Contents
About the authors
Acknowledgements
Audio downloads
Authors’ note
Dedication
List of figures
Foreword
Introduction
A definition of addiction and of recovery
Our personal stories
Who was the Buddha?
The Buddha was in recovery
The Buddha’s teaching
Eight steps toward recovery
Who is this book for?
How to use this book
Step One Accepting that this human life will bring suffering
Three types of suffering
Physical suffering
Psychological suffering
Existential suffering
Suffering and addiction
Everyone has pain
The four reminders
What is meant by the truth of suffering?
How we practice this step
Mindful attention to our suffering
Recap
Step Two Seeing how we create extra suffering in our lives
The common ways we deal with suffering
Avoiding
Blaming others
Blaming ourselves
Self-pity
Craving as the cause of suffering
What makes craving such a problem?
Types of craving
Craving for sensual pleasure
Craving for existence
Craving for non-existence
The hungry ghosts: an image of craving
How we practice this step
Turning toward difficult experience
Working with physical pain
Staying with difficult experience – avoiding misunderstandings
Do we need to hit rock bottom to start our recovery?
Slowing down
Reflecting on why we create more suffering in our lives
Recap
Step Three Embracing impermanence to show us that our suffering can end
The significance of impermanence
Difficulties are impermanent
We can change
Impermanence and addiction
How we practice this step
The power of mantra
Recap
Step Four Being willing to step onto the path of recovery and discover freedom
Vision and transformation
Seeing things clearly
Kindness to help us step onto the path of recovery
How we practice this step
Approaching kindness
Cultivating kindness
Weighing the benefits and costs of addiction
The time for courage and compassion
Developing compassion
Reflecting on the benefits of recovery
Cultivating appreciation and gratitude
Recap
Step Five Transforming our speech, actions, and livelihood
Our thoughts and emotions drive our actions
Our actions have consequences
Transforming speech
Transforming actions
Transforming livelihood
How we practice this step
Training principles to guide our actions toward sobriety and abstinence
Devising your own training principles
Reciting the training principles
Coming to terms with past and ongoing unhelpful actions
Acknowledgment and regret
Making amends
A promise and a plan
Ritual approaches to coming to terms with our past
Prayer
Mantra
Making the most of opportunities to change our lives – GIFTS
Recap
Step Six Placing positive values at the center of our lives
Exploring values
Values as a direction and as a refuge
Values as a direction
Values as a refuge
How we practice this step
Exemplars of values, teachings, and community
Going for refuge to the Buddha
Going for refuge to the Dharma
Going for refuge to the sangha
Taking refuge in the sangha is not all plain sailing
Going for refuge moment by moment
Recap
Step Seven Making every effort to stay on the path of recovery
Staying on the path of recovery
How we practice this step
Preventing unhelpful states of mind arising
Mental chatter
Eradicating unhelpful states of mind
Sensual desire
Ill will
Restlessness and anxiety
Sloth and torpor
Doubt and indecision
Swinging between different hindrances
Cultivating helpful states of mind
Maintaining helpful states of mind
Recap
Step Eight Helping others by sharing the benefits we have gained
The fourth sight
Helping ourselves and others
Reminding ourselves of where we have come from
Creating good karma
A sense of purpose
The wisdom perspective
How we practice this step
Ways to help others
The challenge of helping others
The dangers of being a helper
The journey of recovery
Faith
Energy
Mindfulness
Concentration
Wisdom
Recap
Tools for recovery
Recap of Dharma tools in the book
Meditation
The Mindfulness of Breathing
Loving-kindness meditation: the Metta Bhavana
What next
Notes and references
