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Metta Meditation: Quieting the Inner Critic
In this meditation we will focus on addressing our inner critic that is constantly speaking to us. You may find any position comfortable for this meditation. You may sit, lie down, or do it while walking. As before, begin by centering yourself, however works for you. When you find yourself in a calm, present state, [...]
Working the Steps in Daily Life: Step One
In recovery, we go through the steps with our sponsor. However, the steps also must be worked in our daily lives. As the Twelfth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous suggests, we must practice these principles in all our affairs. Powerlessness In everyday life, powerlessness is constantly affecting us. Specifically, we must always remember our powerlessness over our [...]
The Five Hindrances
In Buddhism, the Five Hindrances are five factors that hinder our meditation practice and our practice of the path in our daily lives. The Five Hindrances are Desire, Ill-Will, Sloth, Anxiety, and Doubt. Working on these qualities within ourselves will help us be able to meditate better and practice in our lives. Sensory Desire The [...]
Amending Behavior
The Ninth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous suggests that we make amends to those we have harmed. We make direct amends wherever possible, focusing on the exact nature of our wrongs. We take accountability for our actions. However, there is far more to amends than just making a direct amends. Living amends is the practice of changing [...]
Working a Personal Program
Each one of us works our own individual program. In twelve-step programs we are given many suggestions, but there is only one requirement: the desire to stop drinking. Attending meetings or speaking with our fellows, we see how differently each of us works our program. It is a beautiful thing that we are encouraged to [...]
Step One: Honesty and Right View
The First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous states, ”We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.” The principle behind this first step is honesty. Step One also is closely related to Right View in Buddhism. Step One and Honesty The first step is a simple (not easy) declaration of our complete defeat. Looking out our [...]
Keeping It Real
In daily life, we have many experiences. Sounds, smells, physical sensations, tastes, sights, thoughts, and emotions fill our lives. Although we are constantly being flooded by stimuli, we still have time to add a lot to our direct experience. There is a big difference between our direct experience and what we add on to it. [...]
Keeping Outside Issues Out
The Tenth Tradition reminds us that we as a group do not have an opinion on outside issues. This is an important principle, as it keeps our meetings focused on our primary purpose: to help others. As a sober member of twelve-step programs and an active member of the local Buddhist center, I have some experience with keeping [...]
Hearing Meditation
Just as we are constantly breathing, there are constantly noises around us. Breathing meditation may be done anywhere for even a brief period, and so can a hearing meditation. We must take the same focus we used to observe our breath and use it to observe the sounds around us. Find a comfortable place to [...]
Walking Meditation
With the body scan meditation, we practiced looking over our entire body, practicing mindful awareness while we were at rest. In this meditation, we will use that focused awareness on our body and the concentration from week one to observe our body in motion, specifically while walking. In this meditation, we will observe our body [...]
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