About The Writers

A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery

2010-01-05T19:24:00.005-05:00

A Burning Desire is a gift for those who struggle with the Twelve Step program’s focus on the need to surrender to a Higher Power. Taking a radical departure from traditional views of God, Western or Eastern, author Kevin Griffin neither accepts Christian beliefs in a Supreme Being nor Buddhist non-theism, but rather forges a refreshing, sensible, and accessible Middle Way. Griffin shows how the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha, can be understood as a Higher Power. Karma, mindfulness, impermanence, and the Eightfold Path itself are revealed as powerful forces that can be accessed through meditation and inquiry.

Drawing from his own experiences with substance abuse, rehabilitation, and recovery, Griffin looks at the various ways that meditation and spiritual practices helped deepen his experience of sobriety. His personal story of addiction is not only raw, honest and engrossing, but guides readers to an inquiry of their own spirituality. In doing so, he poses profound questions, including:
How can I understand God from a Buddhist perspective?
How can I “turn my will and my life over” as a Buddhist?
How can this idea of God “remove my shortcomings”?
How do I “improve my conscious contact” with this God?
How do I learn this God’s “will”?

About the Author

Kevin Griffin is the author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps, the breakthrough book that established him as a leader in the mindful recovery movement. Since its publication, Kevin has toured extensively, giving workshops and lectures at places as diverse as Harlem, the Colorado Rockies, and Hawaii. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he teaches “Dharma and Recovery” at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In addition, Kevin is co-founder and board member of the Buddhist Recovery Network an international organization that serves people in the recovery community through training, treatment, and research. He continues to offer workshops, lectures, and retreats around the country. For more information about him and his teaching schedule, see his website: www.kevingriffin.net.

What is Rabbi Yisrael up to?

2009-10-15T21:08:00.003-04:00

Friendship Recovery Homes

A Project of the Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House - Affiliated with Friendship Circle of West Bloomfield, MI

Our Mission

To provide people who are recovering from addiction with a sober and supportive living environment based on Jewish philosophy and spirituality along with the Twelve Steps and the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

~

You can find Rabbi Yisrael at CHABAD.ORG Jewish Recovery

IOCC Welcomes New Writer

2009-09-16T21:37:00.002-04:00

The IOCC Blog is pleased to have a new writer among the group. Wolf running with the Spirit Wind has joined the team bringing his spirituality and years of experience in recovery.

Welcome Wolf!

http://runningwolf.wolf-running.com/

What Is Going On With Jody K?

2009-06-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

"Eight months out of the year for at least the next two years, my time is split between home and the city where I teach and study for my Master of Fine Arts. The academic year ended in late April, and outside of designing a class I’ll be teaching in the fall and trying to finish the first draft of a book I’m writing, the academy has been put on hold. I’m living on country time, home and loving it. Here, I’m not “Mrs. K.” (except to Carpet Joe), but “Mom” and “Sweetie” and just plain “Jody.”

I have hopes of becoming a Purple Martin landlord this summer. I’m trying to teach my Border collie manners. I’m dreaming of vine-ripened tomatoes and corn fresh off the stalk. I’m writing a lot of letters.

In the early mornings and after dinner, if you come down my road, you might see me out there in the garden, sitting on my little seat pulling weeds. It may look like I’m working hard, but really, I’m recharging. That’s prime prayer and meditation time.

Peace & Love,
Jody K."

Carol Ann Preston

2009-05-16T09:14:00.002-04:00

Each Saturday

Spiritual Counselor, Reiki Teacher, Guide for Meditation, Recovery Coach and Texas Licensed Massage Therapist (medical, sports) and Licensed Chaplain Carol Ann Preston Co-host this vital talk show with the Montyman addressing the problems and solutions we all face which each other as we walk through recovery

"My relationship with God is the most important relationship I have. I believe God is inclusive Love and not exclusive. We are created as a beautiful expression, an aspect of our Creator, and it is our responsibility to discover who and what we were created to be, and then live it, one day at a time. As we become free from the pains and resentments of the past, free from fear of the future, then we are free to live in the present, and it is in the moment, the now, that we encounter the Presence, Love, Mercy and guidance of Creator God."

TAKE12RADIO.COM

April, 2009 Conference Update for those who desire:

2009-04-02T20:43:00.000-04:00

“A New Way Out”
A Nationwide Recovery Conference with Dick B.

