from Booze to Buddha

from Booze to Buddha episodes:

• 08.29.2018

  184 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Meditation means to think

  Once I have exercised a little with meditation to achieve some mindfulness. As well as experienced being able to keep my mind focused without wandering off with every thought and emotion that arises. I can now use meditation, in other...

  
• 08.28.2018

  183 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Meditation – first as exercise.

  Meditation means exercise. Exercising the mind into being self-observant, self-aware and present in the here and now; that is being mindful. Meditation also means thinking or contemplation. In today's episode I focus upon using the tool of meditation as a...

  
• 08.27.2018

  182 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Prayer – a tool I use to craft my life.

  This week I want to extend what I spoke about last week with Step 3 of AA before moving on to discussing Step 4. With that in mind I will focus upon sharing my thoughts and suggestions about prayer and...

  
• 08.24.2018

  181 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 3 – A real life example

  Today I go longer than most episodes although I think I do for good reason. I also get a little emotional toward the end while I share part of my story. Sorry bout that but I hope you find something...

  
• 08.23.2018

  180 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 3 – An essential foundation

  Today, rather than talk directly about step three, I share some of my general experiences and feelings about spirituality and how it's worked for me.

  
• 08.22.2018

  179 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 3 – part 3 – The Step 3 Prayer – as I understand it.

  The final part of Step 3 is the prayer. This is the actual ceremony of making the decision to (as I put it) align my thinking (will) and my actions (life) over to (G.O.D.) the good orderly direction as I...

  
• 08.21.2018

  178 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 3 – part 2 – Making a decision

  Step 3 of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous states "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." I can now look back upon the events of my life and...

  
• 08.20.2018

  177 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 3 – Understanding God

  This episode is about Step 3. The first part of step 3 for me was "...God as we understood Him." It began with the simple idea of acknowledging and talking about what I believe instead of what I don't believe....

  
• 07.11.2018

  176 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 2 – I came to believe in the program

  Before I learned the 12 step recovery program I used to think that this program was about God, Jesus and the Bible. Today I share my experience in understanding that I was incorrect and how the program is about having...

  
• 07.10.2018

  175 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | More about 2

  Ideas and understanding of step 2 continued...

  
• 07.09.2018

  174 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 2 What is that “power”?

  The second step of AA states turning to a power greater than myself is the answer to the powerlessness I've admitted to in step 1. In today's episode I begin exploring what that power is.

  
• 07.07.2018

  173 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 2 Believing in a solution

  Now that I have spent several episodes talking about Step 1 I feel I have laid the foundation of my program of sobriety. Once I had seen for myself that I can not control my consumption of substances that I...

  
• 07.02.2018

  172 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 – Final understanding about my problem

  Step 1 of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous teaches me that I am powerless over alcohol. Step 1 of Cocaine Anonymous says I'm powerless over cocaine and all mind-altering substances so they are including alcohol as well. What I see...

  
• 06.30.2018

  171 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 – Still more about 1

  I think today's comments about step 1 are important. I'm adding to my knowledge of what the true root cause of my problem is. It's not that I'm bad or immoral or some of the terrible things I say to...

  
• 06.21.2018

  170 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 100%?

  In the meeting rooms of the 12 step recovery programs I've heard it said that step 1 is the only step you can do 100%. In today's show I question this and discuss my thoughts on it. I also talk...

  
• 06.17.2018

  169 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 Written out for example

  Today I posted on our Blog Tab #004 my written out step one with regards to my behavior with food that I am in the process of changing. On the show today I'm talking about my experience actively doing step 1...

  
• 06.09.2018

  168 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 So what am I fighting for?

  This week has been about using the analogy of being in the ring fighting with my addiction. Fighting to overcome a habitual behavior that I want to change, control or eradicate. It'll be a behavior that I view as not...

  
• 06.08.2018

  167 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 I can’t fight for control

  I like this metaphor of being in the ring and fighting with my addiction. It's given me a different perspective and that's added to the tools I've used over the years to continue to remain clean and sober as well...

  
• 06.06.2018

  166 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 The Fight

  Well! In true From Booze To Buddha tradition I jump around subjects while I share my experience and try to make a point about how I find successful transformation.

  
• 06.05.2018

  165 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 Commitment

  To take step one I need to find my willingness.

  
• 06.04.2018

  164 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Step 1 The Foundation and Key

  Welcome to this latest chapter in my story of continued healthy, happy years of sobriety. Over the years I have woken up and had that same old feeling of "things gotta change" or "I really sick and tired of how...

  
• 06.03.2018

  163 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Yo-Yo-ing with Step 1

  Step 1 of the recovery programs helps me dissect my behavior and look hard at myself. This helps me begin to remove bad attitudes and change the habits that were bringing me down. As I go through this process though...

  
• 05.28.2018

  162 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Today was great cause “I Get To!”

  There are some basic keys to living a sober life. Don't drink or use, obviously. Also start by just showing up and then have some discipline. I think a cornerstone to living a healthy sober life also includes continuing to...

  
• 05.26.2018

  161 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | The Ways of Practice – explain part 3

  Well today in true From Booze to Buddha form I begin off track and then circle around to talking about the third part of our teaching, wisdom. I feel I understand it well for myself what I find challenging is...

  
• 05.25.2018

  160 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | The Ways of Practice – explain part 2

  Today we continue talking about a reading from The Teaching of the Buddha. Describing the meaning of concentration of mind.

