Blessing of Awakening to Life After Alcohol, Drugs and Compulsions

  • From the curse of addiction comes the blessings of recovery.
  • There is life after drugs and alcohol – it’s a very good life.
  • Our many demons bring us many gifts if we are prepared to face them – don’t give up.
  • Recovery is infectious but so is relapse – choose your path and your companions carefully.
  • Recovery is a blank canvas – take advantage of the reality of non-self.
  • Recovery is a fertile field on which the seeds of future happiness are sown. The new shoots need gentle care and attention to grow to complete spiritual maturity.
  • The (recovery) journey of 1000 miles starts with the ground beneath your feet (Sajja / Intention).
  • Anyone new to Buddhist recovery might be said to have “don’t know mind” and anyone not quite there yet might be said to have “don’t know yet, mind”; but anyone still engaged in the delusion of addiction might be said to have “don’t want to know mind”.
  • Surrender and acceptance of things as they are is akin to recognising the First Ennobling Truth.
  • Whether we are addicts or not, we should remember the Buddha’s teaching that we can search the whole ten-fold Universe but still not find a single Being more deserving of our Loving-kindness than the one right here – yourself.