Southern California May 15 & 16, 2009

Friday, May 15: 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, May 16: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Mariners Church – Community Center
5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, California 92603

Learn The History of A.A.
And the story of Bob Smith and Bill Wilson as Youngsters in Vermont

Learn the Exact Program of AA Recovery
As founded in Akron on June 10, 1935, and practiced by the early AA fellowship.

Find Out The Rarely Revealed Secret
As to why the first group in AA had a 75% success rate!

*Please register in advance to secure your seat at
dickb@dickb.com
Admission Free!

Walk-ins welcome, space permitting.

*We are in need of volunteers to help facilitate the conference
Please register in advance and indicate that you are able to be of service.

Official Website: www.AnewWayOut.com. Dick B.:dickb@dickb.com; (808)874 4876
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837 Published: April 2009

Pre Conference Opportunity

YOU ARE INVITED
May 14th

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The James Club in Norco invites you to our 7:00 pm Thursday night meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Author, Historian and host of
“A New Way Out”
A Nationwide Recovery Conference, Dick B. will be joining us and will be speaking on the earliest A. A. Christian roots, the original Akron program, and the importance of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13.

Location:
New Beginnings Community Church
1769 Western Avenue, Norco Ca. 92860

Special Conference Needs, Opportunities, and Notes

One sponsor of our fifteen was obliged to cancel its $3000. commitment to conference expenses. And your help in filling in two gaps is invited. Please consider these new assists:

The Conference is free; no registration or admission charge.

A packet will be provided for each person attending, and it will contain the program, a free guide book, a free history book, and a map of nearby eating facilities.

There will be many display tables for any and all of those who wish to bring, exhibit, and explain their relevant recovery materials. And here is where you can help fund conference needs:

If you contact Dick B. now, we will make a complete table available to those who have asked to have an exhibit booth. The charge will be $50.00 paid before the conference; no items may be sold; but there will be ample exposure and time for explanations.

If you cannot attend the conference, you can help support it with a donation of $20.00 by donating on my main website page (dickb.com); and if you notify me by email, I will send you by email a free attachment containing the entire guidebook that is being distributed at the conference. Several have already responded in this way.

Although the Center has no kitchen facilities, we will serve, for a reasonable charge, a sandwich and apple and ice cold drinks. Coffee, tea and other goodies will be free. We’d like to have you remain throughout the conference, but there are lots of nearby eateries to which you can go if you need a larger repast.

Thursday will be a special pre-conference day with the James Club

Friday will be YOUR day for participating, telling us what you do, pointing to your displays, and networking.

Saturday will be Speakers’ Day as our program shows.

Ken and I will be available from Wednesday through Monday at our Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel for pre-arranged meetings with a few of you.

Make your plans now. The regular Mariners Community Center seating is for 500, but the Center is large enough to accommodate many more. And, from the looks of things, many are going to join you.

Please help us plan. Let us know by pre-register that you’re coming. Email: dickb@dickb.com, or phone him at 808 874 4876.

This Conference is NOT an A.A. event; and, consequently, concerns about violating A.A.'s Traditions and/or about non-Conference-approved literature are not appropriate topics for discussion nor will such concerns be entertained during the meetings. This history conference is not associated with, nor endorsed by, nor allied with, nor in any way connected with Alcoholics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. We suggest that all who receive the flyer and plan to invite others--which we are strongly encouraging you to do--should so inform all those whom they invite. Thanks, Dick B.

This Conference IS nationwide, for the still suffering alcoholic, addict, or person with life-controlling problems and for those who desire to help them by affirming that there is a Way out through the help of the Creator, His son Jesus Christ, and the Word. A Way wherever the newcomer finds himself or herself or in whatever group to which he or she belongs—church, 12 Step fellowship, Christ-centered program, treatment program, agency, non-profit, rehab, therapy, prison, jail, hospital, homeless situation, or in an at-risk arena. Come, learn!

Gloria Deo

Rabbi Shais Taub

2009-03-09T13:30:00.000-04:00

Current speaking topics include

War Against the West: The Kaballah of WWIII
Islamic Fundamentalism. The rise of China. In this clash of civilizations, where do we Jews stand? Take a mystical view at the spiritual principles behind the geo-politics of the new millennium.

