One Breath at a Time

Hello everyone,

This week we began reading Step 4 and the 5 Precepts. We read up to pg 108 and will begin next week with the 4th precept. We discussed non-harminig (not killing any living being), not stealing or taking what is not ours, and all the ways that can be interpreted, and finally, we ended this week in a discussion about refraining from sexual misconduct or hurting others thru our sexuality.

This brought up a lot of old thinking patterns and unskillful behaviors for me, as I was often using my sexuality to manipulate the situation for drugs or alcohol or simply to gratify my ego. Before recovery, I thought of my sexuality as mine to do with as I pleased. My story involves using sex for financial gain, or at least to survive...I used it like a tool in my addiction to get what I needed.

Now, I've…

Hello everyone,

This week we read up to Part Two: Investigation and Responsibility p 101. We read about and discussed RIght View and RIght Intention and how "what motivates the action is what determines the quality of the results" P99 and how we need to become people who want to live with integrity if we want to have a solid recovery.

So this week's question to consider and comment on is in what way have your motivations for your actions affected the results in a good or bad way?

For me, I know that when I did something kind or generous, but was only doing it so people would like me or think good of me, the results were sometimes a mixed bag. I would often end up with a resentment if I didn't feel that my efforts were being properly appreciated. Taking the same action with the intention …

This week we read up to page 95 "the Noble Eightfold path is less...."

So we've begun our study of the Noble Eightfold Path!!

We talked about the dharma, letting go, faith, and the concept of taking refuge in Buddhism.

This week's contemplative question comes from the last paragraph we read on p95, " Turning my will and my life over to the Eightfold Path is the same process as turning it over to God.. In neither case am I expecting God to fix or solve my problems. Really what I'm doing is trying to live in harmony with God, or in the case of Buddhism, with the Dharma. Either one is a relinquishment of ego, or preferences and reactivity, a turning toward a set of wise, guiding principles."

How do you see turning it over as a "relinquishment of ego" and a "turning towards"? Can you relate to thi…

Hello everyone,

Happy Holidays to everyone!!! This week we read up to page 88 Dharma God. We spoke about Step Three and turning it over, about acceptance and letting go, and how sometimes acceptance requires action on our part. Also, how our intention determines the outcome of our behavior.

This week's discussion question is from page 88 - "What is difficult to accept about yourself?" And do you believe that those things are things you can't change?

I find this a very interesting question because in my journey of self-awareness and discovery I have found things and behaviors about myself that I really don't like and that I no longer need to accept as "Just how I am". That was my favorite excuse to avoid making changes or accepting responsibility in earlier days, and certainly in my addiction. Now, I know that it is always a choice - that…