Originating in North America, Buddhist Recovery programmes have spread like wildfire over the past ten years. Noah Levine has created Refuge Recovery, Kevin Griffin has connected 12 Steps to the Dharma, and there are many other Buddhist Recovery variations out there. In Triratna we now have Eight Step Recovery (ESR) - Using The Buddha's Teaching to Overcome Addiction, an initiative spearheaded by two Triratna Order Members, Dr. Paramabandhu Groves and Vimalasara (featured in this video).

Vimalasara has co-founded Healing and Insight: Buddhist Health and Wellness, an online teaching facility that explores the sharp edge of suffering; looking at addiction in it's broadest forms, depression, physical pain, and stress. All teachers are Dharma-trained and come from a multitude of traditions including, John Kabat Zinn, Joan Tollifson, Kevin Griffin, Vidyamala Burch, Dr. Paramabandhu Groves, and many others. Every Saturday from January 2nd, a teacher will lead a half hour guided meditation, half hour talk, and half hour question-and-answer on a related theme.

At the heart of Buddhist Recovery is ethics, placing at the centre of our lives positive values such as awareness and kindness. Healing and Insight will involve Buddhists teaching mindfulness to its full capacity, including the discussion of ethics, kindness, awareness, and many of the teachings of the Buddha himself. These teachings will be available to everyone. 

Healing and Insight: Buddhist Health and Wellness begins on Saturday, January 2nd 2016.