Make a Miracle: Your Personal, Supernatural Self-Transformation
Gain balance, emotional freedom and unconditional joy.

A Brief (Jewish) History of the Universe: Kabbalistic Cosmology
A Chasidic view on how the universe got here and what keeps it going.

What's the Secret?: Jewish Mystical Sources on the Power of Thought
If you've seen The Secret, you may have wondered what Judaism has to say about the Law of Attraction and the power of positive thinking and intent.

ChasidicThought.com

More About Randy F.

2009-02-09T08:16:00.002-05:00

Randy has produced 11th Step Meditation CD's, the www.spiritstep.com and www.11thStepMeditation.org websites, produces a monthly 11th Step Meditation Newsletter, and has taught numerous 11th Step meditation workshops and classes.

Please sign up for Randy's
Monthly 11th Step Meditation Meeting
by clicking HERE

This article is an excerpt from Randy's upcoming
SpiritStep Two Meditation CD.
To learn more about it visit
http://www.spiritstep.com/Step_Two_cd.htm.

1 day 11th Step Meditation workshop
Santa Barbara
March 21
FLYER

Randy F.
randy@spiritstep.com

Coming Up For Kevin Griffin

2008-12-31T11:20:00.002-05:00

Kevin will be releasing a new book in January 2010 called "A Burning Desire: God, Buddha, and the Path of Recovery."

Important teaching events coming up this year:

May 23-29, Dharma and Recovery Residential Retreat Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA. with Heather Sundberg and John Travis. See www.spiritrock.org
June 12-14, Dharma and Recovery Residential Retreat, Kripalu Institute, Western Massachusetts. See www.kripalu.org
The Buddhist Recovery Network will be having a conference October 8-11 in LA. See www.buddhistrecovery.org

Special Blessings from Rabbi Yisrael on his Birthday

2008-09-06T19:03:00.003-04:00

Although people like to receive good wishes on their birthday, our sages tell us that on the day of ones Jewish birthday, a person's Mazel is shining and at full strength. That gives more power to the person celebrating a birthday to bless and give good wishes to others. The entry corresponding to my birthday in the Hayom Yom - a daily meditation calendar compiled by the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM, reads as follows:

Whoever has faith in individual Divine Providence knows that "Man's steps are established by G-d," that this particular soul must purify and improve something specific in a particular place. For centuries, or even since the world's creation, that which needs purification or improvement waits for this soul to come and purify or improve it. The soul too, has been waiting - ever since it came into being - for its time to descend, so that it can discharge the tasks of purification and improvement assigned to it.

I make it my life's mission to follow this teaching, to have faith in Divine Providence and believe that I am exactly where I need to be, at the time I need to be, for the purpose of being of service to G-d and His vision for the world. If my path crossed yours, it is for a reason, a spiritual one. If it didn't happen yet, it will, with your help.

So on this day I would like to wish you all the strength you need to continue in your spiritual path, may G-d bless you with all that you need in Health, Wealth and Prosperity both in a physical and spiritual sense. May the G-dly soul within you overpower and overcome all the hurdles that come your way both from within and without. May you continue to use the power that was given to you to choose life, to choose good, and to choose a life that enables you to be in a strong personal relationship with G-d.

I also take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy Sweet New Year - May you be inscribed and sealed for Good, for Life and for Peace. Shana Tova,

CONGRATULATIONS!

2008-08-05T13:03:00.003-04:00

Gail DeWitt has celebrated 34 years of continuous sobriety!

Visit Gail on MySpace.com

Gail DeWitt interviews Randy F. from 11th Step Meditation

2008-07-01T20:51:00.001-04:00

Conscious Contact - 11th Step Meditation Advocate from Randy F. on Vimeo.

See What The Writers Are Up To

2008-05-31T10:30:00.007-04:00

Jody K Graduated

Jody was the recipient of the Baccalaureate Academic Achievement Award - something given in lieu of valedictory status when graduate, four-year and two-year degrees are conferred at the same time. Read the Speech

CONGRATULATIONS JODY!

Gail DeWitt

June 15th Webinar on 11thStepMeditation.org sign up HERE

David Byrd

Congratulations! We have selected your book, Living a Spiritual Life, to be our next Book of the Week. We base our decision for book of the week on a number of factors: sales, reviews, recommendations, and reader interest. All of our books are considered each week when choosing the title. It is indeed an honor to have your book selected, and I am proud that you are one of our authors. Look for your book to be featured next week on the home page.

