Practice Resource Resource Guide

Second Noble Truth: The Cause of Suffering

We begin to explore hindrances to recovery and their antidotes

About this Page

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

How this Concept Applies to Recovery

The causes of suffering

Investigate how Craving, Resentment, and Confusion are causes of suffering & addiction.

Practice mindfulness to cope with cravings and map out a personal path of recovery.

Clinging to impermanent solutions for suffering results in craving. We experience craving like a thirst, an unsatisfied longing, and it can become a driving force in our lives. If craving goes beyond simple desire, which is a natural part of life, it often leads us to fixation, obsession, and the delusional belief that we can’t be happy without getting what we crave. It warps our intentions so that we make choices that harm ourselves and others. This repetitive craving and obsessive drive to satisfy it leads to what we now know as addiction. Addiction occupies the part of our mind that chooses— ur will—and replaces compassion, kindness, generosity, honesty, and other intentions that might have been there. Many of us experience addiction as the loss of our freedom to choose; it’s the addiction that seems to be making our choices for us. Recovery Dharma, Page 14

How The Practice Helps

Cultivating Disenchantment

Once we have identified what suffering looks like in our lives, we begin to explore the process of causes and conditions and conditions of suffering.

In this guide, the invitation is to focus on the results of turning towards intoxicating thoughts an behaviors for refuge in our present moment.

Because meditation and mindfulness are focused on the present moment. Thes practices on this page invite us to notice the beginning, middle and end of our suferring around intoxicants.

The brainstorm list of intoxicants: alchohol and other drugs, cigarettes, caffiene, food, technology gambling, sex, relationships, worry, obsession, and trying to control others, including friends, family and colleagues.

Refuge in the Dharma

Practices that explore and deepen understanding of the Concepts

The Path

Read the Book

Second Noble Truth

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

  • Page 14

  • Read from PDF version of the bok

  • Listen to the chapter on our Audiobook

Recordings

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

The Causes of Suffering

Here is a talk that helps expand on the Third Noble Truth.

Growth

Stay Curious

Refuge in Buddha Nature


Refuge in the Buddha

Practices that connect us to our deepest Wisdom

Meditation

Rewire the Brain for Recovery

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

Cultivating the intention to change a habit
From Huge Byrne

  • What matters most to me?

  • What gets in the way of living freely and at peace

  • What behaviors or habits might I want to change

Renunciation

Practice Letting Go

Focus

.

  • Write about a recent time when this behavior caused difficulties for yourself or others

  • What does it look like when you engage in this behavior?

  • Where and how do you feel in your body during or after this behavior?

  • Write about a time when this behavior either didn't arise for you, or it caused less difficulty.

DBT - Radical Acceptance Worksheets

Refuge in the Sangha

Practices that cultivate connections with wise friends and mentors

Meetings

Attend and Befriend

Wise Friends and Mentors

Develop Deep Connection

Make Contact

  • Take note of those who offer to support others or share their contact information

    • Save the Zoom chat (3 dots at the bottom of chat)

    • Have a pen and paper ready to write down numbers or emails.

Core Intentions

Support the Sangha


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 Commuinity

Retreats

Insight

3 Poisons, 5 Hindrances, 8 Winds


Renunciation

Renunciation, Letting Go

Thai Forest / Theravada

Thai Forrest / Theravada

Secular / Academic

Buddhist Recovery


Zen


Tibetan


Tibetan

Amplified Voices

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.

Workbooks


Books