Buddhism and alcoholism/addiction

[jungblood]

Hello friends,

Im a member of a 12-Step sangha in New York... Just wondering if there are any other recovering alcoholics or addicts (or indeed recovering anything elses!) here.. I would love to hear the experience of others in how the dharma integrates into recovery from addictions... Thanks folks... I hope you are all we....

hugs,
jungblood

[muni]

Ups and downs of seeking "pleasure"............ and lasting peace, which is always available but hidden through our habitual temporary grasping, seeking to some outer happiness.
By Dharma practices, lasting peace can be revealed, bit by bit or without enforced great expectations. All depending.

Oh yes, there is a saying which goes like this:

When you drink no beer, your heart hurts.
When you drink beer, your head hurts.

Dharma helps for both. Good luck!

[Konchog1]

I've heard good things about the Twelve Step program, but how do you as a Buddhist practice step 3 (higher power)? How do the other Buddhists practice it?

[shaunc]

Alcoholism has been a big problem for me & I sobered up in 1988 (25 years ago). The 12 step program was very influential in my recovery & I still go to a meeting once a month or so. The higher power is a big part of the program. For me as a buddhist the triple gem is my higher power, however I see no reason various buddhas & boddhisatvas could not be used, Amitabha & kuan Yin immediately come to mind. For a lot of buddhists the higher power is a huge stumbling block in the 12 step program, but when I simplified everything I saw that the law of cause & effect (karma) was a much higher power than me & I found that I could apply it directly to my problem. I feel that some buddhists with addiction problems use the higher power & god emphasis as a cop out.

[ball-of-string]

I like www.smartrecovery.org
They place an emphasis on taking responsibility for behavior, and understanding how the mind uses delusions to coerce addictive behaviors. It is very compatible with Buddhism...