Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

The air I breathe

By Vimalasara on Sun, 24 Nov, 2013 - 06:46
Day 8 is a meditation on breathing by appreciating the air you breathe. The meditation begins with a three minute breathing space. Awareness of thoughts and feelings. Gathering the breath and Expanding the breath into your whole body, (AGE). AGE is something you can do in your daily life, at work, in front of the computer, in a shopping mall, on public transport. In fact we can stop and pause anywhere and take a three minute breathing space...
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

Four basic needs of the heart

By Vimalasara on Fri, 22 Nov, 2013 - 06:27
Day 6 is a day filled with loving kindness. When we learn to cultivate the four basic needs of the heart; attention, affection, appreciation and acceptance towards ourselves, our whole world will begin to change. In the words of the Buddha: ” Don’t go by hearsay, or by your teachers. Just try for yourself.” Today’s music has been composed by Laurie Lesk Aka Yeshe Chodrom
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

Breath

By Vimalasara on Thu, 21 Nov, 2013 - 04:53
One of my favourite Buddhist teacher’s Thich Nhat Hanh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Nhat_Hanh) has generously given us permission to use one of his poetic verses on the breath. Day 5 is a meditation to help connect to the breath. The breath can help us to pause and slow down, bringing more choice in how we respond to life. We come back to the breath several times during these three weeks, because breath is one of our best teachers. The music...
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

The Serenity Prayer

By Vimalasara on Wed, 20 Nov, 2013 - 06:52
Hi if you have just joined us - then a warm welcome. And you can begin with day one - or begin with us on our fourth day. Day 4 is a reflection on how to relate wisely to our experience, through bringing to mind the words of the serenity prayer. The serenity prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. It has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs,...
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

Shakyamuni Mantra

By Vimalasara on Tue, 19 Nov, 2013 - 06:41
Day 3 is the Shakyamuni mantra. Shakyamuni is the name of the historical Buddha, Gautama, who lived in northern India two and half thousand years ago. He was a human being, like us, who through his own efforts gained a state of complete freedom called Awakening or Enlightenment. When we chant the Shakyamuni mantra we can bring to mind the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion. We can reflect that just as he found freedom, so can we. The mantra is chanted...
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

Metta

By Vimalasara on Mon, 18 Nov, 2013 - 04:07
Day two is a meditation on metta, which is loving kindness. We explore cultivating loving kindness towards ourselves by listening to a song about the Metta Sutta. The source of the words of this song is unknown, though it is likely this song was developed from a teaching the Buddha gave on compassion and loving kindness (the Karaniya Metta Sutta). The music is arranged by Kate Munger the founder of the http://thresholdchoir.org/ and sung by the Songsters.

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Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

21 Day Meditation For Recovery - Introduction

By Vimalasara on Sun, 17 Nov, 2013 - 16:22
Human nature has an inbuilt tendency towards addiction. All of us can struggle with this tendency, but for some it can destroy their lives. Fortunately, recovery is widespread too. What can the Buddha’s teachings offer us in our recovery from addiction? They offer an understanding of how the mind works, tools for helping a mind vulnerable to addiction, and ways to overcome addictive and obsessive behaviour, cultivating a calm, clear mind without anger and resentments. We have created a series...
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

A Breath Meditation

By Vimalasara on Sun, 17 Nov, 2013 - 07:34
Day one is a meditation on the breath, with music composed by Yeshe Chodron also known as Laurie Lesk. The breath is fundamental to meditation. It is a place where you can come home to yourself. When you connect to the breath you can restore calm in your heart and mind. In this meditation we explore the qualities of breathing.

Download this recording
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction
Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha's Teachings To Overcome Addiction

Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction (eBook extract)

Eight Step Recovery - Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction (eBook extract)

By Vimalasara on Thu, 10 Oct, 2013 - 15:40This book is by two experts in the field who also happen to be practising Buddhists will be available from January 2014 in the UK and April 2014 in North America.

On the 17th of November 2013 we will be releasing our 21 Day Meditation Recovery, a series of 15 minute meditations - great if you are pushed for time to sit for longer. You will be able to download the meditations from here.

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