REFUGE RECOVERY A Buddhi Buddhist st Pat Pathh to Recoverin Recoveringg from Addict Addiction ion
Noah Levine
Copyright
Path to Recovering Reco vering from Addiction. Copyright © 2014 refuge recovery r ecovery:: A Buddhist Path
by Noah Levine. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information information address Harper HarperCollins Collins Publishers, 195 Broadway, Broadway, New York, NY 10007. HarperCollins books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promoHarperCollins tional use. For information please e-mail e- mail the Special Markets Ma rkets Department at SPsales @harpercollins.com. HarperCollins Harper Collins website: http://www.harpercollins.com HarperCollins®, h®, and HarperOne™ are HarperCollins trademarks of HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers. first
edition
Designed by Level C
Library of Congress Cataloging-inCataloging-in-Publication Publication Data Levine, Noah. Refuge recovery recovery : a buddhist path to recovering from addiction / Noah Levine. pages cm ISBN 978–0–06–212284–1 1. Recovering addicts—Lif addicts—Lifee skills guides. 2. Religious life—Buddhism. I. Title. HV4998.L48 2014 294.3'4442—dc23 2013040251 14 15 16 17 18
rrd(h)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Pref P reface ace
vii
Introduction
ix
The Process
xi PART ON E
THE FO FOUR UR TR T RUTHS OF RECO REC OVERY 1
Addiction Addicti on Creates Suffering
2
The Cause of Addiction Is Repetitive Craving
11
3
Recovery Is Possibl Possiblee
19
4
The Path to Recovery
23
5
Understanding
27
6
Intention
41
7
Communication/Community
49
8
Action/Engagement
55
9
Livelihood/Service Livelihood/Ser vice
65
10
Effort/Energy
71
11
Mindfulness/Meditations
77
12
Concentration/Meditations
85
13
The Path to Heartf Heartfulness ulness
89
14
Breaking the Addict Addiction ion
93
3
Contents
vi
PART TWO
REFLECTIONS ON RECOVERY 15
Lynne
105
Jordan rdan 16 Jo
113
17
Dave
125
18
Mary
141
19
Pablo
151
20
Enrique
159
21
RuthAnn
165
22
Andrea
183
APPENDIXES Mindful Mind fulness ness Meditat Meditation ion Instructi Instructions ons
190
Heart Pr Practices actices
207 20 7
Format for Refuge Recovery Meetings
227 22 7
PREFACE
repetitive process of habi habitual tually ly satisfying cravings Addiction is the repetitive to avoid, change, or control the seemingly unbearable conditions of the present moment. This process of craving and indulgence provides short-term short-term relief but causes long-term long-term harm. It is almost always a source of suffering for both the addict and those who care about the addict a ddict.. Recovery is a process of healing the underlying conditions that lead to addiction. It is establishing and maintaining the practice of abstaining from satisfying the cravings for the substances and behaviors that we have become b ecome addicted to. to. Recovery is also the abil abil-ity to inhabit the conditions of the present reality, whether pleasant or unpl u npleasant. easant. Renunciation is the practice of abstaining from harmful behaviors. A refuge is a safe place, a place of protection—a protection— a place that we go to in times of need, a shelter. We are always taking refuge in something. Drugs, alcohol, food, sex, money, or relationships with people have been a refuge for many of us. Before addiction, such refuges provide temporary feelings of comfort and safety. But at some point we crossed the line into addiction. And the substances or behaviors that were once a refuge inevitably became a dark and lonely repetitive cycle of searching for comfort as we wandered through an empty life.
viii
Pref P reface ace
Active addiction is a kind of hell. It is like being a hungry ghost, wandering through life in constant craving and suffering. Refuge Recovery, the Buddhist-inspired Buddhist-inspired approach to treating addiction, offers a plan to end the suffering of addiction. Traditionally, Buddhists commit to the path of awakening by taking refuge in three things: awakening (Buddha), truth (Dharma), and community (Sangha). If the teachings and practices offered here resonate with you as true and useful, we invite you to take refuge in this process of awakening, truth, and community. Practicing these principles and developing these skills will lead to a safe place, a true and reliable refuge, a place that is free from addiction, to a full recovery.
Introduction
Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction. The main inspiration and guiding philosophy for the Refuge Recovery program are the teachings of Siddhartha (Sid) Gautama, a man who lived in India twenty-five twenty- five hundred years ago. Sid was a radical psycho psycholog logist ist and a spiritual revol revolutio utionar naryy. Through T hrough his own efforts and practices he came to understand why human beings experience and cause so much suffering. He referred to the root cause of suffering as “uncontrollable thirst or repetitive craving.” This “thirst” tends to arise in relation to pleasure, but it may also arise as a craving for unpleasant experiences to go away, or as an addiction addictio n to people people,, places, things, or experienc ex periences. es. This is the same thirst of the alco a lcoholic holic,, the same craving as the addict, and the same attachment as the codependent. codependent. Eventually, Sid came to understand and experience a way of living that ended all forms of suffering. He did this through a practice and process that includes meditation, wise actions, and compassion. After freeing himself from the suffering caused by craving, he spent the rest of his life teaching others how to live a life of well well--being and freedom, a life free from suffering.