Best regards,
M.N. Prather
Executive Director
PublishAmerica

Carol Ann Preston

"I would gladly go with the flow if I could find it"

Carol and Monty talk about the 11th Step prayer and why it is so very important to our sobriety and in getting along with others.

http://sponsortosponsor.com/saturday.html

Rabbi Ben A & Rabbi Yisrael Pinson

Featured Blog of the month on The Top100 Sober Blogs ~ Finally F.re.e Blog

What’s New With Dick B. 2008

Where to Find Dick B.’s Research Comments
(Dozens of Free Talks and Articles)

A.A. History Show with A.A. Historian Dick B.
http://sponsortosponsor.com/tuesday.html

Take12Radio.com; KHLT Recovery Broadcasting

Dick B.’s Personal A.A. History Blog Site
http://www.dickb-blog.com/audio

Dick B. Main Site Articles Page
http://www.dickb.com/articles.shtml

A.A. Bibliography Home
http://www.aabibliography.com/dickbart.html

American Heritage.com Discussions
http://www.americanheritage.com/discussions/viewtopic.php?t=14978

A.A. History Site
http://aa-history.com/

Anonymous One
http://www.anonymousone.com/ask.htm

Bible Study Notes – A.A. History by Dick B.
http://biblestudynotes.org/community/articles.php?cid=6&st

Came to Believe Retreats for AAs, Al-Anons, and Their Families
http://cametobelieve.org/dickb-video.htm

Christian Recovery Ministries – A.A. with Dick B.
http://www.christianrecoveryministries.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Cyber Recovery Fellowship – A.A. with Dick B.
http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=74

Improve Our Conscious Contact – Monthly Comments
http://improveourconsciouscontact.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-03T14%3A39%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=10

Mental Health Matters – Articles by Dick B.
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/authbio.php?authID=7

NICD – National Institute on Chemical Dependency – Dick B.
http://www.nicd.us/aahistory.html

Recovered Alcoholics.net
http://www.recoveredalcoholics.net/

Recovery Life – Alcoholics Anonymous with Dick B.
http://recoverylife.com/dickb.html

Silkworth.net – A.A. Recovery with Dick B.
http://www.silkworth.net/dickb/index.html

Kevin Griffin

Friday, June 20, 7pm, Public Talk, Buddhist Study Center, 1436 University Ave, Honolulu, HI.

For more info click HERE

Whats Going on with Gail DeWitt?

2008-05-04T22:13:00.003-04:00

CONSCIOUS CONTACT UPDATE
SPRING 2008
http://www.conscious-contact.com/

What’s Next:
May 15, 2008 Newport, RI Public Library, Spring Street 7 PM

Products:
Book excerpt on line at:
http://www.11thstepmeditation.org/resources/constructs_for_spiritual_growth.htm

CD on-line at: Sunlight of the Spirit Music
http://www.sunlightofthespirit.com/product/94-Gail-DeWitt-Conscious-Contact-Vol-One-Where-Spirituality-Recovery-Meet

See new Myspace page (blog and pictures)
http://www.myspace.com/spiritualpractice

Improve Our Conscious Contact blog at: IOCC link
http://improveourconsciouscontact.blogspot.com/

TV Show: Currently airing SAMHSA

Private Sessions:
Phone $80/hr; $100/ 90 mins

Workshops:
(1) U of Utah June 2008
(2) 3rd National Conference on Women, Addiction and Recovery: September 15-17, 2008 - proposal submitted

Recovery News in Los Angeles County:
http://www.soberdayla.0catch.com/

My favorite links:

LAFIA: Lost & Found In America http://www.lafia.org/

FAVOR: Faces and Voices of Recovery http://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

SAMSHSA: partnering with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration http://www.samshsa.org/

Drug Policy Alliance http://www.dpa.org/ partnering to inform public about Prop 36 “treatment not incarceration” for non-violent drug-related offenses

Spirit Step: http://www.spiritstep.com/

IOCC: Improve Our Conscious Contact http://improveourconsciouscontact.blogspot.com/

For Prayer anytime:
Call WMOP anytime 800-421-9600

Get to know John R

2008-04-06T12:44:00.002-04:00

1. What were some of you apprehensions about writing on a public blog? (Sober NJ)

Response:

The first apprehension I felt was protecting my anonymity. What is someone finds out I am sober? Oh no! Yeah, it’s silly and self-centered, but I need to be honest, with myself and with others. Having a blog seems a little needy; like I am looking for some sort of acknowledgement. (Which, by the way I am – regardless of the blog thing) It also feels like I am exposing some personal thoughts and experiences with complete strangers. Another thought is, am I “inviting” people into my life? My life is a good, full one, slowly but surely I am gaining a sense of self, with or without the acknowledgement I still find myself seeking.

