Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I've been an alcoholic since early high school and I'm 48 now. About two months ago I went to a meditation class with a friend not expecting to get anything out of it. It turns out it was perhaps the greatest discovery of my life. By combining meditation and some basic Buddhist practice I've been able to have a sense of peace in my mind that feels so much better than I could ever get with alcohol. Before this, anything with a whiff of religion had me running for the hills. I was surprised to find out that Buddhism has nothing to do with religion. It's actually more of a psychology and is completely practical and logical.
If someone had told me three months ago I would be writing this I would've been like yeah right. But the fact is it just works. I had a very painful event that occurred the day after the meditation class so I have been completely open-minded and diligent about learning and practicing.
I'm not saying this is necessarily a substitute for other ways of dealing with alcoholism. But it seems to me that it would be very beneficial for Buddhist practice to be standard issue in the alcoholism toolbox.
A big part of the reason that I drank was that I was in a lot of mental pain. Much of this pain I now find resulted from my mental inner dialogue. Once I was able to observe my mind with my mind or in other words take a step back and examine my thinking my level of mental pain decreased to the point where I didn't want to drink anymore.
The ability to quiet the mind is such an important skill and quite honestly, it just puts a good buzz on. I guess that's an alcoholic's way of thinking about it. The enlightenment that I'm getting glimpses of through Buddhist practice is an experience I don't have words for
If someone had told me three months ago I would be writing this I would've been like yeah right. But the fact is it just works. I had a very painful event that occurred the day after the meditation class so I have been completely open-minded and diligent about learning and practicing.
I'm not saying this is necessarily a substitute for other ways of dealing with alcoholism. But it seems to me that it would be very beneficial for Buddhist practice to be standard issue in the alcoholism toolbox.
A big part of the reason that I drank was that I was in a lot of mental pain. Much of this pain I now find resulted from my mental inner dialogue. Once I was able to observe my mind with my mind or in other words take a step back and examine my thinking my level of mental pain decreased to the point where I didn't want to drink anymore.
The ability to quiet the mind is such an important skill and quite honestly, it just puts a good buzz on. I guess that's an alcoholic's way of thinking about it. The enlightenment that I'm getting glimpses of through Buddhist practice is an experience I don't have words for
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
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I was recently separated from my wife of 33 years and it's complicated. Anyway I rented a room about 15 minutes away and I see my kids about once a week. I see the people who own the house I live in once in a while but other than that I stay in my room where I do my cooking, wash dishes in the shower, read, color, and sleep. I get out at least once a day. I grocery shop and I attend 2 meetings...
"Buddhist Ethics" are worth investigating I think...not so much righr and wrong, shall and shall nots but an investigation of what's "skillful" or useful - "A mind that is skilful avoids actions that are likely to cause suffering or remorse."
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm
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I try to meditate but can only sit still for about 2 minutes tops
1is2many
I'm so happy it's helped you!
http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/increase-your-mental-space-a-5-second-meditation/
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~~~Peace!~~~
http://www.last.fm/music/Faithless/_/Liontamer
"If you place a thing into the centre of your life that lacks the power to nourish,
it will eventually poison everything that you are and destroy you.
As simple a thing as an idea, or your perspective on yourself or the world,
no one can be the source of your content,
it lies within - in the centre. "
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I also love the principles of Buddhism.
http://www.wildmind.org/walking/overview
I think we get hung up on the idea of what meditation is supposed to be...has become synonymous with something exotic and usually eastern but there are many forms and traditions.
Discipline is good but A reflective life bears fruit whatever the form :)
P