Click on the Meeting Button to go to connect with the meeting
To connect to a meeting, Click on the Meeting Button under Format Column
Online meetings are the same as face to face. We just meet through technology. We have added a few items to the format to reinforce community and to handle logistics of meeting through conference call platforms
Each meeting has a home page that includes the format and other reading materials. We make sure we have access to the materials during the meeting so that we can step up to read or volunteer. Engaging in the meeting helps others to get to know us - an essential part of our path
We take action to reach out to others between meetings. This helps us grow and strengthen our connections with others and with our program. See bottom of this page for steps that have been helpful for some of us
After making friends through meetings and outreach, we start work work with others regularly with others. We work on our inventories with Dharma Buddies or Mentors. We check-in with Action Partners
We put our financial resources together with others so that we are able to maintain our online presence with each other including this website, materials, recordings and meeting platforms
There is a reason that, in Buddhism, community is held as one of three most precious refuges and practices for recovery and awakening. Even though it is precious, the road to connecting to community will be, at times, awkward and intimidating. The good news is that just like returning to the breath, we can return to the practice with kindness, compassion, gratitude and generosity.
Good luck, and welcome to our community! We may be a little shy ourselves at times, but we are very happy, and grateful, that you are here now.
In addition to providing an opportunity to listen to readings and practice meditations, meetings are an opportunity to get to know and connect with others in the community.
We want to note that there is an important and intentional effort in Recovery Dharma to ensure that we practice wise communication and wise community within our meetings. We are attempting to balance getting to know others with practices that are respectful. We are working to be particularly aware of how issues of race, class, gender, ability and other differences can impact our intentions and our actions.
One of the best ways to be known by others on a meeting is step up and participate during the meeting.
It is true in any meeting but it is especially true with the online community - no one will be able to get to know you unless you speak up and/or volunteer
After getting to know others, we start to connect with each other regularly. Some examples of spiritual friends include:
The relaxed and extended time of workshops, conferences and retreats offer a wonderful opportunity to deepen our practice and our connections with each other. Many of us, especially those from smaller communities and the online community, have found a revolutionary connection others, and an increased level of recovery, after attending special events. We have found great benefit in both online and face-to-face events. Special Events can last a half-day, daylong, weekend, a week or longer. In addition to learning more, we are able to connect with ourselves and with others during group exercises, coffee breaks and meals with each other. Check out the workshops hosted by Dharma Recovery ONLINE and keep an eye out for events in your region of the world. Better yet, find out how to host one!
Making outreach calls can be awkward and intimidating, but we have found that it is the glue that holds our online community together. Just like learning to pay attention to the breath, we have found that it requires intentional effort and action. Here is a process that some peer-support groups have utilized to add just a little bit of ease to the process.
Recovery Dharma ONLINE is a community of people who use technology to gather together for meetings and workshops to deepen our connection with the Eight Fold Path of Recovery and the worldwide Dharma Recovery Community | http://recoverydharma.online/ | recoverydharmaonline@gmail.com