2. What has being part of the IOCC blog brought to you and your recovery?

Response:

Being part of the IOCC has been a positive experience. Writing and reading about specific topics that focus on a conscious contact has broadened my overall concept of spirituality. My recovery and spiritual life is growing fuller. IOCC has given me a connection with others in recovery I would not have had otherwise. The medium of the internet is amazingly powerful. The speed and distance with which we communicate is boggling. I am sure God is smiling at us. The IOCC has helped to open and deepen the channel I have been seeking, that is my connection with God. My world was very small when I hit my bottom, now it just keeps growing bigger and bigger. I wish you all a happy and meaningful journey towards your own connection.

Sincerely,

John R.

Get to know David Lee Byrd

2008-02-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

1 ~ "Living a Spiritual Life is the result of determined searching." Was this determined searching something that was a part of you before you entered into sobriety?

While I certainly believe that every addict / alcoholic is seeking something more than what the visible world offers, which of course includes me; I cannot say that I was determined to follow any particular path and was in fact not even consciously aware of my need while I was running amok in society. There were times of course that I sought spiritualists and was pulled towards the “new age” movement among many other fads, however, my periods of involvement were short lived and not really serious.

It was not until I entered the 12 step fellowships where I heard so many people talking about the importance of a higher power and “how this is a spiritual program” that I became not only serious but reasonably determined in my search.

The “Big Book” refers to “God” countless times in the first five chapters. It clearly states that, “God is loving and powerful” (pg. 28), that upon developing a willingness that there may exist a “Creative intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction” (pg. 46); it is here that I began to search with meaning, purpose and a sense of determination. It was a process that took many years, many mistakes on my part, but, just as we are promised, “God was always there to pick up the pieces, to do for me what I could never do for myself, and to place me upon the correct path” (pg.84).

Living a Spiritual Life is my attempt to help others find a spiritual path without having to go through so much trial and error. It explores spiritual principles and the ways in which we can apply them to our lives.

2 ~ From your new book Life Seeds the description says "The authors journey has been fraught with mistakes and pitfalls." Were there times you ever felt hopeless? What helped you hang on during those times?

I think it is safe to say that most of my life was spent with an underlying sense of hopelessness. I had been raised to believe that I was a mistake, worthless, and would never amount to anything. I believed these things and in fact seemingly set out to prove that they were true. Many times I was in such a state of desperation, self-pity, pain, fear, and anger that ending my life was a constant thought, there were in fact actual attempts to do so over the years. I was in survival mode a majority of the time; I often felt as if I was floating in a bubble, able only to be a witness to the world, never able to actually join it; this was a sense of aloneness that nearly drove me mad.
It was the kindness, caring, love, and generosity of others that often provided me with the strength to carry on. The poems and writings contained in Life Seeds acted as a tool that enabled me to manifest a minor catharsis of my feelings. While it was not until many years of loss, and the many negative consequences that always comes to those who are self-obsessed, self-gratifying, and self-indulgent once I learned (through the recovery Process) to live according to the opposites of these self-centered ideals and to live according to a higher set of morals, ethics, and principles that it became no longer a matter of hanging on, but an actual rejoicing and abundantly enjoyable life; these times are also reflected in Life Seeds, it is again my hope that others will gain a sense of hope, and connectedness as they travel life’s path with me depicted in its pages.

David Lee Byrd http://www.freewebs.com/seedtime/

Get to know Gail DeWitt

2007-12-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

1. In your book Conscious Contact you mention you traveled throughout the US and Canada to tell your story. Please share with us how this path was laid out for you to do service work in this capacity.

