HISTORICAL NOTE: This is a commonly presented image of Siddhartha Gautama (c. 560 - 480 BCE). No accurate images or statues of the actual person exist. He did not allow paintings or statues to be made of him.
This icon-image style is of Indian origin, usually agreed to be from the Asoka period, c. 250 BCE. The long ear lobes are sometimes described as representing his exceptional wisdom; however, Indians of royal birth in that era wore exceptionally heavy, jeweled earrings from an early age to represent their status and wealth.
These particular hand positions represent the Vitarka Mudra (Teaching) position.
As regards addiction, this we must learn: We are rescuing people from a fire that we have ourselves set and expecting them to live in a burning building we refuse to put out.
SEMINARS - August 20 and October 7
SEMINARS - August 20 and October 7
Seminar #1 - Sunday, 20 August 2023
Buddhism and Addiction Recovery — The Parallel Paths
9:30 – 3:00, Sunday, August 20, 2023
7277 King George Boulevard, Surrey, BC
(Doors open at 9:00 AM)
Organized and sponsored by The Sur-Del Easy Does It Club,
7277 King George Boulevard, Surrey, BC.
CRA Registered Charity, Reg. #125881060RR0001
Buddhism and Addiction Recovery — The Parallel Paths
A Seminar with Richard Clark
Buddhism is mysterious to the modern world. Many people seeking ‘recovery’ and emotional balance are often quite curious about Buddhism’s claimed benefits. After twenty-four centuries of misdirected interpretation about its design and purpose, and no explanation how to practically apply Buddhist practice to our lives of chaos and recovery, its benefits and effectiveness are dangerously lost in translation. There are significantly harmful “religiously oriented” misperceptions and contradictory claims regarding Buddhism, meditation, suffering, and nirvana. This creates emotional conflict and doubt that complicates and defeats transformation in Buddhist efforts. This needs to be explained and understood.
Addiction Recovery demands a psychology of personal healing. It lies underneath both the 1936 God-forgiveness model and the late 20th century medical intervention schemes. In this era, those old models critically defeat the necessary psychological insight that leaves us in chaos about what addiction and recovery actually are. This misdirection makes ‘recovery’ much more confusing and is a definite factor in the 95% failure rate of twelve step programs, formal ‘treatment,’ and interventions. This needs to be explained and understood.
The Seminar will outline how original Buddhism has a very similar underlying plan of action and goal to what is present in the deeper psychology of the twelve steps. This requires an awareness of how culture and religion have been a negative factor in both Buddhist discipline and addiction recovery. It will be a very brief introduction to the affinity between dislocation and addiction, and the psychology of recovery within ancient Buddhist teachings and ‘the steps.” Join Richard Clark for a one-day seminar that will clarify:
If you are sincerely curious about recovery and Buddhism this seminar is the place to start. Richard Clark’s most recent book, The Addiction Recovery Handbook, Third Edition, will be included in the registration fee. His book explores addiction from its historical perspective, cultural influences, the deeper psychology of addiction, and of relationships in addiction recovery.
To Register ($40.00):
Email Terry Wood, <terryrobertwood@gmail.com>
Seating is limited to 25 and I am told it is nearly full.
A Seminar with Richard Clark
Buddhism is mysterious to the modern world. Many people seeking ‘recovery’ and emotional balance are often quite curious about Buddhism’s claimed benefits. After twenty-four centuries of misdirected interpretation about its design and purpose, and no explanation how to practically apply Buddhist practice to our lives of chaos and recovery, its benefits and effectiveness are dangerously lost in translation. There are significantly harmful “religiously oriented” misperceptions and contradictory claims regarding Buddhism, meditation, suffering, and nirvana. This creates emotional conflict and doubt that complicates and defeats transformation in Buddhist efforts. This needs to be explained and understood.
Addiction Recovery demands a psychology of personal healing. It lies underneath both the 1936 God-forgiveness model and the late 20th century medical intervention schemes. In this era, those old models critically defeat the necessary psychological insight that leaves us in chaos about what addiction and recovery actually are. This misdirection makes ‘recovery’ much more confusing and is a definite factor in the 95% failure rate of twelve step programs, formal ‘treatment,’ and interventions. This needs to be explained and understood.
The Seminar will outline how original Buddhism has a very similar underlying plan of action and goal to what is present in the deeper psychology of the twelve steps. This requires an awareness of how culture and religion have been a negative factor in both Buddhist discipline and addiction recovery. It will be a very brief introduction to the affinity between dislocation and addiction, and the psychology of recovery within ancient Buddhist teachings and ‘the steps.” Join Richard Clark for a one-day seminar that will clarify:
- Buddhism’s historical origin and development in identifying dislocation.
- Its (original) philosophy and the practice of mental discipline needed to achieve harmony and emotional serenity (nirvana).
- The similar dynamic of negative influences of culture, medicine, politics, and religion in understanding addiction, and the added conflict (after about 1987) that is present in recovery.
