A Buddhist pathway to freedom from addiction

[neversickanymore]

A Buddhist pathway to freedom from addiction
By Wallace Baine
07/22/2014

Addiction is one of the most bedeviling and ruinous torments of the human experience. And for millions of those trapped in this cycle of suffering, the famed 12-step program established by Alcoholics Anonymous and its affiliated organizations has been an effective way out.

But, for many people, the heavily religious, specifically Christian cast of 12-step programs can get in the way of treatment.

Writer and teacher Noah Levine points to another option: Buddhism.

For the past decade, since the publication of his revelatory memoir "Dharma Punx," Levine has been one of the country's most prominent Buddhist writers. His latest book, "Refuge Recovery" (HarperOne, $16.99, 288 pages) takes on the topic of addiction, as a kind of guidebook for an effective addiction-treatment program based on fundamental Buddhist practices and precepts.

Levine offers the "Refuge Recovery" path, he says, without casting any negative light toward Al-Anon and 12-step. "I have a lot of gratitude (for 12-step)," he says.

ADAPTING BUDDHIST TEACHINGS
As outlined in "Dharma Punx," Levine experienced a youth rife with drugs, alcohol and incarceration. "I have nothing bad to say about that (12-step) approach," he says. "But it is a theistic spiritual system that depends on an external higher power. Now, that resonates to the core of a lot of people. A God-based philosophy is particularly great for Christian-minded people. But what about the people who don't believe in God?"

Levine, 43, grew up in Santa Cruz, the son of well-known poet and Buddhist teacher Stephen Levine. He later studied with well-known Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield. He moved away from Santa Cruz in the late 1990s, and since settling in Los Angeles, he's been working to establish a Buddhist path to the treatment of addiction. The book adapts the Four Noble Truths of Buddhist teaching to dealing with addiction. Given that transcending suffering is at the center of Buddhist philosophy, Levine says that Buddhism is a natural way to address the problem. The "Refuge Recovery" way, like 12-step, emphasizes self-honesty, abstinence and community.

"There is an educational component to it," says Levine. "People want to know what Buddhism has to offer, and ... this is a clear and detailed map out of addiction."

SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The book also tells the stories of others who have escaped addiction through meditation and other Buddhist practices. The Buddhist approach outlined in "Refuge Recovery" came from Levine's own struggles with addiction. "The seeds were germinating even back in 1988," he says, "when I was in Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall trying to figure out a way out."

Levine says that, for the most part, he left out his own story of addiction in the new book because "I didn't want this to be about me" and because his story has been told in many of his other books, which include "Against the Stream" and "The Heart of the Revolution."

The program is beginning to spread in communities across the country. "It's growing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Seattle -- up and down the West Coast. But we're also seeing it take hold in unlikely places, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Richmond.

"I have no intention to control this in any way," he says. "It's a peer-led process. People change the format to fit their own communities. People are taking ownership of it, and it's led to quite a bit of excitement."

http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_26196082/buddhist-pathway-freedom-from-addiction

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I use many principals and from budaism as well as many other gems from other schools of ancient wisdom in my recovery. Changing the way I think and the thus the way I look at perceive the world has been one of the strongest cornerstones to my recovery. Im glad this aproach is catching on as I think its spot on.

 

[Jabberwocky]

^Mindfulness (any of it's forms, whatever you want to call it - clarity, understanding, acceptance, self awareness, etc. etc.) is really necessary to succeed long term in recovery and to live a happy, fulfilling life. It's like the part that is missing from most confrontational or motivation therapies, especially abstinence based, 12-step or CBT oriented programs. At some point one has to focus not on avoidance or denial, but simply recognizing whatever the issue at hand might be, and moving on (to something better).

I respect 12-step groups and whatnot, as well as what they have to offer and the fact they're widespread and free. However, I have a lot of issues with how they're prioritized over other (for many more effective) forms of treatment as some gold standard of treatment that everyone can or should be able to benefit from. Bullshit.

AA, for instance, if like any therapist or doctor (or other form of treatment) - it can sometimes take a long time to find a good one, a good group and/or sponsor that you work well with. For some it never happens, for a few it happens rather quickly, but it's no different from trying a good therapist. Finding what one's own path can be the most challenging part of the picture. And, frankly, I will say that most groups don't necessarily support even that (as they generally are centered on the confrontational interview approach to therapy that requires rule following and conformity at their core, which again dose benefit some, but certainly, again, not all. Sorry I'm repeating myself now...

 

[CLICKHEREx]

Many people are constitutionally unable to meditate. Most people who are able to follow instructions recorded in their own voice are able to use Yoga Nidra, however.

YOGA NIDRA:
(actually a meditative practice; no bodily flexibility is needed, and no asanas / special positions are involved)
The mind can be like a naughty child: what we tell it to do; it won't! So sit, or recline comfortably in a room, which is neither cold nor too warm, in dim light, but not in pitch darkness, with fingertips pointed upwards, not touching anything (this minimises tactile input). Take plenty of time with each section: to hurry in this exercise is to completely miss the point. If others are involved, take even longer (ask later whether they felt hurried, and adjust, next time).

