Our Path: The Recovery Dharma Book

Where to Begin

Links to the chapter of the book on which the rest of this page is based.

Introduction:

• The Practice: Book

• Introduction: Audio 

Growth - Concepts - Glossary

Refuge in Dharma - The Path

• The Eightfold Path

• Wise Effort

• Equanimity

Lists

• Recovery Dharma Glossary

• 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

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

Mantra: Appreciative Joy

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

•  Basic / Breath: Script | Audio

• Appreciative Joy: Script | Audio

If you need inspiration with this part of the practice, return to the Inquiry heading on the Title Page of the Practice Guide

Find Refuge in Buddhist Practices

Study some of these words. You can look them up in an online dictionary, or search for talks on Dharmaseed using these phrases. 

Reflect on how working with The Practice would benefit from some of these qualities.  

If you have trouble thinking of examples, ask wise friends or mentors about their observations of you regarding these qualities, or listen to a dharma talk. 

• Willingness

• Open

• Clarity

• Mindful

• Persistent

• Committed

• Non-judgemental

 Need

• How important or urgent is this for you?

•  What do you think must change? 

• What needs to happen? 

• How likely are you to use the tools listed in The Practice? 

We Offer our Own Service

• Read and study the section on Meetings on page xv of the book, Recovery dharma. 

• Make a list of some of the ways that you could become an active member of your recovery dharma community

• Ask others about their experience if you are uncertain about how you can be helpful or if you doubt that becoming an active member can actually impact one's recovery. 

We support the Recovery of Others

• Reach out by phone or text

• Ask everyone the same question: "What is your experience with x?"

  • The topic of a meeting you attended

  • Something you read in the book

  • One of the practices from "The Practice"

  • A question you have been wondering

Offer peer-to-peer support, given freely in the spirit of generosity.

• Cultivate a culture where all members are practicing with the program between meetings to have something to share with others. 

• Energize your sangha's energy for the practice by organizing a half-day workshop

Insight

• Talk: Balanced Energy, Wise Effort | Oren Jay Sofer | Spirit Rock MC

• Instruction: How We Hold the Practice | Oren Jay Sofer | Insight Meditation Retreats 

• Talk: You Have the Paper Clip | Joanna Hardy | Spirit Rock Meditation Center

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 

Thai Forest / Theravada

• Talk: Practice doesn't have to be grim | Ajahn Ñāniko 

Secular | Academic

• Talk: What is Dharma? - Doug Smith - Secular Buddhist Association

• Talk: Practice is Weeding - Doug Smith - Secular Buddhist Association

• Talk: What is the Point of Practice? 

• Talk: 

Recordings from people who are members of communities that are currently underrepresented in Western Buddhist sanghas will be pulled from the list above and highlighted here.