- The subsequent overwhelming failure rate regarding recovery that is being ignored and why.
- The ancient core principles that have been present but ignored in modern Buddhist discipline, and the similar dynamic of ignoring truths and irresponsibility that are present in modern addiction recovery.
- The misdirection in meditation practice that promotes failure and repetitive inadequacy in both Buddhism and addiction recovery; and,
- Buddhism’s goal of nirvana is a parallel to the maintenance steps and the five spiritual principles.
If you are sincerely curious about recovery and Buddhism this seminar is the place to start. Richard Clark’s most recent book, The Addiction Recovery Handbook, Third Edition, will be included in the registration fee. His book explores addiction from its historical perspective, cultural influences, the deeper psychology of addiction, and of relationships in addiction recovery.
To Register ($40.00):
Email Terry Wood, <terryrobertwood@gmail.com>
Seating is limited to 25 and I am told it is nearly full.
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Seminar #2 - Saturday, 7 October 2023
The Psychology of Honesty and Spiritual Living
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
George Preston Recreation Center
20699 - 42 Avenue, Langley, BC
$60.00 (includes lunch)
Doors open at 9:00 - Time for coffee, greetings, introductions, and getting settled. Seating is classroom setting — chairs at tables with comfort to take notes and rest books. Limited 30 people with some personal and interactive discussions. Bring your curiosity. A a small handout package will be provided.
Everyone is welcome — people in recovery, friends, family, professionals.
Copies of Richard's three books will be available for sale. (1) Spiritual Transformation, (2) The Addiction Recovery Handbook, (3) Body Energy Healing - The Advanced Basics. Details to follow.
The Psychology of Honesty and Spiritual Living
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
George Preston Recreation Center
20699 - 42 Avenue, Langley, BC
$60.00 (includes lunch)
Doors open at 9:00 - Time for coffee, greetings, introductions, and getting settled. Seating is classroom setting — chairs at tables with comfort to take notes and rest books. Limited 30 people with some personal and interactive discussions. Bring your curiosity. A a small handout package will be provided.
Everyone is welcome — people in recovery, friends, family, professionals.
Copies of Richard's three books will be available for sale. (1) Spiritual Transformation, (2) The Addiction Recovery Handbook, (3) Body Energy Healing - The Advanced Basics. Details to follow.
9:30 - 11:30 - Rigorous honesty and the psychology behind the twelve steps. Identify the nature and definition of addiction as an illness of relationship, the two categories, poly-addictions, and the social symptoms of the illness. Understanding the importance of moving away from the God-forgiveness model of “treatment” into psychology and how rigorous honesty sits at the core of, and is the most important issue in, all recovery. But why it is so difficult to embrace? I will explain the psychology of “hitting bottom,” why it is so varied, and why “commitment” is so vague (mismanaged anticipation). Without concordant affinity at Step Seven, being honest and responsible is more demanding and more difficult as you progress through the steps. Dishonesty is one of the three major causes of relapse. Spiritually principled living is the deeper goal of recovery. This would be followed by an interactive Q & A discussion group, 30-45 minutes.
12:00 – 12:45 - In-house cold buffet lunch is included. Fresh sandwiches, coffee, water, vegetable plate…
12:45 - 3:00 - Spiritual Principles: Learning and living a spiritually principled life as recovery from addictions.
Review the definition and categories of addiction, the five social symptoms, and poly addictions. What the psychology of Step Two really means for everyone. Identifying and explaining the five spiritual principles, and how completing the steps would naturally create the personality change necessary for a spiritually-oriented life. It is crucial to understand the psychology of humility and that equality is vital to the process. Within this I would examine the mind-set of relapse. This would lead to the overall intended goal of recovery—an unsupervised, spiritually principled life. This would be followed by an interactive Q & A discussion group, 30-45 minutes.
3:00 - 3:30 - General Discussion, Evaluations, Feedback; Time to leave.
12:00 – 12:45 - In-house cold buffet lunch is included. Fresh sandwiches, coffee, water, vegetable plate…
12:45 - 3:00 - Spiritual Principles: Learning and living a spiritually principled life as recovery from addictions.
Review the definition and categories of addiction, the five social symptoms, and poly addictions. What the psychology of Step Two really means for everyone. Identifying and explaining the five spiritual principles, and how completing the steps would naturally create the personality change necessary for a spiritually-oriented life. It is crucial to understand the psychology of humility and that equality is vital to the process. Within this I would examine the mind-set of relapse. This would lead to the overall intended goal of recovery—an unsupervised, spiritually principled life. This would be followed by an interactive Q & A discussion group, 30-45 minutes.
3:00 - 3:30 - General Discussion, Evaluations, Feedback; Time to leave.
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To register or reserve a seat contact Richard Clark at rwc23@shaw.ca You will receive an email package with more details and payment information. |
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