Recent Posts

  • Compassion Breath; Refuge and Bodhicitta in Daily Life pt. 2

    As within, so without. Join us this week for a compassion meditation that is as close as you can possibly get to actual compassion. Apply this to recovery, as Dharma practitioners who are in recovery. I'm not an addict practicing Dharma. See the difference? Listen in for some clarity.

  • Recovery Flow State; Refuge and Bodhicitta in Daily Life pt. 1

    The notion of getting into a flow state, otherwise known as zen af, while maintaining our sobriety and living to our full potential. As Bodhisattvas on the path of recovery we can affect those around us with our own stable practice. To reach a calm state, and share gratitude, generosity and compassion with others from this place untouched by trauma, unscarred by addiction. Join us.

  • Tantric Refuge in Recovery; Components of a Practice Session pt. 3

    We've spent many sessions on refuge and bodhicitta, compassion. For this episode, let's get into something that I wrote about in Step 11 in The 12-Step Buddhist (Atria\Beyond Words 2018), in reference to the practice of Vajrasattva for purification. We'll cover the building blocks of practice, continuing w/ pt. 3, more on Dedication of Merits.

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    Grace: How to Accept the Blessings in Recovery; Components of a Practice Session pt. 2

    What is Grace? We can discuss in a traditional sense the meaning of grace. How do we get out of the way and let the blessings fall on us? How does the notion of Grace integrate with our Dharma practice in recovery? Continuing with our discussion of the components of practice sessions so that you can make a good one that suits you, part 2.

  • How to Take Practice Dharma in Recovery: Components of a Practice Session pt. 1

    We can apply our development of refuge and bodhicitta on the path of recovery. We use rituals that include motions, breathwork, sounds and visualizations. We can offer flowers and scents and all of our attachments to the Refuge Field. From this refuge field we practice with body, speech and mind to apply the rest of our practice session. All sessions include components. Join us as we discuss all of them and some great ways for you to apply Dharma to your recovery!

  • How to Take Refuge in Recovery: Refuge in the Sangha

    Who is our Sangha? Choose wisely. In this aspect of the path, we study and try to understand our effect on other beings and our energy. The Buddha has shown itself in the sufferings of infinite karmas, filling bottomless oceans of beings who suffer but have not met the Dharma. To protect our commitments, to develop and strengthen our commitment to the path, we would be more helpful to ourselves if we find other like minded souls to take shelter with. Moreover, those with whom we share energy, space and time should also understand the path, at least to the extent that everyone understand what it means and is willing to take refuge together until all beings are free from suffering and become perfectly completed Buddhas.

  • How to Take Refuge in Recovery: Refuge in the Dharma

    What is this Dharma that we are offered to take refuge in? Can it be defined? Continuing our discussion of what, and what not to take refuge in. Now that we have some sense of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths and basic principles, we'll add the Refuge Field, and all Dharmas in our next Object of Refuge: The Dharma. As always, we'll use the instructions as tools to unlock our realizations and insights that are beyond words and concepts. The path has many layers, join us as we delve into the second of the Three Jewels. Readings from The Life of Shabkar

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    How to Take Refuge in Recovery: Refuge in the Buddha cont.

    This week we continue deepening our understanding of precisely what it means to us to take refuge, in the Buddha, in recovery. Last episode, we discussed the Four Kayas of a Buddha. This episode continues the discussion of Objects of Refuge, Refuge in the Buddha, The Five Wisdom aspects. Don't worry, we'll break it down simply, and do some practice to gain direct knowledge of refuge in the Buddha.

  • How to Take Refuge in Recovery: Objects of Refuge – The Buddha

    We work with refuge in our meditations with "objects" to take refuge in. We started the topic on a simple way. Now we get into the weeds on refuge in this ongoing series. We draw from a rare translation on Refuge and Bodhicitta by Patrul Rinpoche. Having received many teachings and transmissions on famous and esoteric texts by this amazing master, I comment in terms of the application of refuge in recovery.

  • How to Take Refuge in Recovery: Objects of Refuge

    Two weeks of dental suffering brought my practice, and my sobriety, to the test. This week we take a deeper look at refuge and it's application to our lives as Buddhists in recovery. More personal sharing this week as I talk about managing pain, with an without an opiate at hand. This is how I dealt with it, in the context of refuge and bodhicitta - compassion, but Supreme, not only relative.