“A truly helpful bridge between the power of 12 step work and the power of the Dharma.”

Jack Kornfield, Author of The Wise Heart.

“In this wise, compassionate and courageous “Big Book”, Kevin Griffin has swung wide the doors between the church basement and the meditation hall. His gentle voice speaks, with clarity and love, to new generations of addicts seeking freedom and awakening. A Burning Desire promises to be the seminal text for the recovery community of the 21st century!”

William Alexander, story teller, and author of Cool Water: Alcoholism, Mindfulness and Ordinary Recovery

 

“A Burning Desire is a much needed addition to the growing field of Buddhism and recovery. Kevin is a master at building bridges between the 12-Steps and Buddhism. I highly recommend this book to anyone in recovery that is interested in Buddhism!“

Noah Levine author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream

“There are many parallels between 12-Step programs and Buddhist
approaches to addiction recovery. Kevin Griffin gives a personal and
powerful account of how these concepts have helped him. I highly
recommend it as a landmark book in the path of recovery."

- G. Alan Marlatt, Ph.D., University of Washington, author of Relapse
Prevention and Assessment of Addictive Behaviors

“Kevin Griffin's original burning desire was for alcohol, but it is now to share his hard won wisdom with the world. This book is a gift to us all.”

Roger Walsh MD, Ph.D., University of California Medical School, author of Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices

 

“Kevin Griffin’s new book Burning Desire: Dharma God and The Path of Recovery is a  beautiful interweaving of two vital paths of healing, ancient Buddhist teachings and the modern Twelve Step tradition.  The book is seasoned with well chosen stories of the author’s personal journey to recovery. He unfolds the concepts of God and a Higher Power, so central to the Twelve Step tradition, so that they become not just accessible, but deeply meaningful to those who may have found the image of a grandfather God difficult or confusing. It’s a book to be read and re-read, to be owned and loaned, and to be given as a welcome gift to anyone in the recovery. “

Jan Chozen Bays, Abbott, Great Vow Zen Monastery, Author: Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful  Relationship with Food  and Jizo Bodhisattva: Guardian of Children, Travelers and Other Voyagers.

 

 

ONE BREATH AT A TIME
Buddhism and the Twelve Steps

ENDORSEMENTS

"This is the book modern Dharma libraries have been waiting for! A wonderful and thorough presentation of the essence of what the Buddha taught and instructions for meditation practice spoken in the idiom of Twelve Steps and in the voice of a gifted narrator. The shared message of the possibility of freedom rings clearly from every page."
--Sylvia Boorstein, author of It's Easier Than You Think and Attention, For Goodness' Sake

"In a wise and honest way, Kevin Griffin has written a book that is truly helpful to Buddhist practitioners and the Twelve Step community alike. I am grateful that he brings together these two traditions so skillfully."
--Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

"A Buddhist goes through the Twelve Steps to find God within. A book of compassion and grace."
--Ondrea and Stephen Levine authors of One Year to Live

"This is a brave book, heart-warming and clear. It is a groundbreaking coming together of the 12 step program with the Buddhist teaching in a way that is practical, personal and liberating."
--Sharon Salzberg, Author Of Lovingkindness and Faith

"Kevin's writing is a pleasure to read; his refreshing and insightful integration of the Twelve Step and Buddhist teachings will undoubtedly bring about immeasurable goodness."
--Noah Levine, Buddhist meditation teacher, recovering addict, and author of Dharma Punx

"'One Breath at a Time' is a brilliant merging of Buddhist insights with those of the Twelve step program, shining a fresh new light on both of these paths of liberation. Griffin weaves the essential teachings of the two psycho-spiritual traditions together with his own story to create a compelling mixture of humor, pathos and wisdom. This fine book will be of great benefit to all who are recovering from something, and who isn't?"

-- Wes Nisker, founder/editor of the Buddhist journal Inquiring Mind, author of Essential Crazy Wisdom (Ten Speed Press), and Buddha's Nature (Bantam).

