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A review by morgan_blackledge
One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin Griffin
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.