BUDDHISM AND THE TWELVE STEPS

BUDDHISM AND THE TWELVE STEPS

The Buddha pointed out that craving is the cause of suffering. Twelve Step programs work with the deepest forms of craving. How can these two traditions come together to deepen our spiritual life? Through a combination of traditional and contemporary Buddhist meditation practices, interactive exercises, talks, and discussion, we will explore the ways that Buddhism and the Steps complement each other.

This retreat is open to all who are interested, and will include introductory meditation. It will be conducted primarily in Noble Silence with periods of formal spoken practice and sharing.

Kevin Griffin is the author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps and A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and Twelve-Step participant, he is a leader in the mindful recovery movement and a co-founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network. Kevin has practiced primarily in the Theravadan Buddhist tradition and was trained as a Community Dharma Leader at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He teaches internationally and works as a consultant for the National Institutes of Health on studies of mindfulness. He specializes in helping people in recovery connect with meditation and gain a progressive understanding of the Twelve Steps.