1. A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction
Refuge Recovery
A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction

2. Defining Terms
Addiction: Repetitive and habitual process of satisfying cravings to avoid, change, or control the seemingly unbearable conditions of the present moment.

3. Defining Terms
Addiction: Repetitive and habitual process of satisfying cravings to avoid, change, or control the seemingly unbearable conditions of the present moment.
Recovery: A process of healing the underlying conditions that lead to addiction by establishing and maintaining the practice of renunciation.

4. Defining Terms
Addiction: Repetitive and habitual process of satisfying cravings to avoid, change, or control the seemingly unbearable conditions of the present moment.
Recovery: A process of healing the underlying conditions that lead to addiction by establishing and maintaining a practice of renunciation.
Renunciation: the practice of abstaining from harmful behaviors that temporarily satisfy and satiate craving.

5. Defining Terms
Addiction: Repetitive and habitual process of satisfying cravings to avoid, change, or control the seemingly unbearable conditions of the present moment.
Recovery: A process of healing the underlying conditions that lead to addiction by establishing and maintaining a practice of renunciation.
Renunciation: the practice of abstaining from harmful behaviors that temporarily satisfy and satiate craving.
Refuge: a safe place, a place of protection– a place that we go to in times of need, a shelter.

6. Overview: The Four Truths of Recovery
1) Addiction Creates Suffering
2) The Cause of Addiction is Repetitive Craving
3) Recovery is Possible
4) The Path to Recovery is the 8 Fold Path

7. The Four Truths of Recovery
Addiction Creates Suffering
What is Suffering?
Taking inventory as an action

8. The Four Truths of Recovery
The Cause of Addiction is Repetitive Craving
Craving is a natural human tendency
We want life to be less painful and more pleasurable
Craving for refuge from suffering

9. The Four Truths of Recovery
Recovery is Possible
Freedom from addiction is attainable
Taking responsibility of our actions
Following the Eightfold path

10. The Four Truths of Recovery
The Path to Recovery is the Eightfold Path
Wisdom: wise understanding of reality and life intention
Ethics: ethical communication & community, actions, and livelihood
Meditation: effort, mindfulness, and concentration

11. The Eightfold Path Wise Understanding
We gain insight into the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and impersonal nature of life.
We understand that everything is ruled by cause and effect
Forgiveness is possible and necessary

12. The Eightfold Path Intention We renounce greed, hatred, and delusion
We meet all pain with compassion and all pleasure with non-attached appreciation
We cultivate generous, kind and compassionate wishes for all living beings
We live a life of humility and integrity

13. The Eightfold Path Wise Communication/Community
We take refuge in the community
We support others on their path, and gain support for our own recovery
We are honest, wise, and careful with our communications, and use community to practice wise communication
We learn to ask for help from the community. We work with a spiritual friend or mentor to guide us through the process of recovery
Practice openness, honesty, and humility about the difficulties and successes we experience in our recovery

14. The Eightfold Path Action/Engagement
We take refuge in the community as a place to communicate wisely and support others
Practice honesty, wisdom, and careful communications with others
Openness, honesty, and humility about difficulties and successes

15. The Eightfold Path Livelihood/Service
We try to be of service to others whenever possible
We work toward securing a source of income that causes no harm
We devote our time and energy to help create positive change

16. The Eightfold Path Effort/Energy
We commit to daily practices of meditation, yoga, exercise, wise action, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, appreciation and the moment to moment mindfulness of feelings emotions thoughts and sensations
Develop skillful means of knowing how to apply the appropriate action to a given circumstance

17. The Eightfold Path Mindfulness/Meditations
We develop wisdom through practicing formal mindful meditation
We take refuge in the present and practice present-time awareness
We see clearly and heal the root causes and conditions tha tlead to the suffering of addiction

18. The Eightfold Path Concentration/Meditations
We develop the capacity to focus the mind on a single object, such as the breath or a phrase.
We train the mind through the practices of loving kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to focus on the positive qualities we seek to uncover.
We utilize concentration at times of temptation or craving in order to abstain from acting unwisely

19. The Path to Heartfulness
Mindfulness as an initial tool, the Heart Practices as a refinement
Path to uncovering our heart’s positive qualities
The Buddha’s battle with Mara using the weapons of love, compassion, equanimity and appreciation
Ability as a birthright

20. Breaking the Addiction
Comfort of the familiar patterns and fear of the unknown
The delusion of knowledge
Buddhism as a practical path to walk
Addiction to our minds’ cravings– an unhealthy relationship
Redirecting our focus to the present moment
Courage to act in spite of fear