Hi there, apologies for not being so regular. I’m making a commitment to tune back in once a month. In the midst of a workload full of opiate crisis, a porn addiction crisis, stinking thinking crisis, work life is full. Although, I remind myself that since I was an adolescent I was aware of one crisis after another.
First, it was Shoe Conditioner, then it was Evo Stick Glue, then Slimming Pills, heroin, methadone and the list continues into today. What is clear that while North America may be dealing with a Fentanyl crisis, other parts of the world may be dealing with Benzos or Ketamine. Particular addiction crises are culturally specific, in terms of class, wealth, race, gender, and sexuality. Addiction is part of life, the Buddha taught us that in his first discourse. The Buddha warned that there was an addiction to Hedonism which was lowly, coarse and unprofitable, and addiction to self-mortification which was lowly, coarse and unprofitable. He advised we find a middle way.
Rather than stating we are in a crisis, we could begin to think that addiction is a part of life, an adaptation to our trauma in life, a protection from a world that let some of us down in childhood. Picking up the substance for some people saved their life when there was nobody for them to turn to. Addiction is an invitation, for the whole community to come together and do something different, instead of thinking addiction has nothing to do with them. Every household has known somebody who has been impacted by alcohol, drugs, co-dependency, sex, porn, gambling, food, and much more.
I’m about to go on the road – and wanted to share an interview with me about mindfulness, because more and more we are hearing that mindfulness can be the cure for everything, from increasing production values at work, to repairing a relationship to helping with addictions. Of course, it’s not a panacea, and should be seen as an approach that can be used in conjunction with other modalities.
What’s all the fuss about Mindfulness
My Ebook – Eight Step Recovery – Using The Buddha’s teachings to Overcome Addiction
The paperback copy
3 Comments. Leave new
I agree, It is correct, many people don’t realize how deep the problem is and they look at it as part of life, without even trying to move away from it, finding a solution, etc.
Hi Vimalasara,
no problem that you do not write regularly. I am always happy when you publish something new. Greetings from Lucerne Switzerland
Thank you for this article. I was wondering exactly how Buddhism helped me so much. Along with other clean healthy practices, for the whole being. Spiritually,mentally, emotionally, physically.
I was ready to get back to my true nature, living the way I knew was right. I almost died in 2017 because of alcohol, bleeding to death, and a brain bleed. Emergency surgery and ICU for days, I recovered. I made good on what I needed to do, I had already been exposed to Buddhism and felt it was the best way to go. I have great gratitude for this practice that makes me happier than I have ever been.