Preface to the second printing
A definition of addiction and of recovery
Step One: accepting that this human life will bring suffering
What is meant by the truth of suffering?
Mindful attention to our suffering
Step Two: seeing how we create extra suffering in our lives
The common ways we deal with suffering
Craving as the cause of suffering
What makes craving such a problem?
The hungry ghosts: an image of craving
Turning toward difficult experience
Staying with difficult experience – avoiding misunderstandings
Do we need to hit rock bottom to start our recovery?
Reflecting on why we create more suffering in our lives
Step Three: embracing impermanence to show us that our suffering can end
The significance of impermanence Difficulties are impermanent
Step Four: being willing to step onto the path of recovery and discover freedom
Kindness to help us step onto the path of recovery
Weighing the benefits and costs of addiction
The time for courage and compassion
Reflecting on the benefits of recovery
Cultivating appreciation and gratitude
Step Five: transforming our speech, actions, and livelihood
Our thoughts and emotions drive our actions
Training principles to guide our actions toward sobriety and abstinence
Devising your own training principles
Reciting the training principles
Coming to terms with past and ongoing unhelpful actions
Ritual approaches to coming to terms with our past
Making the most of opportunities to change our lives – GIFTS
Step Six: placing positive values at the center of our lives
Values as a direction and as a refuge
Exemplars of values, teachings, and community
Going for refuge to the Buddha
Going for refuge to the Dharma
Going for refuge to the sangha
Taking refuge in the sangha is not all plain sailing
Going for refuge moment by moment
Step Seven: making every effort to stay on the path of recovery
Staying on the path of recovery
Preventing unhelpful states of mind arising Mental chatter
Eradicating unhelpful states of mind
Swinging between different hindrances
Cultivating helpful states of mind
Maintaining helpful states of mind
Step Eight: helping others by sharing the benefits we have gained
Reminding ourselves of where we have come from
The challenge of helping others
Recap of Dharma tools in the book
Loving-kindness meditation: the Metta Bhavana
Appendix 1 Mentorship: The tool of asking for help (We do not have to do it alone)
Appendix 2 Mindfulness-Based Addiction Recovery (MBAR) Course
Session 2: Triggers (Vicious Cycle)
Session 3: Accepting Experience
Session 4: Changing Our Relationship to Thoughts
Session 5: Taking Care of Myself