The path was laid out simply by telling the truth in meetings and having 12-step folks at those meetings recommend me to speak at recovery events. I did nothing but say yes, show up and tell the truth - ever. It ends up that I am what has been termed a "circuit speaker". I simply call it saying yes to service requests. When I was 7 years sober I spoke Sunday morning at the International Conference of Young People in AA (ICYPAA) in NYC and from that time and for the next 20 years I spoke every month somewhere in US or Canada - at retreats, Fall Balls, regional and state conventions, roundups, and conferences. It has been an honor and a blessing for which I am forever grateful.

2. Do you have a ritual for your prayer and meditation? If so how does this enrich your practice?

My ritual for spiritual practice varies because my practice is alive. What is alive is always changing. My practice depends on if I am doing it with a large gathering, small group, with a loved one or alone.
But I always keep it simple and make it fun. My rituals include silence, music, movement, readings, praying, using an altar, incense, candles, prayer cards and being in conscious contact by first recognizing God and giving praise and thanks, and then I sit and recognize I am one with God. Once I do these 2 things, I allow my private prayer and meditation to flow. My rituals with others are a bit more structured but still flexible because I include the gathering, group or loved one and support them to bring their expression to our shared time together. What happens in this very alive shared time is mystical and very healing. God shows up as each of us and alchemizes what each of us has to offer as individuals into a unique expression of oneness that is lovely to behold. I am ever inspired by it.

Gail DeWitt http://www.conscious-contact.com/

Get To Know Dick B.

2007-11-28T07:26:00.000-05:00

What Inspired Me to Write My First Book

Dick B.
© 2007 by Anonymous. All rights reserved

As requested, I’m delighted to set out several of the factors which led to my writing my first book. They should be read in the context of my seeking God’s guidance as to what to do and how to proceed. They are not necessarily in chronological order because some of them extended over a long period of time and were interrelated and even congruous.

First, I had a life-time interest in the Bible and have written about that a good deal elsewhere.

Second, writing had been second-nature to me since childhood. I was Editor of my Stockton High School newspaper, the Guard & Tackle. I was elected to the Quill and Scroll Honor Society. I was a reporter for the Stockton Record, covering high school news and sports. Briefly, I was Sports Editor of the Daily Californian at UC Berkeley. In the Army, I studied, wrote, and spoke extensively for the Information and Education Branch on the background, causes, and progress of World War II. At U.C., bother before and after the service, I excelled in the writing I did in examinations, and was awarded membership in Phi Beta Kappa Society for my scholastic achievements. At Stanford Law School, my grades were such that I was selected for the Board of Editors of the Stanford Law Review where I wrote commentaries, became Legislation Editor, and then Case Editor. Then, for my first ten years of law practice in San Francisco, I was involved in writing briefs and memoranda for trial courts, as well as briefs for Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal. In addition, for the California District Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. This later involved the Nevada Supreme Court. And I wrote extensive briefs in two cases before the United States Supreme Court.

Third, at law school and then in my law practice, I devoted a great deal of time to digging out evidence for trial work and also to researching the law extensively. Hence research, analysis, and writing became a commonplace part of my professional life.

Now to Alcoholics Anonymous.

When I first came in, I was very sick. I was also frightened, ashamed, guilty, and in despair.
At the urging of my older son and his wife, I turned to the Bible at about six months and received tremendous relief plus the ability to face, with God’s help, the many difficulties still to be resolved. All this with no knowledge of any relationship between A.A. and the Bible, and practically no knowledge of who A.A.’s Dr. Bob was or the role he played in A.A.

After a few years, a young man in our Bible fellowship and also in A.A. asked me if I knew that A.A. had come from the Bible. I replied that I had never heard this. He suggested I read DR. BOB and the Good Old-timers, which I did. And there I was surprised and delighted to see the extensive, study, quotation, and use of the Bible in early A.A.—an A.A. that had a documented 75% success rate among seemingly hopeless, medically incurable, real alcoholics who thoroughly followed the pioneer path to establishing a relationship with God. And were not only cured, but widely proclaimed that fact.

That sent me traveling to my first international A.A. convention which was held in Seattle in 1990. I went there searching for facts about A.A. and the Bible. I went to the archives meeting. And there was no information available. I met the General Services Archivist who sent me some Oxford Group materials, but nothing on the Bible. However, he did encourage my quest. I went to work on the Oxford Group aspect, and talked up a large history meeting of AAs in Mill Valley, California. The archivist came with films of Bob and Bill. And I spoke on the Oxford Group. At the end, he said, “Dick, you have a book in you.” And that did it.

