Recovery Dharma Thread

Life in Recovery
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It isn’t moronic at all. I think it is natural to get burned out and/or to need to take some space from reading or other practices. For myself, the key is coming back to it, perhaps not with the same intensity (or more intensity if that is what is needed at that time). Incorporating what lifts us up into our lives. I just don’t think that what works and best supports us is always going to look the same. For me that is the beauty of growth. Expanding, contracting, finding what works in this particular stage for our selves.

Hmmmm…I believe that is what this whole thread you began was about? Full circle. :heart::people_hugging::+1:

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Wonderful wise words!

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Pema gets all the credit.

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“The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)” by Pema Chödrön -

“Many of us prefer practices that will not cause discomfort, yet at the same time we want to be healed. But bodhichitta training doesn’t work that way. A warrior accepts that we can never know what will happen to us next. We can try to control the uncontrollable by looking for security and predictability, always hoping to be comfortable and safe. But the truth is that we can never avoid uncertainty. This not knowing is part of the adventure, and it’s also what makes us afraid.”

This brought back memories of the excuses i used to drink. However, it doesnt take much looking to find the same excuses to use caffine and tobacco and now sugar.

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I come back to this always.

I am also reminded of this from Pema…

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Somehow today is Control-day on TS

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from “The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)” by Pema Chödrön -

“LIFE is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if we could only realize it. Nothing ever sums itself up in the way that we like to dream about.”

One day at a time.

Start reading this book for free: The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket C... - Kindle

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I am new to recovery dharma.
I have read all of pema chodrons books. And re read them. I spent alot of time practicing bhuddism the best I could by myself.
Recently I went to my first meeting. There were only two people there and I was so anxious and nervous and it showed. They were so supportive of me and every Thursday is the face to face meeting which I will be going to each week.
They go for a coffee after as well. Which I will be forcing myself through my anxiety to go along too and join in.
There are online meetings too. One tomorrow evening I will join.

:pray:

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Welcome! How exciting! I love the coffee afterwards thing!

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Annnnnnd…contribute all you want…please!!

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from “The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)” by Pema Chödrön -

“LIFE is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if we could only realize it. Nothing ever sums itself up in the way that we like to dream about. The off-center, in-between state is an ideal situation, a situation in which we don’t get caught and we can open our hearts and minds beyond limit. It’s a very tender, nonaggressive, open-ended state of affairs.”

Some days the universe delivers what you need, exactly when you need it. With the rough start of the day…this page was exactly what i needed to read

Start reading this book for free: The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket C... - Kindle

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This is why I am at Day 0 for tobacco. I forgot what meditation does and does not do

Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)" by Pema Chödrön -

“First of all, it is helpful to understand that meditation is not just about feeling good. To think that this is why we meditate is to set ourselves up for failure. We’ll assume we are doing it wrong almost every time we sit down: even the most settled meditator experiences psychological and physical pain. Meditation takes us just as we are, with our confusion and our sanity. This complete acceptance of ourselves as we are is called maitri, or unconditional friendliness, a simple, direct relationship with the way we are.”

Start reading this book for free: The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket C... - Kindle

Gotta 1) use my tools 2) uses them as intended

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quote from “The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)” by Pema Chödrön -

“IN all kinds of situations, we can find out what is true simply by studying ourselves in every nook and cranny, in every black hole and bright spot, whether it’s murky, creepy, grisly, splendid, spooky, frightening, joyful, inspiring, peaceful, or wrathful. We can just look at the whole thing.”

Start reading this book for free: The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket C... - Kindle

Long story, long…

The place I work has 2 managers and the owner. The owner rarely comes in. The store manager quit for a better opportunity. This leaves us the Assitant Manager and the owners book keeper filling in 2 days a week as the Store manager.

I love where I work, i love what I do. In my opinion the assitant manager is horrible and shouldn’t be a manager. He is always late in the morning. So late, I am outside with the customers waiting to get in.

I have been thinking about asking the book keeper to get the owner to give me a set of keys and the alarm code so I can get the store going.

I have been conflicted about this. So, like this passage recommends i looked at myself. I found in a merky corner of myself the horrible reason why I want to do this.

At face value its to " take care of the buisness and the customets." If i look at all the corners of my being I find the real answer…

I dont like the Assitant manager, and asking for the keys will get him in trouble. Do I care about the buisness and customers…100% I do. However, my motive is not “pure”

So, I will continue to do what I do, and let the assitant manager set his own path for life.

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Read this today (slow day at work)

Parts really resonated with me and my mind went to various things i have read and studied here.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202405/why-letting-go-of-the-inner-critic-is-such-a-struggle

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Thank you for this article Scott, it resonated with me too…really helpful :pray:

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Scott,
Maybe you can take it another step further. Ask the assistant manager how you can help him, with no malice in your heart.

That will take reflection, prayer, and courage. These are practices and qualities I have seen in you.

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Interesting enough, the Asst Mgr, a co worker, and I were talking (after i made that post)… Timeliness came up, and I gave him my opinion. We shall see what comes of it

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However, had it not come up…i would take your suggestion in a heartbeat.

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The universe runs on vibes, doesn’t it? Wow!

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Just posted on the check in thread…then opened my pocket Pema and this is what I read

from “The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket Classics)” by Pema Chödrön -

“ON a very basic level all beings think that they should be happy. When life becomes difficult or painful, we feel that something has gone wrong. According to the Buddhist teachings, difficulty is inevitable in human life. For one thing, we cannot escape the reality of death. But there are also the realities of aging, of illness, of not getting what we want, and of getting what we don’t want. T”

Start reading this book for free: The Pocket Pema Chodron (Shambhala Pocket C... - Kindle

I think this is where I will start with the youngest.

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