What is Recovery Dharma?
Recovery Dharma is a non-profit organization and a peer-led movement using Buddhist practices and principles to overcome addiction through meditation, personal inquiry, and community. It provides support to local, autonomous meetings through shared literature, online resources, and connection to our international network of participants.
What does Recovery Dharma believe?
Recovery Dharma believes that the traditional Buddhist teachings (“Dharma”) offer a powerful approach to healing from addiction and living a life of true freedom. By following a balanced path of understanding, ethical behavior, and mindfulness, all beings have the potential to find happiness and free themselves from the suffering of repetitive craving.
Do I have to be a Buddhist to participate?
While our program is based on teachings and practices that go all the way back to the time of the Buddha 2600 years ago, we believe that anyone can benefit from this wisdom regardless of whether they consider themselves a Buddhist. The core practices of wisdom, ethics, and mindfulness are available to all beings, regardless of their other beliefs or affiliations. Our program doesn’t require the adoption of any religious principles, only that we do the work needed for these practices to transform our lives.
What is a Recovery Dharma meeting like?
A typical meeting starts with a few short explanatory readings, then a guided meditation. Meetings will then typically do a shared reading to foster discussion, or a speaker may talk about a topic of their choice. There is also an opportunity for members of the group to share. Each meeting is free to choose the format that works best for them.
Does the program support addictions other than drugs and alcohol?
We have found that the Buddhist wisdom and practices that make up Recovery Dharma can help us understand and overcome the suffering caused by any type of addiction, whether it’s a dependency to drugs and alcohol, or behavior-based addictions (which we refer to as “process addictions”) like sex, relationships, food, gambling, self-harm, co-dependency, etc.
What about the cost?
Meetings are always free, though members are encouraged to support any costs incurred by the meetings through dāna (donations).
Source: Athens Recovery Dharma
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