Hi Everyone, We read up to pg. 30, Step Two so we will be starting there next week. I appreciate the discussion we had tonight about the "unsatisfying quality" of life that some call suffering, and beginner's mind and how we use our meditation practice in our lives, off the cushion.
So a contemplative question to consider and discuss here that was brought up at the end of the meeting was how important it is to have a group to share with to get the most out of our practice.
How has having a group been important in your sobriety and/or meditative practice? Can you see and appreciate the gifts of the "we" that sharing brings?
Another contemplative question from the reading is where in your life has keeping a beginner's mind (and not thinking that you already know) been a positive experience and helped you in your recovery/life? Or consider where have you NOT kept a beginner's mind and how that has affected you.
I look forward to hearing your experiences.
For me, I couldn't do this without a sangha and spiritual community. The opportunity to share my experience, strength, and hope with others has been foundational to my journey, and I've been in a Buddhism and recovery group called The Noble Steps where we meditate, read, and share for many years. I have found that sharing cements the insights or awareness gained in a meditation practice, both by putting my own thoughts into words and by listening to the shares of others. This is definitely a "we" program for me, even though I sit alone most days.
As for a beginner's mind, this is something that is definitely a work in progress. I have discovered along the way that a lot of things that I thought I didn't like, or couldn't do, have become enjoyable once I dropped the judgment or the fixed idea of what it should look like. That's not always easy to do, but a beginner's mind of curiosity allows me to have a new experience and I love to see things differently, even if it's just admitting an old opinion no longer rings true for me.
What about you?
Hi there,
It has been very important in having a group that I can turn to in my sobriety and meditative practice. It has allowed me to find a safe place where we hold a sense of community that we are able to share and relate to all of our different experiences. It has created a healthy way to interact with each other. It gave me purpose to keep on joining each week. It allowed me to learn how to develop relationships with others that open up my mind around living a life of Sobriety.
If it wasn’t for the different groups that I was a part of, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. The dual diagnosis program, women’s trauma & addiction program, yoga4soberity, people from AA meetings and spiritual healing sessions and programs I have joined along the way. It changed my life in a positive way.
I do see the gift in sharing continues to bring to me. Every story I hear and every piece of wisdom & advice someone gives me, I hold close to my heart. It’s allowed me to see things in different ways and approach my next steps with having an open mind.
It was tough road to get here and in the beginning “keeping a beginners mind” was nonexistent. I thought I could help myself through recovery and wouldn’t bring anyone or use any support groups to help me. I didn’t have an open mind. After having a few unexpected turns in the wrong direction, I couldn’t go on with out thinking differently and developing the skill set of openness. It wasn’t until meditation became more and more frequent in my routine and being connected with a community that all had one common goal is living a life of sobriety. Meditation created “keeping a beginners” mindset for me. It allowed me to see beyond my four walls in order to focus on healing and my recovery. Hope sharing this relates to anyone in our group.