WHAT IS RECOVERY DHARMA? ~Emily

"This book describes a way to free ourselves from the suffering of addiction using Buddhist practices and principles. This program leads to recovery from addiction to substances like alcohol and drugs and from process addictions like sex, gambling, pornography, technology, work, codependence, shopping, eating, media, self-harm, lying, stealing, and obsessive worrying. This is a path to freedom from any repetitive and habitual behavior that causes suffering.

Our program is peer-led: we do not follow any one teacher or leader. We support each other as partners walking the path of recovery together. This is not a program based in dogma or religion, but in finding the truth for ourselves. This insight has worked for us, but is not the

only path. It’s fully compatible with other spiritual paths and programs of recovery. We know from our own experience that true recovery is only possible with the intention of radical honesty, understanding, awareness, and integrity, and we trust you to discover your own path.

This is a program that asks us to never stop growing. It asks us

to own our choices and be responsible for our own healing. It’s based

on mindfulness, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and deep compassion.

We do not rely on methods of shame and fear as motivators.

Of course we cannot escape the circumstances and conditions that are part of the human condition. We’ve already tried — through drugs and alcohol, through sex and codependency, through gambling and technology, through work and shopping, through food or the restriction of food, through obsession and the futile attempts to control our experiences and feelings — and we’re here because it didn’t work. This is a program that invites us to recognize and accept that some pain and disappointment will always be present, to investigate the unskillful ways we have dealt with that pain in the past, and to develop a habit of understanding, compassion, forgiveness, and insight toward our own pain, the pain of others, and the pain we have caused. Acceptance with insight and compassion is what creates freedom from the suffering that makes our pain seem unbearable.

This book is only an introduction to a path that can bring liberation and freedom from the cycle of addiction. The intention, and the hope of our program, is that every person on the path will be empowered to make it their own." ~Recovery Dharma

Each week, we meet at 9am on Saturday's to read through this book and share our experience, strength and hope. Together. Join us!

11 High St., STe 204 Suffield

May you be happy.

May you be at ease.

May you be free from suffering.

May all beings be free from suffering.