Buddhism and the 12 steps
Sober Alcoholic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,539
Buddhism and the 12 steps
“Consider the eight-part program laid down in Buddhism: Right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindedness and right contemplation. The Buddhist philosophy, as exemplified by these eight points, could be literally adopted by AA as a substitute for or addition to the Twelve Steps. Generosity, universal love and welfare of others rather than considerations of self are basic to Buddhism.”
The above quote is from a very early AA pamphlet that appears to have been written (or at least edited) by Dr. Bob, one of AA's co-founders.
I'm impressed with both the knowledge and the open mindedness of those early AA individuals.
For anyone interested, the whole pamphlet can be found here. “Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous” http://hindsfoot.org/AkrSpir.pdf
All the best to everyone this holiday season.
The above quote is from a very early AA pamphlet that appears to have been written (or at least edited) by Dr. Bob, one of AA's co-founders.
I'm impressed with both the knowledge and the open mindedness of those early AA individuals.
For anyone interested, the whole pamphlet can be found here. “Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous” http://hindsfoot.org/AkrSpir.pdf
All the best to everyone this holiday season.
waking down
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,641
Kevin Griffin (www.kevingriffin.net) wrote a book adapting the 12 Steps to Buddhism. Anyone curious about the overlap between Buddhism and AA will find it and maybe his website of interest. If I remember correctly, his "higher power" was simply trust in Buddhist practice. That works for me. Four years practicing Buddhism while maintaining sobriety has done me plenty good.
No Dogma Please
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,562
Griffen actually wrote several books on the 12 Steps from a Buddhist perspective. My rehab was 12 Step based, but i read two of his books. I related so much more to these than the Big Book, which i find dated and way to based on Christian faith while claiming not to be. I struggled to get through the first 169 pages.
waking down
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,641
Refuge Recovery is Buddhist, but not directly associated with Kevin Griffin. Noah Levine started Refuge Recovery. He personally started with AA, and his book entitled Refuge Recovery offers a kind of adaptation of the 12 Steps, much like Griffin's book that revises the 12 Steps to adhere to Buddhist principles.
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