Full Description
New material includes Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, how to run Eight Step Recovery Meetings, and how to mentor. New content on the Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery (MBAR) program, including teacher's notes and handouts.Human nature has an inbuilt tendency towards addiction. All of us can struggle with this tendency, but for some it can lead to the destruction of their lives, through obsessive and compulsive behaviour. We could say therefore that in some sense we are all in recovery. It is no surprise that addiction is so widespread. We live in a world where many of us self-medicate in response to hardships, turning to food, drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships, work and so much more in an attempt to promote happiness. Fortunately, recovery is widespread too. What can the Buddha's teachings offer us in our recovery from addiction? They offer an understanding of how the mind works, tools for helping a mind that is vulnerable to addiction, and ways to overcome addictive and obsessive behaviour, cultivating a calm and clear mind without anger and resentments. The Buddha's teachings offer us a path of recovery.Whether you are struggling to stay off heroin or with an obsessive pattern of thinking that prevents you from leading a more fulfilling life, the same principles - the Eight Steps of this book - apply.
These steps take you away from the trouble caused by addictive tendencies, helping you untangle these drives, to discover a richer and more fulfilling way of living.
Contents
DedicationForeword by Jon Kabat-ZinnForeword by Gabor MateAbout the authorsAcknowledgementsIntroductionOur personal storiesWho was the Buddha?The Buddha was in recoveryThe Buddha's teachingEight Steps toward recoveryWho is this book for?How to use this bookEight Step Recovery meetingsMindfulness Based Addiction Recovery (MBAR) programStep One: Accepting that this human life will bring sufferingThree types of sufferingEveryone has painThe Four RemindersHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Two: Seeing how we create extra suffering in our livesThe common ways we deal with sufferingCraving as the source of sufferingTypes of sufferingThe Hungry GhostsHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Three: Embracing impermanence show us that our suffering can endImpermanenceWe can changeImpermanence and addictionHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Four: Being willing to step onto the path of recovery - and discover freedomVision and transformationKindness to help us stay on the path of recoveryHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Five: Transforming our speech, actions and livelihoodThe importance of thoughts and emotionsTransforming speechTransforming actionsTransforming livelihoodHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Six: Placing positive values at the center of our livesExploring valuesHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Seven: Making every effort to stay on the path of recoveryStaying on the path of recoveryHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGEStep Eight: Helping others to share the benefits I have gainedThe Fourth SightHelping ourselves and othersHow we practice this stepThree-minute breathing space, AGE
