• Sample Recovery Dharma Format

• Sample Online Format

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 24, 5th paragraph: "Wise Intention describes..."

• End: Page 25, 2nd paragraph: "...amends to my partner."

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 311 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• The attitude or approach we take towards ourselves and the world.

• We start by looking at our thoughts.

• Thought that are based on wise intentions lead us to act in a wholesome manner.

• Even if we are not ready to take a wholesome action, we can focus on our wisest intention.

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 27, 3rd paragraph: "The second heart practice..."

• End: Page 28, 1st paragraph: "...it is an action."

• Length: 2 paragraphs, 241 words, ~1.5 minute

Discuss

• Compassion is willingness to come close to pain

• Compassion or ourselves is crucial

• Compassion is also an intention to avoid causing harm.

Reading Seven
Amends

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 29, 4th paragraph: "Making amends is..."

• End: Page 30, 3rd paragraph: "...hearts and minds."

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 365 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Amends is an important part of forgiveness

• We let go of our attachment to a different past

• We change our habits by letting go of the past and restoring balance in our relationships

Reading Two
Generosity

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 25, 3rd paragraph: "The first choice..."

• End: Page 26, 3rd paragraph: "...defensiveness or justification."

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 378 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Generosity teaches us how to let go of our self centeredness

• Without generosity, the mind is confined to a small, tight space

• We can break out of this cycle by opening our hearts

Reading Five
Loving Kindness

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 28, 2nd paragraph: "The third practice..."

• End: Page 29, 1st paragraph: "...they find happiness."

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 331 words ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Simply wishing someone else be happy

• Metta doesn't depend on people acting in a certain way

• We care about every person's well-being - even the most difficult and unpleasant people we know

Reading Eight
Renunciation (Letting Go)

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 30, 2nd paragraph: "One of the central..."

• End: 3rd paragraph: "...our own hearts and minds."

• Length: 2 paragraphs, 277 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• We change our habits by letting go of the past

• We let go of harmful avoidance and self-judgement

• The starting place for amends is a willingness to forgive ourselves

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 26, 4th paragraph: "

• End: Pag 27, 2nd paragraph: "...anything in return."

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 241 words, ~1.5 minutes

Discuss

• Appreciative Joy

• Being happy when someone else experiences good fortune

• In the moment of giving, we have let go of self- centered desire and grasping

• Joy that is not weighed down by selfish desires, envy, or resentment

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 29, 2nd paragraph: Generosity, compassion and..."

• End: Page 29, 3rd paragraph: "...and to ourselves."

• Length: 2 paragraphs, 267 words , 1.5 minutes

Discuss

• We forgive when we focus on the person, rather than the action

• Forgiveness is something we give ourselves

• It is essential that we extend the healing of forgiveness and compassion to ourselves

Read

• Wise Intention

• Start: Page 30, 4th paragraph: "Generosity, compassion, lovingkindness..."

• End: Page 31, 1st paragraph: "...how we feed them."

• Length: 1 paragraph 182 words, ~1 minute

Discuss

• Finding peace exactly where we are, regardless of the external circumstances

• I can be present with this

• We don't always have control over our thoughts and feelings, yet we do have power over how we feed them

Learning the Concepts

• Choose just one of the readings or the whole chapter to read, underline and study.

• Think about or write about the title of the reading or the discussion topics listed above

Brief Personal Meditation

Pause - at least once a day, for a minute or two - to practice any of the following meditations.

• Mindfulness of Breath or Body: Choose a part of the body to focus on. Notice different types of sensations - size, feeling, movement etc. Notice how the sensations change over the minute of exploring them.

• Concentration on Compassion: Repeat to yourself: "May I give myself the compassion I need."

Renunciation Inquiry

• List five of your most important values in a friend. Write briefly about each one.

Sangha

• Meetings: Notice how your insights from this practice relate to the meetings you attend this week.

Wise Friends and Mentors

• Survey: Every day, practice reaching out to 1-3 Wise Friends you have met at the meeting.

• Ask each one about their experience with this week's meditation practice or topic.

• If you don't reach someone, leave a message with your question, and try with 1-3 other Wise Friends tomorrow.