Practice Resource Guide
Working With Others
About this Page
Introduction of the Concepts and Practices on this page and how they relate to recovery
How this Concept Applies to Recovery
Working With Others
For many of us in early recovery, asking for help feels almost impossible. But we have found, as difficult as it can be, that it can literally save our lives, and that with practice, it becomes easier.
When we practice accepting help from people who are offering to help, we become just a little bit more open and a little less stuck. It’s the decision to reach out, as much as the answer we receive, that can give us what we need to move forward.
How The Practice Helps
Three Jewels Inquiry Practice
Refuge in Dharma (Buddhist Wisdom)
Refuge in Buddha (Inner Wisdom)
Refuge in Sangha (Community Wisdom)
Refuge in the Dharma
Practices that explore and deepen understanding of the Concepts
The Path
Read the Book
Working with Others
Links to the chapter of the book on which the rest of this page is based.
Wise Speech: Page 59
Read from PDF version of the book
Listen to the chapter on our Audiobook
Buddhist Community
Scroll down to the Growth section of this page for links to talks and guided meditations led by Buddhist teachers. Choose one, then listen or watch.
The Path and Growth
Listen to Talks
Recognize | Allow | Inquire | Nurture
Think of a time when you had an experience of belonging - or imagine what belonging might be like.
Pause to explore what thoughts or sensations arise and move around when you bring to mind this sense of belonging.
After a period of time of exploring, journal about insights or questions
Share insights or questions with wise friends or mentors.
Growth
Learn about the Concepts
Refuge in Dharma - The Path
Lists
Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
Ten Pāramitās: Perfections or Wise Practices
Five Hindrances: Craving, Resentment, Sloth, Worry, Doubt
Four Heart Practices: Kindness, Compassion, Equanimity, Appreciative Joy
Refuge in the Buddha
Practices that connect us to our deepest Wisdom
Meditation
Rewire the Brain for Recovery
Mindfulness of Posture
It is not essential to have a perfect posture, but practicing with it can be a helpful brief meditation in itself.
Pause several times a day for 30-90 seconds
Establish a Posture
Find a comfortable Meditation posture
Take a few easy breaths
Several times a day, pause for a few moments to repeat a supportive phrase:
May I be happy with the joy that I have
Sitting: Breath or Appreciative Joy
Take time to sit in meditation
Inquiry and Investigation
Explore and Experience
If you need inspiration with this part of the practice, return to the Inquiry heading on the Title Page of the Practice Guide
RAIN
Recognize | Allow | Inquire | Nurture
INQUIRIES
What is an indicator that this might be a safe place to begin healing?
What would you look for in a peer in recovery?
What are some examples of your acting kindly towards others and yourself?
How do you recognize and cultivate dharma friendships that are supportive and healing?
How can engaging in dharma friendships cultivate curiosity, kindness, compassion and renunciation?
How have others found dharma friends and mentors?
Renunciation
Practice Letting Go
Renunciation -Learning to Let Go
Under Construction.
In the meantime, feel free to explore how these practices around refuge support the rest of the concepts on this page.
Refuge in the Sangha
Practices that cultivate connections with wise friends and mentors
Meetings
Attend and Befriend
Meetings
Find
Connect
Contribute
Wise Friends and Mentors
Develop Deep Connection
This week
Generosity and Connection
Find meetings to attend
start to participate in meetings by sharing or reading.
Practice repeating the Loving Kindness (Metta) meditations for yourself and others throughout the day.
Start to reach out to others between meetings
Find out if the meeting has a discussion board
Start to reach out between meetings.
Core Intentions
Support the Sangha
9. Accept donations and raise funds only when consistent with our goal to be non-affiliated and self-directed.
Walking a middle path for Recovery Dharma means a group may accept donations and raise funds from non-member resources.
The wise and middle path is to also ensure that the funds do not compromise the basic integrity and functioning of the sangha and of the Recovery Dharma Program.
Some examples of partnering with others that may disrupt our independence and self-direction include partnerships where the sangha is a sub-program of another entity such as a treatment center. Another example may be accepting donations from organizations that engage in unwise livelihood, such as selling alcohol
Playlist
Connect with others who have traveled this path. Each of the links on this list addresses the concepts of this section. So feel free to start with any link. If none of these recordings interest you, then use the concepts listed under the Growth heading to search for talks from the Buddhist Sources page.
Connect with others who have traveled this path. Each of the links on this list addresses the concepts of this section. So feel free to start with any link. If none of these recordings interest you, then use the concepts listed under the Growth heading to search for talks from the Buddhist Sources page.
Insight Community
Retreats
The links to these specific retreats will be repeated throughout the Practice Resources section of this site. You can focus your listening on these talks as you work through the Recovery Dharma Program.
Insight Meditation Retreat 2022
Mindfulness Meditation and Heart Practices
James Baraz, Tempel Smith, JD Doyle
Spirit Rock Meditation Center