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bogmyrtle's review against another edition
lent to a friend before I finished! would pick up again
lilydoyle6's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.5
this book is good and has a lot of great insights and teachings. i really wanted a helpful book that relates recovery to buddhism since that's what i find myself aligned with more than christianity. at times this book gets tedious in its mentions of meditation retreats & belabors the point a bit too much. if it weren't for that and the last couple of long chapters, it'd be rated higher for me.
overall a great book i will continually come back to.
overall a great book i will continually come back to.
hadiqa01's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't find no flaws but even though it's targeted towards alcoholic /drug addicts, one who's not any of these can still take advantage from it, and that I did. Some really good thoughts about letting go. *clap clap *.
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful integration of contemporary American Buddhist (non theistic) practices and ideals, with the quintessential homegrown, Democratic (with socialist undertones) American spiritual path better known as the 12 steps of AA.
I have been kicking around meditation circles, and recovery cliques, and therapy people for a good bit.
Part of me can get down with each headspace, but a majority of me can’t.
WARNING - DICKISH RANT ALERT!!!!!
Meditation people are frequently loopy at the core, and nearly invariably use eastern religions and practices as a buffet style, all you can eat hog trough of cultural appropriation and spiritual bypassing. How many depressed, bong ripping, acid tripping, bipolar Buddhists does it take to live in a van?
AA people are frequently anti intellectual Christians in disguise, who regurgitate thought limiting slogans, and act like you’re threatening their very existence if you dare challenge even one article of their childish 1940’s era dogma e.g. the allergy theory of alcoholism posited in the doctors opinion.
Therapy people commonly act as though sitting in an office, talking about getting in touch with your feelings and gaining insights about your early life will some how change everything (let alone anything). And we charge an arm and a leg for the privilege.
For those of you who remember the horror classic the Blair Witch Project, there is this scene where one of the characters yells ‘why can’t you just admit we’re lost and walking around in circles’!
That’s how I feel when I’m talking to Buddhists, Book Thumpers and Therapists.
What I actually do is breath, smile, say something like ‘that’s so true man’ in my best reverent ‘yoga/church voice’ and head for the nearest exit.
END OF RANT....
But meditation actually is a profoundly life altering practice when you actually do it. And there is actual profound healing wisdom and heart in the 12 Step traditions. And good therapy changes minds, heals broken hearts and wakes the dead.
Kevin Griffin’s life’s work of integrating Buddhism, and the 12 Step traditions is a low key, humble masterwork.
There is a lot of philosophical heavy lifting contained in his simple, lucid teachings. He makes it look easy, but ironing the wrinkles out of Buddhism and 12 Step, and quilting them together is no easy task.
This book set the stage for Refuge Recovery. But with an important difference. Griffins work integrates the traditions where Refuge seeks to revolutionize, upend and re-invent 12 Step via recreating it in a Buddhist context.
Although I am a therapist, who utilizes Buddhist practices and ideas in my work in addiction recovery, I have historically been pretty critical of what I perceived as the glaring shortcomings of Buddhism, 12 Step and Psychotherapy.
This book has helped me soften, accept and go with as opposed to scorn, reject and resist. And as each of these traditions clearly states.
Resistance is the royal road to suffering.
Thank you KG.
Ring the bell, say the serenity prayer and get the fuck out of my office because our time is up. If you’re still suffering, save yourself some time and money and read this wonderful, humble, powerful little book.
I have been kicking around meditation circles, and recovery cliques, and therapy people for a good bit.
Part of me can get down with each headspace, but a majority of me can’t.
WARNING - DICKISH RANT ALERT!!!!!
Meditation people are frequently loopy at the core, and nearly invariably use eastern religions and practices as a buffet style, all you can eat hog trough of cultural appropriation and spiritual bypassing. How many depressed, bong ripping, acid tripping, bipolar Buddhists does it take to live in a van?