Focus all your awareness on your right big toe................... then the other toes of the right foot.............. then that foot............. the ankle............. the calf.............. the knee............... the thigh.............. Then left big toe...........then other left toes..........then that foot...........the ankle.............the calf.............the knee............the thigh........... Then the right thumb...........then other fingers of the right hand............then the right wrist............the forearm...........the elbow............the upper arm............the right shoulder. Then the left thumb..............then the other fingers of the left hand............then the wrist..............the forearm..............the elbow..............the upper arm................then the left shoulder................then the head................then the chest.................then the abdomen...................
Then, focus your attention on any sounds you can hear; aeroplanes, traffic noise, children, or dogs barking in the distance................. Then refocus your awareness on your right big toe....................the other toes, and repeat that sequence exactly as before.
Next, focus your awareness on the thoughts which come into your mind. Now is not the time to follow those thoughts; just be aware of, and note them.
Then refocus your attention on your right big toe, and go through that sequence again.....................
Next, refocus on anything you can hear..................
Then, once again, on your right big toe, and repeat that sequence.
Then refocus on the thoughts coming into your mind.....................
Keep repeating this process for around 20 minutes, at least. Eventually, the mind will tire of this, and reach a state of calm.
If you are tired, or physically fatigued, you may find yourself falling asleep. You may then go through the process again.
If it occurs regularly, however, ensure you are getting adequate sleep, and not running a "sleep deficit", like so many people in modern Western society, who are materially rich, but time poor.
Try practising it earlier in the day, when you are alert, and rested. Otherwise, it should be regarded as an attempt by the negative part of your mind to resist change, which it regards as moving into unknown territory: a frightening prospect, for some people. Exercise determination, and persevere with the process. ~~~

................. indicates where pauses should be used, to give people plenty of time to perform the recorded instruction.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Many people are constitutionally unable to meditate.

Sorry but where in the hell do you get this idea? I teach meditation classes. In my experience, and as I learned from those I learned from, many (most if not everyone) can (learn to) meditate, although most seem to think they can't. It's funny because most people meditate regularly without realizing that they are in fact meditating. Of course there are issues with meditating without purpose, but that's beside the point. Maybe certain formal schools, philosophies or ideologies of meditation might not work for everyone, but that does not mean most or even many people cannot meditate - they most certainly can.

 

[slimvictor]

I also believe that anyone with a mind can meditate. It doesn't require sitting in a certain posture, for example, to focus your mind.

You teach meditation, tpd? Very cool. I did two Vipassana retreats, and really love meditation. I have lost the habit of doing it in my life, though, sadly. However, I do practice yoga, which is a lot like moving meditation. When I can, I add a "real" meditation session on at the end, and it feels really, really good.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Yup, and I've found it super useful in a lot of ways, you know.

Yoga means meditation (or if you'd like is a form of meditation). Perhaps it's more like walking meditation, but it's meditation nonetheless. The core of any meditative pursuit is one's breath, breathing exercises, whatever, in order to increase one's awareness and mindfulness of one's breathing. Good yoga, at it's core, is likewise centered on one's breath at its core, as you must have noticed. Sadly meditation is very misunderstood, especially in our consumer culture where stuff like yoga has become a commodity to a large extent.

If anyone is around the Los Angeles area, UCLA has a great mindfulness research program that I highly recommend, especially if you're just interested in it but also if you have a lot of experience with and enjoy meditation.

 

[treezy z]

on the subject of 12 steps, there really need to be more alternatives. there's no local support groups i can go to that aren't christian (ie 12 step) based. and there's probably a good 200 a week of those i can go to easily without even driving.

i honestly never felt welcome at AA or NA meetings. i always felt like i was being judged. and i also didn't like the whole thing about relapsing being a complete and utter disaster and having to do the walk of shame and all that bullshit.

the worst thing about them was "you can either go these meetings for the rest of your life or end up in a jail or dead." i honestly would probably choose the second, but i don't believe those are the only options.

 

[Jabberwocky]

^They are not your only options! Only way they might be is if you choose them as the only three possible options for yourself and make that happen, whereas you are also capable of choosing any options for yourself.

 

[herbavore]

Noah Levine gave the talk that this article came out of at our local independent bookstore. I met him years ago through his work teaching meditation and the precepts of mindfulness for empowerment to inmates in the juvenile halls throughout California. He has done amazing work in the field of recovery but it goes much deeper than that--he really teaches kids how to rekindle compassionate relationships with themselves that have been severed through whatever hard knocks life has thrown at them.

One of the things I love about his philosophy is the non-linear, non-black and white thinking it engenders. He respects the twelve steps in the same way that he respects Buddhism. You do not have to subscribe to the religion of either one to take away some very good life wisdom. People can and will mangle anything with dogmatism and fanaticism but that doesn't mean that the wisdom that exists underneath such muddying isn't available to anyone that seeks it.