At my son Ken’s urging, I went to Akron and met with Dr. Bob’s daughter during a Founders Day event. I had read in A.A. literature that all of Dr. Bob’s books had been given away. But I asked her if her father had ever mentioned “born again.” She wheezed up to her attic and came back with a book with her father’s signature in it. It was titled, “Born Again.” She said there were many more books up there but that the attic was a mess and she would have it cleaned and available for me next time I came. Meanwhile, she made a list of all Dr. Bob’s books in her attic; and I was astonished to see the number and also how many of them dealt with the Bible and Christianity. With that, I contacted Dr. Bob’s son in Texas and obtained from him an equally long list of Dr. Bob’s books that he had. When I returned to Sue’s attic, the attic had been cleaned; and there were all of her share of her dad’s books which she let me examine.

I decided to write my first book, Dr. Bob’s Library. The Bishop of Books published it, and Ernest Kurtz wrote the foreword; and not a book could be sold. I bought the 1000 books back from Bishop, and in no time at all, there were all sold by my son and me—in Akron and elsewhere.

What inspired all this? God! I take seriously the same truths that Dr. Bob, his wife, and early AAs took seriously. There was an expression, “Where God guides, He provides.” Throughout the Bible are accounts of God’s revealing to prophets, to Jesus, to the Apostles, and to the early Christians “word of knowledge” and “word of wisdom.” To the born again Christians, these manifestations became available upon receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Creator told his adopted children and later his true children of the second birth, as well as His son Jesus, what He wanted, where it was available, how to find it, and what to do with it after it was received. And what I am trying to say is that my “inspiration” was, to be sure, a revelation from our Heavenly Father as to what would bless, glorify, and serve Him. And I tried then and try now to learn those things before, during, and after I write a book or an article, give a talk, or disseminate the facts. Today, I’ve published 31 titles and dozens of articles and am currently working on a series about “The Truth about Dr. Bob.” There will be three volumes, and they will not only contain Bob’s biography but also the facts about the excellent training Bob received in the Bible as a youngster in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Gloria Deo

How Has Writing Benefited My Recovery

My recovery and cure has been achieved through the support of Alcoholics Anonymous and the power of our Heavenly Father, Creator of the heavens and the earth.

After only a few months in A.A., I began seeing that the A.A. meetings and published literature of today were permeated with nonsense gods and a “higher power” that certainly wasn’t the “Highest Power”—Yahweh, Creator of the heavens and the earth. That was difficult to swallow when I could find no other literary explanations of the more than 400 references in the original Big Book to Almighty God. It was followed by other absurd statements that there is no cure for alcoholism, that those who read the Bible get drunk, and that mention of religious matters was unwelcome in A.A. because it was “spiritual, but not religious.”

I quickly realized that one of the greatest privileges and challenges in A.A. is helping another drunk get straightened out. But both Dr. Bob’s wife and the Big Book
Pointed out that you can’t give away what you haven’t got. And I had no solid information about early A.A. and God, the 75% to 93% documented cures of those days, the frequent reliance of the pioneers on God, their insistence on conversion to Jesus Christ, their regular study of the Bible and use of Christian literature. In short, I didn’t know the real A.A.

I look at it this way. Dr. Bob was very forthright with new people. He said such simple things as “Do you believe in God, young fellow?” And “We felt that answer to our problem was in the Good Book.” “Get down on your knees; we are going to pray.” Study the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. You just didn’t hear this in meetings or from most sponsors or from hardly any speakers at conferences and other meetings.

To teach you’ve got to know. To know you have to learn. To learn you have to study. And to tell, you need to base your information on solid, truthful, accurate, helpful facts. That’s as important to recovery and cure as telling it to another. Writing helped me to believe and articulate my beliefs.

http://dickb.com/index.shtml

http://dickb-blog.com/

http://aa-history.com/

http://freedomranchmaui.org/

Got the new book?: The Conversion of Bill W.

Get To Know Jody K.

2007-11-03T18:35:00.000-04:00

Is there a specific point in time you started seeking knowledge about Buddhism or other religions?

