Eight step recovery : using the buddha's teachings to overcome addiction

305 Pages·2014·1.5 MB·English

by  Mason-John

“‘The Buddha was in recovery’. Taking this bold statement as a starting point, this wonderful
book shows how we are all addicted to aspects of life and can all benefit from training our minds
and hearts to be free of the tyranny of compulsion. The Mindfulness-Based Addiction Recovery
(MBAR) programme draws on a wide range of the Buddha’s practical, yet deeply profound,
teachings. Over the eight steps you are given a priceless gift – the possibility to gain mastery over
your mind and heart and find freedom.”
Vidyamala Burch, co-founder and director of Breathworks, author of Living Well with Pain and
Illness and Mindfulness for Health
“Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as offering an important tool for recovery from addiction
and other mental disorders. In Eight Step Recovery, we are shown how other teachings from the
Buddhist tradition can also play an important role in recovery. The eight steps outlined here
provide a simple, wise, and practical approach to recovery from a wide range of compulsive
patterns of behaviour associated with suffering. They provide a spiritual pathway to recovery for
people from any faith tradition, as well as for those who are not religious, and for those who
suffer from addiction as well as those who are simply aware of the suffering associated with the
human condition. This is a book for everyone!”
Professor Chris Cook, Director of the Project for Spirituality, Theology & Health, Durham
University, UK
“Blending Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery with traditional Buddhist teachings and moving
personal stories, Valerie Mason-John and Dr Paramabandhu Groves give us a wise and
compassionate approach to recovery from the range of addictions. This comprehensive approach
to treatment will be a valuable tool for addicts and addiction professionals alike.”
Kevin Griffin, author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps
“Through Buddhist teachings, personal experiences, and case examples, this book provides a wise
illustration of the fundamental processes underlying a broad range of addictive behaviors.
Mason-John and Groves offer here a practical and compassionate step-by-step guide to freedom
from the deep trappings and suffering of addiction.”
Sarah Bowen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
University of Washington, author of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors;
A Clinician’s Guide
Eight Step Recovery
Using the Buddha’s Teachings
to Overcome Addiction
Valerie Mason-John
Dr Paramabandhu Groves
Published by Windhorse Publications 169 Mill Road
Cambridge
CB1 3AN
UK
[email protected]
www.windhorsepublications.com
© Valerie Mason-John/Vimalasara and Dr Paramabandhu Groves, 2013
The right of Valerie Mason-John and Dr Paramabandhu Groves, to be identified as the authors of
this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
Cover design by David John Photograph Vimalasara © Dan Toulgoet/Vancouver Courier
Photograph Paramabandhu © Stuart Flack Original typesetting and design by Ben Cracknell
Studios British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: A catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library.
Paperback ISBN: 978 1 909314 02 3
ebook ISBN: 978-1-909314-35-1
Windhorse Publications would be pleased to hear about your reading experiences with this
Ebook at: [email protected]
References to Internet web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author
nor Windhorse Publications is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the
manuscript was prepared.

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