One Earth Sangha, and partnerships with organizations that help those most in need.

We hope you will browse this section and explore the many ways community is joyfully supported at the Florida Community of Mindfulness. We would love to meet you and share more, so please visit us at the FCM Center in Tampa or in Naples!