[BRNUK] Buddhist Recovery Self Help Group

[Vince Cullen]

Hi Devin,

Thanks for your kind offer of support in setting up Buddhist Self Help
groups.  For a number of years I have been toying with the idea of
a'meditation for abstinence' group.  The arrival of the BRN has acted
as a
timely catalyst.

My own meditation practice, albeit haphazard, supports my abstinence in
recovery.  I would like to form a ‘Fifth Precept’ or ‘Thamkrabok Sajja’
group in West Berkshire, ideally Newbury or Reading.

*The Fifth Precept* is an endeavour to refrain from intoxicants in nearly
all of the orthodox Buddhist traditions.  It is usually presented something
along the lines of:  *“To undertake the training rule to refrain from
intoxicating liquors & drugs that lead to carelessness.”*

Sajja is a public commitment to abstinence as practiced by the Thamkrabok
Monastery, in Thailand.  *Thamkrabok Sajja* is a sacred vow made at a public
ceremony never to consume, promote or handle drugs and/or alcohol ever
again.  *"Addicts volunteering for treatment at the monastery, ... take
Sajja, a sacred vow, never to touch drugs again and commit themselves to a
new life."*

There is a subtle but significant difference between endeavour and
commitment so I'm not sure which approach would ultimately be most
beneficial.

In order to get a group going, I am using the guidelines on the BRN
network<http://www.buddhistrecovery.org/doc_brn_group_guidance.htm>as
a starting point but I still need to work out the fine detail:

   - The intention of the proposed group will simply be to support our own
   and each other’s recovery from addiction using various meditation techniques
   and discussion.
   - How/who will the group will be facilitated T.B.A
   - Group membership to be aimed at anyone in recovery regardless of
   previous meditation experience.
   - Meeting form and content; and venue(s) T.B.A

 All things being temporary, transient and impermanent I’m sure the function
and form of the group will evolve over time - once we experience what works
and what doesn’t.  I have been wrestling with this idea for several years
now so I feel  now is the time to get a group started.

Once I've finalised - as as is possible without group members - the final
detail I'll post a message to WIRE IN , IN TOUCH and BRNUK.

In the meantime, if anyone has some experience, thoughts or concerns around
these ideas I would be most grateful to receive them.


Best wishes to all,


Vince

__________________________________
306
Lying leads to sorrow.
Concealing wrong actions
leads to sorrow.
These two acts of deceit
take beings
to the same state of woe.
__________________________________
A DHAMMAPADA for CONTEMPLATION
http://aruno.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemid=80


2009/9/15 Devin Ashwood <devin1649 at gmail.com>

> Dear Friends,
>
> Does anyone on this list know anyone who is interested in setting up a
> Buddhist self help group in the UK, either 12 step or otherwise?
>
> I'm sure that there would be interest, particularly in the major cities.
> I'm very supportive of this and have lots of contacts and ideas if anyone
> wants to talk to me about it.
>
> Devin
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Network mailing list
> Network at buddhistrecovery.org.uk
> http://buddhistrecovery.org.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/network
>
>
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