That’s a new and helpful perspective on step 5. I see 5 as a willful act…or better, involving the ego doing exactly what it was protecting me from my whole life: other people knowing me!!! So yes, it’s kind of a deliberate act breaking the ‘aversion’ as you say. I can totally see that. Yes, seeing recovery processes through the Buddhist lense is widening my understanding a lot!! Thank you Taishin!!
Sometimes in Buddhist writing you find a distinction made between the "small self" and the "Big Self." The former is the ego, it's what we think we are. A collection of Post-It Notes, maybe? The latter is what we actually are. The practice of zazen (seated meditation) offers us an opportunity to reconnect with that Big Self.
The same thing, in my view, is possible through sharing ourselves with another person—we begin to see ourselves in a way that is different from our usual way. It's not so carefully-curated and limited; it's wider, more inclusive.
Thank you so much for this, Taishin Michael. I feel very at home in Buddhism and way less so in the Big Book - it was not the path I took in sober recovery even though I recognize its gifts and how much it has helped and saved others. I'm loving how you weave the two together.
Finding support in the twelve steps was not something I planned, at least in the beginning. A counselor I worked with, though, stressed the importance of in-person meetings and connecting with others outside of meetings to build a support network and community. Out here in central Pennsylvania, neither Refuge Recovery nor Recovery Dharma has an in-person presence. The twelve steps are strong; so, that's where I went.
And, I'll add, I took seriously my first sponsor's encouragement to make the program your own. I write about that somewhere … I can't remember where. Anyways, without that, I may not have been able to find comfort in the Big Book's framework. I am still not completely comfortable in it either, and that is part of why I write about it.
Interestingly, I go through phases of attending meetings online In the Rooms (intherooms.org). I'll attend anything that's on the air: AA, NA, MA, CODA, ACA, etc. - although the NA and MA ones are often my favourites.
I did that the first time a couple years after getting sober, and the second time - well, now! I got the inclination to attend meetings a week or so ago and have been getting to at least one daily. I find such beauty and humanness there. A refuge, indeed.
That’s a new and helpful perspective on step 5. I see 5 as a willful act…or better, involving the ego doing exactly what it was protecting me from my whole life: other people knowing me!!! So yes, it’s kind of a deliberate act breaking the ‘aversion’ as you say. I can totally see that. Yes, seeing recovery processes through the Buddhist lense is widening my understanding a lot!! Thank you Taishin!!
Thank you, Christopher! 🙏
Sometimes in Buddhist writing you find a distinction made between the "small self" and the "Big Self." The former is the ego, it's what we think we are. A collection of Post-It Notes, maybe? The latter is what we actually are. The practice of zazen (seated meditation) offers us an opportunity to reconnect with that Big Self.
The same thing, in my view, is possible through sharing ourselves with another person—we begin to see ourselves in a way that is different from our usual way. It's not so carefully-curated and limited; it's wider, more inclusive.
Thank you so much for this, Taishin Michael. I feel very at home in Buddhism and way less so in the Big Book - it was not the path I took in sober recovery even though I recognize its gifts and how much it has helped and saved others. I'm loving how you weave the two together.
Thank you, Dana. 🙏
Finding support in the twelve steps was not something I planned, at least in the beginning. A counselor I worked with, though, stressed the importance of in-person meetings and connecting with others outside of meetings to build a support network and community. Out here in central Pennsylvania, neither Refuge Recovery nor Recovery Dharma has an in-person presence. The twelve steps are strong; so, that's where I went.
And, I'll add, I took seriously my first sponsor's encouragement to make the program your own. I write about that somewhere … I can't remember where. Anyways, without that, I may not have been able to find comfort in the Big Book's framework. I am still not completely comfortable in it either, and that is part of why I write about it.
Thank you very much for the support. 🙂
Interestingly, I go through phases of attending meetings online In the Rooms (intherooms.org). I'll attend anything that's on the air: AA, NA, MA, CODA, ACA, etc. - although the NA and MA ones are often my favourites.
I did that the first time a couple years after getting sober, and the second time - well, now! I got the inclination to attend meetings a week or so ago and have been getting to at least one daily. I find such beauty and humanness there. A refuge, indeed.
Sorry, meant: intherooms.com
Ah! I wasn’t familiar with this resource. Thank you for sharing. And I resonate with the beauty of meetings. I find that it keeps things fresh.