Redmayne

For me, recovery is an end to suffering in my sobriety, found in fundamental Buddhist (Therevada) philosophy/psychology, same thing really? Expressly in ,'The Four Noble Truths', which have much to say on the subject, suffering, cause of, cessation, enlightenment, which simply put consists of being good to others and good to yourself! Enhanced by ,'The Eightfold Noble Path'.

Boleo

I have found that when I am spiritually fit, nothing disturbs me enough that I feel like I am suffering. My spiritual fitness comes from practicing spiritual principles in all my affairs.

Unlike the 8 fold path, I have pruned my principles down to 3 fundamental tenants; humility, benevolence and detachment. There may be hundreds of principles in man's realm but there are only 3 fundamental principles in the spiritual realm. All others are ancillary principles.

"In this life - pain is inevitable - suffering is optional."

sugarbear1

Boleo, Can you expound on the detachment?

Boleo

Meister Eckhart said Detachment is the highest of all virtues, the most noble of virtues and the only pure virtue. Even Love is not pure if you need a reason to Love.

Spiritual Detachment looks the same as psychological detachment (stoicism) to an outside observer. However, Spiritual Detachment is providing the effort to be helpful but stepping back from the results so as to detach from the outcome.

In other words we plant our seeds and then wait patiently for the fruits of our labor. All expectations, good and bad, are seeds for resentment. Neither success or failure is ours to pocket.

Mo S

Boleo; Thank you. I needed that reminder today almost desparately. Your words may have completely changed my day around.

Redmayne

Keeping it simple. Buddhist philosophy suggests we should avoid atttachments, especiallyto those people, things and organisations that would harm us, for example. Tha antidote tothis of course is to, wherever possible detach from them.

This is more on a practical level and can be practiced in our everyday existence.

On a spiritual level, it can be practiced by developing the three great spiritual qualities of compassion, patience and tolerance. Not forgetting that ,'fierce compassion' is always available to be addressed to those people or things and organisations, that disturb us, see,'The Tibetan Book of the Dead'.

Boleo

On a spiritual level, it can be summed up:

"This to shall pass".

Redmayne

I haven'tquite followed your reasoning, but hey! if it works for you, go to it!

Zencat

I am the cause of my suffering. I am also the cause to end my suffering.

Its all on me, I have no mythological babysitter to hold my hand and pull me trough the troubles that are of my own making. Nor would I want to.
So then for me, recovery is responsibility, I chose to drug - I can not be removed from my choices. As I can not be a bystander for that will relive me from my choices. If I am the cause (responsible) of my illness then I am the relief by being responsible for my liberation.

Redmayne

If it works for you, GREAT!!!!!

Little to much , 'I Me Mine' for me, but there you go, you take care....