Social Action Project

12 Step Group
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Addicted to alcohol, drugs, nicotine,

porn, gambling eating, relationships, etc?

 

 

Come and join us.

Discover liberation from this suffering.

 

 

 

Most Mondays

7:00 – 8: 30 p.m.

Church of the Holy Trinity

381 Main Street, Middletown

 

 

About our Meeting

 

As part of the Social Action Project, we would like to welcome you to our 12 Step Buddhist Group, a non-sectarian chapter  of the Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut. We are a community focused on recovery.

 

We use both the buddhist version of the 12 Steps and the Buddha's Eightfold path to help us in our collective journey into a mindful, recovery oriented lifestyle.  You do not need to be in any specific kind of recovery to participate in the group. We welcome anyone who struggles with the suffering associated with addiction and craving or those touch by them via family, friends and other relationships, and who seeks to cultivate freedom and peace through living mindfully.

 

Our meetings include inspirational Buddhist scriptural readings, silent meditation, mindfulness, prayer and plenty of discussion. Brief meditation instruction is always given to new guests. In addition, all guests will receive an inspirational gift book called, A Teaching A Day.

 

We are a complimentary approach to recovery. We are not a substitute.  Seeing a therapist, doctor, counselor etc. are still advisable and necessary on the road to full recovery.

 

In order to see and listen about this unique community and to learn more about our basic philosophy, visit our 12 Step Buddhist YouTube video.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/bffct2001

 

For Buddhists and Non-Buddhists

 

You do not need to be a Buddhist to participate in our group. Anyone can benefit from mindfulness practice and the buddhist teachings. Also, we are a non-sectarian Buddhist community open to the fundamental teachings accepted by all branches of the Buddhist tradition.

 

You also do not need to be in any specific kind of recovery to participate in our group. We welcome anyone who struggles with the suffering associated with craving and who seeks to cultivate peace through living mindfully.

 

A Circle of Equals

 

We are a circle of equals. No one member is more important than any other. Our group will only thrive if we choose to approach it in a spirit of compassion and interconnectedness. We ask that members be mindful of one another's anonymity and confidentiality.

 

Our Guiding Book 

 

Among our guiding books is The 12 Step Buddhist by Darren Littlejohn. It combines Zen and Tibetan teachings with the traditional 12 Step program. It shows how Buddhism can enhance the traditional program in order to enrich the recovery process. This book is available at many local book sellers and Amazon.com. Some copies may be available during the meeting.

 

Mr. Littlejohn writes in the introduction that “Buddhism is not a substitute for the 12 Steps…Spiritual work is difficult. When engaging in deep spiritual practice, you’ll need support in and out of the 12 Step communities. Share this book with your sponsor (who guides you through the 12 Steps), doctor therapist, spiritual advisor, and family. Use it as part of a comprehensive, multifaceted recovery program. Such a program includes multiple aspects. Do as many of the following as needed to help with your recovery and to live to your potential.

 

  • Commit to therapy
  • To facilitate therapy, take medications as prescribed by a doctor who understands addiction and is willing to talk with your therapist
  • Exercise your body and mind
  • Participate in spiritual groups
  • Volunteer in your local community”

Our other inspirational and guiding books are One Breath at a Time:  Buddhism and the 12 Steps by Kevin Griffin, Mindful Recovery by Thomas Bien, and The Zen of Recovery by Mel Ash. 

 

Contact Us & Join

 

If you are interested in participating or are looking for more information about our Buddhist 12 Step Group or joining our 12 Step e-mailing list, please contact us at

 

buddha12step@hotmail.com

 

Directions & Parking

 

There is plenty of street parking in front of and in the parking lot in the rear of the church.  Just walk in. You cannot miss us.

 

For directions to the Church of the Holy Trinity, see Google Maps below.

 

Google Maps

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The Eightfold Path

 

The Eightfold Path is the essential Way discovered by the historical Buddha 2, 600 years ago. It is the practical guide of life that leads to the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and spiritual liberation. The eight interlocking branches are as follows.

 

Right Views: the right understanding of the Buddha's teachings

Right Aspirations: high and noble aims

Right Speech: speaking kind words

Right Conduct: right behavior

Right Livelihood: an honest professional life

Right Effort: perseverance in goodness

Right Mindfulness: right use of the intellect

Right Meditation: meditation and prayer on the Buddha and the Dharma

 

 

Our Buddhist 12 Steps

 

The classic 12 steps for addiction recovery had been a proven technique to transcend addictive suffering over the past decades. Originally from a Christian orientation, through these guiding steps millions of people have overcome their debilitating addictions to find peace from craving.

 

We offer a non-Judeo-Christian version of the12 steps, one that is oriented to the modern Buddhist path that interlinks well with the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. This version is inspired from classic 12 Steps, The 12 Step Buddhist by Darren Littlejohn and the Pure Land teachings.

 

First Principle: Acceptance. We admitted we were powerless--that our lives had become unmanageable.

 

Second Principle: Confidence.  We came to believe that a power other than our ego could restore us to sanity.

                       

Third Principle: Surrender. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a power other than our ego.

 

Fourth Principle: Self Examination. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

                       

Fifth Principle: Self Honesty: We admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

                       

Sixth Principle: Willingness.  We were entirely ready to have the power other than our ego remove foolish aspects of our character.

                       

Seventh Principle: Humility. We humbly asked the power other than our ego to shed the foolishness within ourselves

                       

Eighth Principle: Forgiveness. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

                       

Ninth Principle: Restitution. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

                       

Tenth Principle: Admission. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

                       

Eleventh Principle: Seeking. We sought through deep hearing, prayer, and meditation to be transformed by a power other than our ego and to realize our inner potential of faith, wisdom, and compassion.

                       

Twelfth Principle: Unconditional Love. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others that suffer, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

 

Come and join us

 

 

buddha12step@hotmail.com

 

Let’s transform bits of rubble into gold