AA people are frequently anti intellectual Christians in disguise, who regurgitate thought limiting slogans, and act like you’re threatening their very existence if you dare challenge even one article of their childish 1940’s era dogma e.g. the allergy theory of alcoholism posited in the doctors opinion.
Therapy people commonly act as though sitting in an office, talking about getting in touch with your feelings and gaining insights about your early life will some how change everything (let alone anything). And we charge an arm and a leg for the privilege.
For those of you who remember the horror classic the Blair Witch Project, there is this scene where one of the characters yells ‘why can’t you just admit we’re lost and walking around in circles’!
That’s how I feel when I’m talking to Buddhists, Book Thumpers and Therapists.
What I actually do is breath, smile, say something like ‘that’s so true man’ in my best reverent ‘yoga/church voice’ and head for the nearest exit.
END OF RANT....
But meditation actually is a profoundly life altering practice when you actually do it. And there is actual profound healing wisdom and heart in the 12 Step traditions. And good therapy changes minds, heals broken hearts and wakes the dead.
Kevin Griffin’s life’s work of integrating Buddhism, and the 12 Step traditions is a low key, humble masterwork.
There is a lot of philosophical heavy lifting contained in his simple, lucid teachings. He makes it look easy, but ironing the wrinkles out of Buddhism and 12 Step, and quilting them together is no easy task.
This book set the stage for Refuge Recovery. But with an important difference. Griffins work integrates the traditions where Refuge seeks to revolutionize, upend and re-invent 12 Step via recreating it in a Buddhist context.
Although I am a therapist, who utilizes Buddhist practices and ideas in my work in addiction recovery, I have historically been pretty critical of what I perceived as the glaring shortcomings of Buddhism, 12 Step and Psychotherapy.
This book has helped me soften, accept and go with as opposed to scorn, reject and resist. And as each of these traditions clearly states.
Resistance is the royal road to suffering.
Thank you KG.
Ring the bell, say the serenity prayer and get the fuck out of my office because our time is up. If you’re still suffering, save yourself some time and money and read this wonderful, humble, powerful little book.
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
5.0
This is an audio companion to Kevin Griffin’s wonderful book One Breath At a Time. A masterful integration of contemporary American Buddhist (non theistic) practices and ideals, with the quintessential homegrown, Democratic (with socialist undertones) American spiritual path better known as the 12 steps of AA.
I have been kicking around meditation circles, and recovery cliques, and therapy people for a good bit.
Part of me can get down with each headspace, but a majority of me can’t.
WARNING - DICKISH RANT ALERT!!!!!
Meditation people are frequently loopy at the core, and nearly invariably use eastern religions and practices as a buffet style, all you can eat hog trough of cultural appropriation and spiritual bypassing. How many depressed, bong ripping, acid tripping, bipolar Buddhists does it take to live in a van?
AA people are frequently anti intellectual Christians in disguise, who regurgitate thought limiting slogans, and act like you’re threatening their very existence if you dare challenge even one article of their childish 1940’s era dogma e.g. the allergy theory of alcoholism posited in the doctors opinion.
Therapy people commonly act as though sitting in an office, talking about getting in touch with your feelings and gaining insights about your early life will some how change everything (let alone anything). And we charge an arm and a leg for the privilege.
For those of you who remember the horror classic the Blair Witch Project, there is this scene where one of the characters yells ‘why can’t you just admit we’re lost and walking around in circles’!
That’s how I feel when I’m talking to Buddhists, Book Thumpers and Therapists.
What I actually do is breath, smile, say something like ‘that’s so true man’ in my best reverent ‘yoga/church voice’ and head for the nearest exit.
END OF RANT....
But meditation actually is a profoundly life altering practice when you actually do it. And there is actual profound healing wisdom and heart in the 12 Step traditions. And good therapy changes minds, heals broken hearts and wakes the dead.
Kevin Griffin’s life’s work of integrating Buddhism, and the 12 Step traditions is a low key, humble masterwork.
There is a lot of philosophical heavy lifting contained in his simple, lucid teachings. He makes it look easy, but ironing the wrinkles out of Buddhism and 12 Step, and quilting them together is no easy task.
