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ONE BREATH AT A TIME
Buddhism and the Twelve Steps
By Kevin Griffin

With millions of members all over the world, Twelve Step recovery programs are one of the most popular means of overcoming addiction. An almost endless variety of people-alcoholics, drug addicts, overeaters, compulsive gamblers, sex addicts, debtors, codependents, and more-have found comfort and hope in the Twelve Steps. However, as early as Step Two-"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity"-many people fighting a battle with the idea of a Higher Power encounter a serious stumbling block. How can those struggling with traditional Western-Judeo concepts of faith utilize the Twelve Steps in their battle against addiction?

ONE BREATH AT A TIME: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps (Rodale; June 2004), by Kevin Griffin, a Buddhist meditation teacher and longtime Twelve Step practitioner, explores the possibility of integrating the wisdom and practices of Buddhism with traditional Twelve Step methods. What makes Buddhism and the Twelve Steps so compatible? The Buddha said that the cause of suffering is desire, and the Twelve Steps try to heal people from desire gone mad: addiction. This connection is the gateway into integrating the two systems.

Throughout ONE BREATH AT A TIME, Kevin Griffin takes us with him to the devastating low points of addiction and the inspired moments of recovery. These personal experiences are examined from the perspectives of both Buddhism and the Twelve Steps to reveal valuable and far-reaching insights. Melding Buddhist and Twelve Step values, Kevin demonstrates the important connections between spirituality and sobriety. The resulting message of hope and possibility is a powerful tool for addicts and non-addicts alike.

Steps One through Three begin the path to recovery. Weaving together Buddhist and Twelve Step principles, ONE BREATH AT A TIME discusses:

· The Buddhist belief in an initial, purifying stage of spiritual development realized by living an ethical life, treating other and ourselves with kindness, and letting go of destructive behaviors
· The important difference between 'powerlessness' and 'helplessness'-and the role of Karma in finding happiness and freedom
· Meditation as a way to develop patience and overpower the demand for instant gratification
· Finding a personal, individual understanding of a 'power greater than ourselves' little by little, with no pressure

As addicts progress through the steps, the journey becomes more difficult. Steps Four through Nine require baring the soul, acknowledging failings, and eventually letting go and bringing closure to the past. ONE BREATH AT A TIME helps readers:

· Take an honest moral inventory-both through Buddhist mediation and the more formalized Twelve Step method
· Work against the five hindrances-Desire, Sloth and Torpor, Restlessness and Worry, and Skeptical Doubt-that impede sobriety and spirituality
· Undertake the five Buddhist training Precepts- especially 'to refrain from the misuse of intoxicants or substances such as alcohol or drugs that cause carelessness or loss of awareness'
· Appreciate and make the most of the important fellowship found in Buddhist sitting groups and Twelve Step meetings
· Use meditation to identify character defects-and commit to letting go of destructive behaviors, negative thought patterns, and old ideas and expectations

The last three Steps stress the importance of maintaining the honesty, responsibility, and spiritual connection found in the previous Steps. The commitment to sobriety and spirituality must be renewed each day by:

· Forgiving ourselves for failings-both in meditation and everyday life
· Learning to enjoy the many pleasures and joys that life offers-without becoming addicted
· Using meditation as a tool for developing calm, acceptance, self-inquiry, and examination
· Practicing metta-learning to react with kindness rather than judgment or anger toward ourselves or others
· Recognizing the progress made toward spirituality and sobriety-and sharing these experiences to help others see possibility and hope

Throughout each stage of recovery, simple, but thorough, explanations of Buddhist beliefs and Twelve Step principles are accompanied by meditation exercises to help readers begin the challenging-but immeasurably rewarding-journey toward finding spirituality and sobriety ONE BREATH AT A TIME.


### Kevin Griffin is a writer, meditation teacher, and musician. He lives in Northern California with his wife, the novelist Rosemary Graham, and their daughter. He is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine MFA program and the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader program. For information on his teaching schedule and other resources, please visit www.kevingriffin.net.