Recovery is a broad avenue of increasing choices, opportunities, and solutions. The Big Book is but one of an entire library of texts. And no single member, group, or larger recovering community has the capability or authority to define what anyone’s continued sobriety requires.

The readings below highlight the practices of our program. Each concept provides an opportunity to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry, and connect https://sober-house.net/ with others. The Buddhist Recovery Network is open to people of all backgrounds. You do not need to identify as a ‘Buddhist’ to become involved.

How do you know Refuge Recovery is going to work? So for a year I worked in a drug and alcohol treatment center where people were coming off the street, still in active addiction and going through detox. I began teaching them meditation and the Refuge principles right from the beginning.

1. Please also note that meeting participants or facilitators do not have the authority to speak on behalf of the Buddhist Recovery Network.
2. It uses the Buddhist Teachings to overcome addiction.
3. Please contact contact at buddhistrecovery dot org if you are interested in any of these opportunities.
4. This program was cofounded by Dr Valerie Mason-John M.A (hon.doc) and Dr Paramabandhu Groves Ph.D. in 2013.
5. In a world filled with hatred and greed, let’s be generous and loving and forgiving.

I realized that meditation was a powerful tool that in the long run would teach me how to train my mind and transform my relationship to it. We are trying to reach an international audience of those who are in recovery, those seeking help in overcoming can you die from alcohol withdrawals addictive behaviors, and those who are trying to help those in recovery. We have academics and researchers among our founding members as well as practitioners and Dharma teachers. Dharma Recovery has moved to weekly meetings online.

If someone you care about has a drinking problem, A.A. Has helped more than two million alcoholics stop drinking. Recovery works through one alcoholic sharing their experience with another.

Today, with a daily meditation practice and numerous seven-day retreats over the years, my practice has evolved into what I call Twelve & Zen, in which the Twelve Steps and Zen koans are central to my daily life. Refuge Recovery meetings offer recovery from all forms of addiction, including substances, food, sex, technology, gambling, relationships, spending, and more. Refuge is a safe place, a place of protection—a place that we go to in times of need, a shelter.

Even in sobriety, we continue to obsess and wallow in the collective belief we’re broken people with few redeeming capabilities. We litter our talk with discussions of core character defects, addictive tendencies, and fundamental flaws. We actively run from life’s commitments and opportunities. And we habitually insist without more the doom we evade through ongoing recovery lurks just beyond our conscious reach. This nearly universal experience flows not from anything we did during the years of active addiction.

Dalai Lama Donates Funds to Cyclone Fani Recovery Effort

Many of these people had been through lots of different treatment centers in the past; some were brand new. But in the outtake interview after treatment, 80 percent of them said that Refuge Recovery was the most important thing they had gotten from the treatment process. It resonated, it was practical, and they walked away from treatment after a month or so really knowing how to practice mindfulness and self-forgiveness and lovingkindness and compassion. Is group participation essential or could someone recover by doing the practices and meditations in the book on their own?

The purpose of this group is to support those who want to integrate Buddhist teachings and practices into their recovery from any addiction. While not affiliated with any 12-Step group, we do follow the 12-Step traditions of confidentiality and no cross talk between participants.This Group is peer led. We ask all who attend to respect and study Buddhist teachings, recovery techniques and be willing to share their experience, strength and hope with the group. Buddhist 12-Step Study Group is a Buddhist addiction recovery meeting. According to facilitator Rebecca Andrew, we welcome people of all beliefs and addiction recoveries.

Introducing the Second Edition of the Recovery Dharma Book!

It exists in most communities, its literature is published in all major and many minor languages world wide, and the fellowship has helped literally millions of addicts and alcoholics return to sober productive lives. For a person suffering from an addiction, the steps can serve as helpful tools in his treatment and rehabilitation. Sharing his secret to enlightenment with his followers, the Buddha emphasized eight steps a person should follow and practice if he wishes to attain nirvana.

Buddhist Recovery Meetings: Telephone – Online

Recovery Sangha is a community of people whose lives have been touched by addiction. We welcome addicts, alcoholics, family, friends, providers, caretakers, and any other interested person. Our group’s only goal is to provide a safe and supportive space for practice and exploration of how meditation can improve the lives of those living with, or who love those living with, addiction.

In Buddhism there is a myth about a hell-realm populated by beings whose appetites exceed their capacity for satisfaction. Their stomachs are huge but their throats are tiny. No matter how much they try to eat, their hunger remains. In ancient India, they are called hungry ghosts. According to Buddhist lore, the Buddha often emphasized that the end of suffering begins when one admits his imperfections and takes the necessary steps to rectify them.

Is there an alcoholic in your life?

You do not have to have any experience with meditation or recovery, nor hold any particular belief in order to attend or participate. We have a rotation of speakers alternating with readings and discussions. Meeting format with a focus on developing wise relationships with others with a new reading and topic appropriate meditation each week. Buddhism teaches that life has suffering that comes not from outside us but instead from what’s within. By letting go these internal struggles we overcome pain and find fulfillment.

Recovery Dharma Intersanghas are groups of groups. Sometimes they organize geographically, such as around a city or region. Other times they organize by topics of recovery, affinity groups or circles of interest. As a nonprofit, we depend on readers like you to keep Buddhist teachings and practices widely available. I had a powerful experience with meditation right from the beginning. Up to that point I had never realized that I didn’t have to pay attention to and believe my mind, that I could ignore it and just focus on the breath.