• Sample Recovery Dharma Format

• Sample Online Format

Read

• Wise Speech

• Start: Page 33, 4th paragraph: " The most basic foundation..."

• End: Page 34, 3rd Paragraph: "...our addictive behavior. "

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 308 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Dishonesty can take the form of exaggeration, minimizing, or omitting.

• Saying something before we know the truth

• Truth sometimes represents a reality that we cannot tolerate.

• Recovery begins with an honest, compassionate appraisal.

Read

• Wise Speech

• Start: Page 34, 4th paragraph: "The Buddha provided..."

• End: Page 35, 3rd paragraph: "...friendliness and safety. "

• Length: 3 paragraphs, 188 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Slander and gossip are unwise speech that make a community less safe.

• We can ask ourselves: "what is our intention?" when speaking of others.

• Is it possible to speak with compassion, even in difficult situations?

• Speaking gently, with the intention of kindness, fosters a community of friendliness and safety.

Read

• Wise Speech

• Start: Page 35, 3rd paragraph: " It may sound like..."

• End: Page 35, 4th paragraph: "...build a true connection. "

• Length: 2 paragraphs, 216 words, ~2 minutes

Discuss

• Practicing wise speech may mean learning how to use our voices.

• We can wisely communicate needs and boundaries

• We can listen with compassion, understanding and receptivity.

• Deep listening is an act of generosity

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 Feeling Tone: Notice the sensations in your body.

• Concentration on Appreciative Joy: Repeat to yourself: "I appreciate the joy that I experience."

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.