x
Introduction
Sid became known as the Buddha, and his teachings became known as Buddhism. The Refuge Recovery program has adapted the core teachings of the Buddha as a treatment of addiction. Buddhism recognizes a nontheistic approach to spiritual practice. The Refuge Recovery program of recovery does not ask anyone to believe anything, only to trust the process and do the hard work of recovery recovery.. This book contains a systematic approach to treating and recovering from all forms of addictions. Using the traditional formulation, the program of recovery consists of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. When sincerely practiced, the program will ensure a full recovery from addiction and a lifelong sense of well-being wellbeing and happiness happiness.. Of course, cours e, like every path, you can only get to your destination by moving forward, one foot in front of the other. The path is gradual and comprehensive, a map of the inner terrain that must be traversed in the process of recove recovery ry.. The path includes daily meditation practices, written investigations of the causes and conditions of your addictions, and how to find or create the community you will need in order to heal hea l and a nd awaken. We We have also inclu included ded stories of peopl pe oplee who have successfully recovered with the help of Buddhist practices. Although I am credited with writing the book, the large community at Refuge Recovery is the inspirational and creative force behind it. This community has helped shape, inform, and enhance the program with their direct experience of practicing these principles. cip les. This book, then, should be b e viewed as a collaborati collaborative ve effort, a book written for the plural rather than the singular—the singular— the “we” instead of the “I,” “I,” since it speaks for Buddhists Buddh ists and addicts everywhere every where.. Lastly, we are aware that more will be revealed. It is our hope that we have offered here a substantial and useful usef ul foundation to the Buddhist recovery movement. We have every intention to learn and grow and revise as we go. This is just the first edition. Enjoy!
The Process
Refuge Recovery follows the traditional Buddhist system of the Four Noble Truths, which begin with four actions. 1. We take stock of all the suffering we have experienced experienced and caused as addicts. 2. We investigate investigate the causes and conditions conditions that lead to addiction and begin the process of letting go. 3. We come to understand that recovery is possible and take refuge in the path that leads to the end of addiction. 4. We engage in the process of the Eightfol Eightfold d Path that leads to recovery re covery.. 1. Understanding 2. Intention 3. Communication/community 4. Action/engagement 5. Livelihood/service Livelihood/service 6. Effort/energy
xii
The Process
7. Mindfulness/meditations 8. Concentration/meditations The core philosophy of Refuge Recovery is based on renunciation and abstinence. We believe that the recovery process truly begins when renunciation is established and maintained. We also understand that imperfection and humility are part of the process. Even when we refrain from the primary drug or behavior, addiction at times manifests m anifests in other behaviors. behaviors. We We are not holding holding perp erfection as the standard, but as the goal. We believe in the human ability and potential for complete renunciation of behaviors that cause harm. We understand that for many this is an ongoing process of establis establishing hing and/or a nd/or reestablishin reestablishing g renunciat renunciation. ion. Renunciation alone is not recovery, however. It is only the beginning. Those who maintain abstinence but fail to examine the underlying causes and conditions are not on the path to recovery. They are simply stopping the surface manifestations of addiction, which will inevit inevitably ably resurface in other ways. ways. The eight eight factors, or folds, of the path p ath are to be developed, experienced, and penetrated. This is not a linear path. It does not have to be taken in order. In fact, all the factors need to be developed and applied simultaneously. And to truly break free from addiction, the eight eight folds of recove recovery ry must be constant constantly ly maintained. Although the process and sequence of recovery will vary from person to person, the following is an overview of how the Refuge Recovery Recove ry approach may be appli applied. ed. We begin by accepting all the ways that addiction has caused suffering in our lives and the lives of others. Turning inward and acknowledging our suffering is the beginning of the process, but it is also an ongoing practice. On a daily basis, we practice mindfulness of suffering, its causes and its cessation.
The Process
xiii
Next we investigate the underlying conditions that have influenced, exacerbated, and perpetuated our addictions. Through reading, listening, studying, and practicing the principles of the Four Truths (which includes the Eightfold Path) we come to understand the possib possibility ility and potent potential ial of our own recovery. Having some inkling of hope and willingness, we take refuge in the potential of our own recovery (Buddha), the Four Truths and Eightfold Eightfold Path of recovery (Dharma), and in the community of fellow recovering addicts (Sangha). We embark on the practice of the Eightfold Path. We encourage you to begin with the practice of meditation meditation right away. Meditation is going to be the most important tool in supporting our renunciati renunciation. on. Begin with the practice of focusing on your breath. After a week, you will alternate forgiveness forgi veness practice (explained in Chapter 5) with breath practice every other day. day. Eventually we will want you to learn and practice all the meditations offered, but we encourage you to first develop the meditations that increase concentration. As your skill in concentration increases, we begin practicing the four foundations of mindfulness and the heart practices of loving-kindness, lovingkindness, compassion, appreciation, appreciation, and equani equanimity mity.. Next we refine understanding, understanding, intentions, intentions, and livelihood. This is a gradual path. No one changes overnight, but we all must continue to practice, study, and act wisely to find the freedom from addiction we seek. We engage in the relational aspect a spect of forg forgiveness iveness,, making ma king amends to all people we have hurt through our addictions, words,, and words a nd actions.