When I was in my teenage years, I began to read about different religions. The religion I grew up with seemed so contradictory. It taught the peace and love of Christ in the New Testament and fear, guilt and god’s wrath in the Old Testament. On some unconscious level, as I understand in retrospect, I could not reconcile feeling one without experiencing the other, and to me, that dichotomy caused only dissonance in my mind and heart.

So, I began what I believed to be a whole-hearted search for another way. I read everything I could, finding myself very drawn to Mysticism and the idea that meaning underlies all actions. Other Eastern religions and schools of thought, including Buddhism, appealed to me as well. These ideas, however, were not to expand into accepted practices for me until many years later.

I see now that my studies then were merely academic and intellectual. At the time, I was still filling my body with drugs and alcohol, closing myself off from the Sunlight of the Spirit. Upon getting sober, I started with very simple ideas and very little understanding of any kind of god. I read a lot and prayed a lot, and that kept me sober. The real turning point for me was during my second semester of college in the spring of 2005 when I took a course in world mythologies. There, I rediscovered Buddhism.

In your bio it says you lean towards Buddhist teachings. What do you think makes you favor these teachings?

I’m no authority on Buddhism. I have taken no precepts in any formal way, though I try to adhere to them: Abstinence from taking life (I have become vegetarian), Abstinence in from taking things not given (I will not steal), Abstinence from misconduct done in lust (Something that deals with more than just sexual conduct), Abstinence from lying, and Abstinence from intoxicants taken to induce heedlessness. I will claim progress rather than perfection in most of these. I have been known to eat certain foods for pleasure to the point of making myself sick!

My personal experience proves the validity of the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path agrees with and reinforces my program of recovery from addiction. I have more than once pondered the significance that four plus eight equals twelve!

Another desirable aspect of Buddhism for me is that it lends itself to blending with other religious traditions. At its core is the principle of compassion for others and the absence of conflict, therefore, I am not in opposition with anyone. My Big Book tells me that, as an alcoholic in recovery, I have ceased fighting anything and anyone. As a Buddhist, I have to remember this in order for spiritual progress to occur.

Get To Know Rabbi Yisrael

2007-10-02T19:30:00.000-04:00

How did you find yourself helping other recovering alcoholics?

I was recruited from Nice, France by my friend Rabbi Levi Shemtov to head the Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House in 2002. The Friendship House existed since 1994 as a program to help families in crisis find treatment for substance abuse. My job was to service Jewish recovering addicts in all stages of recovery, focusing specifically on addicts who have already gone through treatment and were "in recovery". For the past five years we have developed a local Jewish Recovery Community, opened up a facility that houses all our various programs, and created a vast network of recovering addicts that support each other in various ways. The only reason I accepted the job offer is because I didn't have a clue of what addiction was, never saw a drug in my life, didn't know what relapse meant, and didn't know that my job description included attending funerals. I can also thank G-d that I didn't know, because today if I was offered the same job again, I would gladly take it. Actually that would probably be the only job that I would accept (not that I am going anywhere). The vast majority of my local friends are recovering addicts and in as much that I am their official Rabbi and teacher, being around successful recovering addicts who live by the 12 steps teaches me more than I ever learned.

What can you tell Jewish members of Twelve Step programs that may help them with a Christian based program of recovery?

When I met the first Jewish recovering addict, he told me that he lives one day at a time, doing 5 things each day for his recovery:

prayer
read the big book.
go to a meeting.
speak to his sponsor.
do service work.
This is the basis of the Twelve Step program, and everything else is usually excuses to be able to have it easy, instead of the hard work that is required to work the steps.

More specifically, the answer to the question is very simple, if the Twelve Steps are a Christian based program, then Christianity is a Judaism based program. Both statements are inaccurate, but reflect some of the reality: most concepts that Jewish people find hard to accept in the 12 steps, are as much Jewish concept that they are Christian. The Twelve Steps are a spiritual program that has nothing to do with religion. It is about bettering one self through having a relationship with a Higher Power. That is the most difficult thing for an addict to accept. Once I accept that I want to have a relationship with a Higher Power, then I can go to my religion and see what it tells me I can do to achieve that. I make it my business to find the similarities of the Twelve Steps and Judaism, and I give short classes on the topic every week. You can find the audio of those lectures on my blog www.finallyfree.org New classes are added weekly.