  
• 05.24.2018

  159 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | The Ways of Practice – explain part 1

  The teaching of the Buddha was the first book that I read and connected with. Earlier in my recovery from drugs and alcohol I struggled with the spiritual nature of the program of the 12 Steps. I am an agnostic,...

  
• 05.22.2018

  158 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | 24 Years Haven’t Been Easy

  Clean and sober 24 years is not something I brag about it's been a lot of work. I attribute my long lasting success to continuing to work on my personal growth as well as knowing that without reminders and effort...

  
• 05.21.2018

  157 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Can a leopard change his spots?

  The philosophical question "can a leopard change his spots" is about whether a person can change something that is part of their base nature. Can I change a core behavior that has been a part of me since I was...

  
• 05.16.2018

  156 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Continued Sobriety; Continued Success

  Today I talk about, I think, a lot of things/ideas about continuing to grow, find happiness, stay clean and sober and achieve success. Just talking about some of the tools that are in my toolbox and how I have never...

  
• 05.15.2018

  155 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | On Day at a Time

  Alcoholics Anonymous meeting rooms usually have a little sign on the wall that say "One Day At A Time." I think I finally get what that means or it has evolved into an understanding that I us as a principle...

  
• 05.14.2018

  154 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Direction or Purpose needs Commitment

  Today I talk a little more about having direction in my life as a key element. Without knowing what I want to be, do or have I just flounder around and that creates down feeling that leads to more floundering...

  
• 05.11.2018

  153 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | A Key to Step One – Direction or Purpose

  As I continue my story of recovery and how I've stayed clean and sober all these years I discovered a key element for myself. The Key I feel that helps keep me headed in the right direction is Purpose or...

  
• 05.08.2018

  152 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Part one of a story of growth

  Today's episode is the beginning of my story about the realization that even though I was clean and sober I was still suffering and like the Buddha teaches it was suffering due to my own causes. This is the beginning...

  
• 05.07.2018

  151 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Begin with the truth

  Welcome back to you all. From Booze to Buddha is a program about personal and spiritual growth. I share myself and my stories openly as a mentor who would simply show how they have accomplished something, what they did to...

  
• 05.03.2018

  150 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | 2018 Welcome Back

  I've been working, meditating and growing! How about you? Welcome or Welcome back today listen to what you can expect in the days to come. Namaste!

  
• 09.26.2017

  149 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Acting 100% Responsible

  In an effort to be of service I share my experiences and the things in my life that are hard. It is my intention to show how I use what I have learned to break though the barriers that feel...

  
• 09.20.2017

  148 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Define 100% Responsible

  In an effort to take 100% responsibility for my life I feel I need to explore it more to know what it means.

  
• 09.19.2017

  147 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | 100% Responsible

  Today I take responsibility for my life and what it is becoming. I learned this through my behavior and the wisdom of the 12 Steps of AA. I have since learned that this is considered the first principle of success. Now...

  
• 09.18.2017

  146 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Thank you to everyone…

  Today I begin by thanking you the listener and as I do I begin to talk on several topics while expressing my gratitude. Really Thanks for listening! Namaste!

  
• 09.15.2017

  145 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes in Values

  These past few episodes have been about exploring root causes of suffering and behavior. In my thoughts about it and my recent experiences the subject of values came up. I immediately saw how the importance we each place on our...

  
• 09.13.2017

  144 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes in the 4th Step of AA

  The fourth step of Alcoholics Anonymous is about me taking a good long look at myself and my behavior. Well once I began studying Buddhism I saw how this is just like looking at root causes and the causes of...

  
• 09.12.2017

  143 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | The Second Noble Truth

  In the second Noble Truth of the Buddha he states that the cause of all our suffering is our own desires. Another way to describe this that helps me to better understand it and work toward alleviating it is to...

  
• 09.11.2017

  142 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes continued

  Today I further discuss root causes because for me this is a great way to look at my behavior and work to making better choices.

  
• 09.07.2017

  141 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes – Happiness from within

  Realizing and understanding about True Happiness and that it's source comes from within me and not from any outside source has been a big turning point in my sober life. That's what I talk about in today's episode.

  
• 09.06.2017

  140 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes – Some Examples

  The root causes of evil in the world are Greed, Hatred and Delusion. The root sources of joy in the world are the opposite of these, they are Generosity, Love and Wisdom. The Buddha's first teaching is the Four Noble Truths...

  
• 09.05.2017

  139 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Root Causes – a start to understanding

  Root Causes (are primarily) for the bad things in life are Greed, Hatred and Delusion and the good things are born out of the opposite Non-Greed (Generosity), Non-Hatred (Love) and Non-Delusion (Wisdom). The Greatest Generosity is Non Attachment The Greatest Quality is...

  
• 09.04.2017

  138 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | How I use Step One

  I am taking my life to a new level of success, as defined by me. In doing that I'm using what I know works which is the Eight-Fold Path of the Dharma and the 12 Steps of Recovery. In today's...

  
• 09.01.2017

  137 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | How to do step one.

  When I lived in a facility for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse I was given specific instructions on what action to take on step one. I share that process and how it works for me in today's episode. Step...

  
• 08.31.2017

  136 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | Changes and Examples

  To begin today's program I acknowledge a change I see in myself; a change that began as a suggested tool to help me and now I see as a part of my new better character. I then talk about real world...

  
• 08.30.2017

  135 – Buddhist 12 Step Recovery | The Promises

  In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (fourth edition) chapter 6, Into Action, on page 83 are written the promises. Many 12 step meetings include the reading of the promises as part of their structure. It's a reminder of all...