The Eightfold Path of Recovery Buddhist Recovery at Dharma Punk, Against the Stream; Wisdom Quarterly (Part 2 of 3)
1. Understanding
We understand that recovery begins when we renounce and abstain from all substances and addictive behaviors regardless of specific substances we have become addicted to. Forgiveness, non-harming actions, service, and generosity (unselfishness) are a necessary part of the recovery process. We cannot do it alone. Community support and wise guidance are an integral part of the path to recovery.
2. Intention
We intend to meet all pain with compassion and all pleasure with non-attached appreciation, to forgive and ask for forgiveness toward all people we have harmed or been harmed by, including ourselves, to be generous and kind to all living beings, to be honest, humble, to live with integrity and to practice non-harming.
3. Communication/Community
We take refuge in (go for guidance to) the community as a place to practice wise communication and to support others on their path. We practice being honest, wise, and careful with our communication, asking for help from the community, allowing others to guide us through the process. Practicing openness, honesty, and humility about the successes and difficulties we experience.
4. Action/Engagement
We abstain from all substances and behaviors that could lead to suffering. We practice forgiveness toward all people we have harmed or been harmed by, including ourselves, through both meditative training and direct amends. Compassion, non-attached appreciation, generosity, kindness, honesty, integrity, and service are our guiding principles.
5. Livelihood/Service
We try to be of service to others whenever possible, using our time, energy, and resources to help create positive change. We try to secure a source of income/livelihood that is harmless (in line with the fifth factor of the
Noble Eightfold Path, right livelihood).
6. Effort/Energy
We commit to the daily disciplined practices of meditation, yoga, exercise, wise actions, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, appreciation, and moment-to-moment mindfulness of sensations, thoughts, and emotions. We cultivate the skillful means of knowing how to apply the appropriate action or meditation for any given circumstance.
7. Mindfulness Meditation
We develop wisdom through practicing formal mindfulness meditation (vipassana). This leads to clear seeing and healing the root causes and conditions that lead us to the suffering of addiction. We practice present-time awareness in all aspects of our lives. We take refuge in the present moment.
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| Drugs are rampant in Asia, such as Thailand (TIME Magazine) |
8. Concentration Meditation
We develop the capacity to focus the mind on a single object, such as the natural breath or a phrase, training the mind through constantly bringing it back to this moment -- which is aided by such practices as loving-kindness, compassion, and forbearance -- to focus on the positive qualities we seek to uncover. We utilize concentration at times of temptation and craving to abstain from acting unwisely. We also offer and reach out to one another for support.
This is the path to awakening, the path of recovery from the addictions and delusions that have created an unbelievable amount of suffering in our lives and in the world. All living beings have the ability to live life along these lines.
There is no one who lacks the ability, only those who lack the willingness to take on such a radical task of transformation. Addicts who do not recover right away are not broken or lost. It is just that they have not yet found the willingness to take the path of Wisdom and Compassion.
We believe in the human capacity for change. We understand it from direct experience. If we can, you can.