Book Reviews:

“a deft examination of confluences in their respective concepts” Daily Camera, Boulder, CO
“a valuable book,” Publishers Weekly
“powerful and affecting” Library Journal
“one part AA guidebook and one part meditation handbook,” Shambhala Sun
“a wonderful merging of the spiritual insights of both Buddhism and the Twelve Steps...will benefit anyone who is recovering from anything.” Center for Transformational Psychology
“a book of one man’s voyage to freedom. Many will be touched by its message and lives will be forever changed.” SpiritWorks.net
“a compelling story of personal transformation and a model for developing your own path to the transformative experience.” SuperPerformance.com

 

Attendee reviews:

“Focused and genuine, Kevin gives heartfelt and mindful guidance for the recovery journey” Kim P. , Knoxville, TN

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to release.” Bob W., Raleigh, NC

“Kevin’s workshop cultivated meditation through a balance of mindfulness, concentration, communication, and Noble Silence. It was life changing for me.” Megan S.  Danville, VA

“What a gift Kevin has for explaining complicated concepts using everyday language so that I could understand. He has helped me more than all the meditation teachers I have sat with.” Pat S.

“An experience with Kevin Griffin on a retreat illustrates the easy connection between Buddhism and Twelve Step recovery, and how they fit together in perfect union, each supporting the other. Not only is his retreat inspiring it is also fun as he shares his trek through life through subtle humor.” Metaleen T, Granite Falls, NC

“Kevin taught me to bring my meditation to my heart. “ Sue R. , Winston Salem, NC

“Kevin Griffin brilliantly combines his deep experiences of Buddhism and recovery from addiction to lovingly guide others. He teaches us how to heal. “Lynne H., Atlanta, GA

Amazon.com Reviews:
“This incredibly insightful book has deepened my understanding of both my meditation practice and the twelve steps. I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone working the twelve step program who may be having difficulty with the "Higher Power" concept. Anyone with a meditation practice can benefit (as I did) from using the twelve step format to help gain better understanding of Buddhist concepts.”

“This is one of the finest books I've read linking the 12 Steps of AA with the practices of Buddhism. Kevin Griffin has a magnificent grasp of both and presents them so clearly that it truly is a thrill to read. Excellent writing as well, sometimes poetic. Well done! “

“This book is well written and easy to read. I relapsed with 13+ years in a 12 step program and having a difficult time getting reconnected. As someone with Buddhist leanings who never quite bridged the gap between the steps and Buddhism I found this book to be of great help. If you are even remotely interested in working the 12 steps from a Buddhist perspective I highly recommend this book.”

“This is the book I have been looking for since I started studying and practicing Buddhism 13 years ago. It is clear, insightful and the author uses his life experience as examples. Kudos!”

“I found this book to be a well written integration of the principles of Buddhism with the 12 Steps of AA. I learned a lot about both topics from reading it... and a fair amount about myself as well.”

“Along with excellent tools for experiencing recovery from a very deep perspective, this is one of the most insightful program personal stories I've experienced. This book allowed me to see the program with fresh eyes, which was a real gift since I had developed a been-there, done-that attitude toward everything 12 step. I've just purchased my fourth copy to share with another friend. Enough said.”

“The voice is that of one who has been there, and actually applied the spiritual principles of the two traditions to real problems in a real life. Unlike many texts that purport to lay out spiritual teachings for the general reader, there was no hint of condescension here - the writer bases his authority on the lessons he has personally learned through failure. For those struggling along their own paths, this is book is a mighty gift.”

“…by writing with honesty, courage and humor about his own difficult path in life - Mr. Griffin creates a connection with the reader that goes way beyond the 'conceptual' focus of many books on the subject. Yet at the same time, it never devolves into a confessional. It's still a book that teaches, not rants. It's full of excellent practical advice, insight, and some very useful exercises. But it teaches from an unusually personal and vulnerable place.  It's other great strength is Mr. Griffin's ability to make difficult and exotic concepts accessible. Although I've read a lot, attended retreats, etc., there are some ideas - for example 'no-self' - that always have been too foreign and 'other-worldly' for me to really connect to emotionally. At best I'd get a vague intellectual understanding of what was being discussed. But this book made many of these ideas simple and clear. Quite a few times, while reading it, I found myself going 'oh THAT'S what they've all been talking about.'”