This book set the stage for Refuge Recovery. But with an important difference. Griffins work integrates the traditions where Refuge seeks to revolutionize, upend and re-invent 12 Step via recreating it in a Buddhist context.
Although I am a therapist, who utilizes Buddhist practices and ideas in my work in addiction recovery, I have historically been pretty critical of what I perceived as the glaring shortcomings of Buddhism, 12 Step and Psychotherapy.
This book has helped me soften, accept and go with as opposed to scorn, reject and resist. And as each of these traditions clearly states.
Resistance is the royal road to suffering.
Thank you KG.
Ring the bell, say the serenity prayer and get the fuck out of my office because our time is up. If you’re still suffering, save yourself some time and money and read this wonderful, humble, powerful little book, and top it off with this fantastic audio program.
I have been kicking around meditation circles, and recovery cliques, and therapy people for a good bit.
Part of me can get down with each headspace, but a majority of me can’t.
WARNING - DICKISH RANT ALERT!!!!!
Meditation people are frequently loopy at the core, and nearly invariably use eastern religions and practices as a buffet style, all you can eat hog trough of cultural appropriation and spiritual bypassing. How many depressed, bong ripping, acid tripping, bipolar Buddhists does it take to live in a van?
AA people are frequently anti intellectual Christians in disguise, who regurgitate thought limiting slogans, and act like you’re threatening their very existence if you dare challenge even one article of their childish 1940’s era dogma e.g. the allergy theory of alcoholism posited in the doctors opinion.
Therapy people commonly act as though sitting in an office, talking about getting in touch with your feelings and gaining insights about your early life will some how change everything (let alone anything). And we charge an arm and a leg for the privilege.
For those of you who remember the horror classic the Blair Witch Project, there is this scene where one of the characters yells ‘why can’t you just admit we’re lost and walking around in circles’!
That’s how I feel when I’m talking to Buddhists, Book Thumpers and Therapists.
What I actually do is breath, smile, say something like ‘that’s so true man’ in my best reverent ‘yoga/church voice’ and head for the nearest exit.
END OF RANT....
But meditation actually is a profoundly life altering practice when you actually do it. And there is actual profound healing wisdom and heart in the 12 Step traditions. And good therapy changes minds, heals broken hearts and wakes the dead.
Kevin Griffin’s life’s work of integrating Buddhism, and the 12 Step traditions is a low key, humble masterwork.
There is a lot of philosophical heavy lifting contained in his simple, lucid teachings. He makes it look easy, but ironing the wrinkles out of Buddhism and 12 Step, and quilting them together is no easy task.
This book set the stage for Refuge Recovery. But with an important difference. Griffins work integrates the traditions where Refuge seeks to revolutionize, upend and re-invent 12 Step via recreating it in a Buddhist context.
Although I am a therapist, who utilizes Buddhist practices and ideas in my work in addiction recovery, I have historically been pretty critical of what I perceived as the glaring shortcomings of Buddhism, 12 Step and Psychotherapy.
This book has helped me soften, accept and go with as opposed to scorn, reject and resist. And as each of these traditions clearly states.
Resistance is the royal road to suffering.
Thank you KG.
Ring the bell, say the serenity prayer and get the fuck out of my office because our time is up. If you’re still suffering, save yourself some time and money and read this wonderful, humble, powerful little book, and top it off with this fantastic audio program.
ajlewis2's review
4.0
I read this book to see how Buddhism and the Twelve Steps might connect. I got a lot out of the book even though I'm not doing Twelve Steps nor am I a Buddhist. The author has made this a very interesting read by putting in short segments of his personal experience. His story of recovery is one that gives hope for personal change at any level, I would say. There is some really good material on meditation which could pertain to other forms than his own or could give one a good start if not already into meditation. I think that anyone who has any interest in Twelve Step programs would find this most helpful, especially with concerns about what it actually is like to do those steps.
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