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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====RECOVERY THOUGHT
=====READERS' COMMENTS
=====RECOVERY TALK
=====SPONSOR
=====FEATURED LINK
=====PURE BOLOGNA
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS=====
PLEASE NOTE: Principles looks at recovery through the lens of an "Eastern" perspective, which fits nicely with 12-step
programs' spiritual underpinnings--that is, if you're willing to read it that way.
PRIVACY: I will never publish, give, loan, or sell your email address to anyone. Never - Ever - No way - No how.
DISTRIBUTION: God willing, Principles hits cyberspace once a week - sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Find Subscribe & Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of this page.
Thanks...Charles Roper
=====RECOVERY THOUGHT=====
In Step 5, we admit the nature of our wrongs to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, but do we really have
to do all three?
Read more below...in RECOVERY TALK
=====READERS' COMMENTS=====
"Thanks for the great newsletter. I like the Zen aspect very much. I've been sober for 18 years, almost 19, and for the last
12 1/2 years have been meditating and studying Eastern philosophy, mostly Kashmir Shaivism and Vedanta. I turn to Zen teachings
when I get stuck, or need to hear it another way. Through everything, though, the 12 steps and my AA training, the principles
of recovery and the principles in the steps, are my foundation, and my saving grace. I really love and appreciate AA so much.
Thanks again for offering this." Love, TDH
Please email your comments & questions to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-owner@egroups.com
=====RECOVERY TALK=====
We are told in Step 5 to admit the nature of our wrongs to God, to ourselves, and to another human being.
Zen teaches that any Higher Power is found within ourselves. If we have truly come to grips with these things - our shortcomings
- in our own being, then, it stands to reason that we have also made them known to our Higher Power. And that's a big step toward
realizing our whole self.
Why, then, do we have to go to the extreme of actually telling another person these things? If our true nature is already aware
of them, why subject ourselves to the pain that exposure to another person would bring?
Here's why: We should know by now how convincingly we can lie, especially to ourselves. But the act of verbalizing to another
person takes the process out of the realm of conjecture and gives it concrete form. Once uttered, our words gain a deeper
reality, and it becomes much more difficult for us to engage in denial when someone else knows our secrets.
On top of that, our thoughts and feelings get confirmed by another. Our dread at this act is usually allayed when we
discover that the person to whom we're "confessing" has done, felt, or thought the same things - or worse. We are no longer
alone. We are no longer so terminally unique in either our suffering or wrongdoings. We find out that others feel just
like we do and that we aren't some kind of monster.
Recovery stresses collective healing. We are taught that we are only one among many and that the secrets we sought to keep
were only an expression of our selfishness and prideful will. In this regard, we owe it to others to be honest, even when
it hurts.
Zen emphasizes common good over individual desire. By admitting our defects to another human being, we are admitting our
interdependence. It was our denial of this level of connectedness that contributed to our original dysfunction. Admitting
our wrongs to another allows us to reenter the world as it really is - a connected whole rather the sums of its parts.
This is full acceptance of our purpose: To wake each other up and find release from our common suffering.
=====NEWSLETTER SPONSOR=====
"This book challenges my understanding of recovery and makes me want to dig deeper." --JW
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction &
Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD.
Order High Bottom Drunk directly from the publisher, through the http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
website, and receive two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is: A New Beginning.
This site was designed for those with their own thoughts and ideas regarding recovery...those who have found it difficult
to fit in and to follow the guidelines often expected from us when involved in the more structured programs.
Visit the site at:
http://www.xeweb.com/HELP.HTM
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
Two buffalo are standing on the range when a passing tourist says loudly, "Those are the mangiest,
scroungiest, most moth-eaten, miserable beasts I have ever seen."
One of the buffalos turns to the other and said, "You know what, Bob? I think I just heard a discouraging word."
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE=====
To SUBSCRIBE to this publication, send any e-mail to:
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To UNSUBSCRIBE from this publication, send any e-mail to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-unsubscribe@egroups.com
==========================
Till next week, let's do each other a favor and keep it simple.
Charles Roper, Editor
Principles: The Addiction & Recovery Newsletter
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery Information &
Resources Web site:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com
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