Practice Resource Guide

Wise Understanding

We re-examine some of our basic assumptions and experiences with impermanence, suffering and the fruit of our actions.

About this Page

Introduction of the Concepts and Practices on this page and how they relate to recovery

How this Concept Applies to Recovery

Wise Understanding

As people engaged in the world, rather than withdrawn from it, we can use Wise Understanding to live without clinging, attachment, or craving. By paying attention to our actions and the results of those actions, we can begin to change where our choices are leading. If we intend to act in ways that have positive results, and if we’re aware of the true intention and the nature of our actions, then we’ll see better results—better meaning less suffering and less harm.

Recovery Dharma, Page 21

Without even realizing it, we often assume that terrible things will last forever and try to get rid of them, or we believe that we can make pleasant things last forever by our will.

In our minds, we often downplay the impact that our current actions will have on our future experiences. Or


How The Practice Helps

Radical Acceptance of Thinking Errors

All major forms of recovery programs include some aspect of educating about a list of common thinking errors and interventions to fix these cognitive distortions. The practices on this page have a lot in common with these other interventions. However, there are a few differences.

Note that the practice on this page is not the only way to approach this teaching. This is simply how it has worked for me. As a reminder, like all other aspects of this site, these instructions are for a later version of me. This particular aspect of the path has been a major struggle for me because it touches on many external factors including neglect, and messages that I don't belong, or can trust in my own mind. So, there may be more instructions than usual on this particular page. As always, you are welcome to follow or adjust as meets your experience.

Noting Thinking

During meditation, pay attention to thoughts and simply label them as they arise and pass. Some examples include thinking, planning, ruminating, worrying, judging, doubting, or fantasy. Engaging in the practice of first labeling and then allowing them to pass is a powerful practice and often benefits from repetition over a period of time. At first, we don't even notice that we have gotten caught up in the thinking. Like the breath, waking up, accepting that our mind has wandered, and then returning to the practice is an opportunity and celebration in this practice.

Noting Misunderstanding

After a period of time, move to the next layer of practice; perhaps during the second time through the Recovery Dharma program and after having listened to dharma talks and/or attending retreats. The invitation here is to practice noting and recognizing misunderstandings as related to the Three Marks of Existence: Impermanence, causes & conditions, and nonself. Instead of challenging these thoughts, the other option is to note their arising and passing as with the previous practice.

Radical Acceptance

The next possible practice is to welcome the thoughts as new friends. Allowing them to clear the way for new beginnings. In this practice, the option is to keep asking repeated questions - different versions of "What would that mean?" "Why is that important?" "What might happen if that were true?" And then it is "turtles all they way down," (comedic writer Terry Pratchett)

Refuge in the Dharma

Practices that explore and deepen understanding of the Concepts

The Path

Read the Book

    • Start: Page 21 "Eightfold Path"

Links

    • Read from PDF version of the book

    • Listen to the chapter on our Audiobook

The Path and Growth

Listen to Talks

Growth

Stay Curious

Refuge in Dharma - Buddhist Wisdom

Lists

Refuge in the Buddha

Practices that connect us to our deepest Wisdom

Meditation

Rewire the Brain for Recovery

Concentration Mantra:

Mindfulness Practice:

  • Thinking Error BINGO

  • Periodically throughout your day, pause to do an inner scan of thoughts with curiosity.

  • Look at a list of Cognitive Distortions or Thinking errors and take note if any are active.

  • Later in the day, practice RAIN meditation, exploring one of the thinking errors you noticed during the day

Sitting 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

Cognitive Distortions
Buddhist Version

Learning about thinking errors is one of the foundational aspects of many recovery paths. This list has much in common with those lists, but has a specific focus on the Buddhist teaching of the Three Marks of Existence:

Impermanence

Are you acting on a hidden assumption that either a pleasant or an unpleasant situation is going to last forever? (Craving? Difficult life situation? Long stoplight or inconsiderate driver?)

Causes and Conditions

Are you ignoring that many causes and conditions led you to experience this moment? Some were external. Some were internal. Some happened before you were born.

Taking it all Personally

Do you have hidden or obvious beliefs such as this is all your fault; that you are a bad person; that others do not struggle with this issue; or that you need to find a solution yourself?

What would be a Wise and Kind Response?

Now that you have recognized the delusion, you have an opportunity to respond to yourself or to a situation with kindness, compassion, serenity, and even appreciation.

Renunciation

Practice Letting Go

Change Plan

  • My reasons for letting go of this behavior are

  • My goals in making this change:

  • These are the actions I am going to take

  • I will know my plan is working when I see these results:

Refuge in the Sangha

Practices that cultivate connections with wise friends and mentors

Meetings

Attend and Befriend

Inquiry

When engaging with others in the sangha, take time to pause frequently to inquire about your emerging thoughts and feelings. If your sangha friends have the patience and willingness to engage in this level of intimacy with you, share your insight with them.

This practice can be particularly useful during difficult situations to stay grounded and clear in communications.

Wise Friends and Mentors

Develop Deep Connection

Wisdom

When looking for or working with a wise friend and mentor, take time to remember and contemplate that the relationship is all the more precious because it is impermantent, becuase so many causes and conditions had to be in place to make it happen, and that all fo this is not unique and personal to your connection with each other, but rather is an experience shared by many people in recovery and people around the World. ;

Core Intentions

Support the Sangha

Self-Directed Fundraising

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.

Insight Community

Thai Forest, Theravada

Thai Forrest / Theravada

Secular, Academic, Therapeutic

Buddhist Recovery


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