The Buddha Was in Recovery
by Moira Kowalczyk
Moira has been practicing for 16 years, 10 of them with Triratna. She works as a pediatric occupational therapist and is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity in both her personal and professional life.
On September 7th, slide deck in hand and hearts on fire, a courageous duo set sail for the farther shore of freedom. Along with a group of 10 other fearless (well, at least partially fearless) beings, we began our exploration of recovery through the lens of Buddhism.
Our weekly Eight Step Recovery meeting is an offering of generosity from two esteemed Triratna Order members, Vimalasara and Paramabandhu. We draw on their text, Eight Step Recovery: Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, as we lead the group. Written like an instruction manual for freeing the heart, the book gently guides us through the dark corridors of isolation and pain resulting from any manner of compulsive and addictive behaviors, including those related to eating disorders, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, excessive gambling, negative mental states, and pornography addiction—to list only a few! From here, it guides us to the liberating fields of honesty, joy, connection, and freedom.
Each Wednesday evening, in this peer-led format, we begin and end with a 3-minute “breathing space” meditation. We collectively take refuge for the time being in the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha and recite the precepts as our foundational training principles. We read from the eight-step book, including any reflection exercises and additional meditations. We then open the meeting for anyone to share honestly on the readings and reflection questions. A few weeks into this process, an intimate community of mutual healing and awakening is emerging.
The reasons why I engage in this work are complex and deep. I have found such freedom and joy walking this noble path. Inspired by the Buddha and countless modern day bodhisattvas and teachers, I too want to share the wisdom and love of these ancient teachings to a world fraught with increasing complexity, isolation, and illness so that others who are lost and alone may find a safe, welcoming, and reliable refuge and sunder the chains that bind them to suffering as I do the same. I have known the depths of destruction, despair, and isolation addiction brings. Having been close to death and suicide, my life now is one of increasing joy, relationship, and meaning. What more could one want?