“Keep sitting - keep smiling”

Mindfulness for Recovery

Mindful Recovery Retreats

The next retreat(s):

Hungry Ghost Retreat : Healing the Heart and Mind in Recovery

3-day residential retreat : Thursday 22nd March - Sunday 25th March 2012

New Life Foundation
No. 49 Moo 1,
Tambol Don Sila,
Ampher Wiang Chai,
Changwat Chiang Rai,
Thailand.

General Overview:

Mindful recovery retreats are offered as an opportunity to experience a wholly Buddhist approach to recovery from all forms of addiction.  Retreats are open to those new to recovery as a support to their ongoing abstinence.

Those who have been in recovery for a longer time - perhaps 12-step, SMART or otherwise - are also very welcome to discover an alternative and complementary approach to recovery.

Six Realms of Existence

Used with the kind permission of (c) Ralph Metzner

from The Buddhist Six-worlds model of consciousness and reality. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 28, 155-166 (1996)

All retreats vary in their content and focus but they generally make use of a modern depiction of the Buddhist Six Realms of Existence as a model for addiction and recovery.  The ancient traditional principles and practices of of Sajja (seeing the truth of our addiction & our commitment to change) and Sila (the Buddha's original harm reduction & relapse prevention programme) are presented and explored as foundations of a Buddhist approach to recovery.

The essential practices of Loving-kindness and Forgiveness - for healing our hearts and minds in recovery - are central to recovery practice and are woven into our daily schedule(s).

It is important to note that you do not have to be a Buddhist to practice Sajja, Sila, meditation or mindfulness.   Recovering people of all faiths and none are welcome on these retreats.

For the period of all retreats, retreatants are required to commit to Sila (Precepts):

• To refrain from harming any living being
• To refrain from taking what is not offered
• To refrain from sexual and sensual misconduct
• To refrain from false speech (including idle gossip, harsh and divisive speech)
• To refrain from taking substances which disturb the balance of the mind (and may lead me into committing any of the above).

Each retreat will normally close with a simple Precepts (Sila) and Sajja Vow ceremony for anyone wishing to formalise these intentions and aspirations. It should be stressed that there is no expectation or obligation that retreatants make these commitments.

Dana : The retreat teachings are offered in accordance with the Buddhist tradition of Dana (the practice and virtue of generosity) where the retreatant is invited to contribute financially to the teachings and the mentoring based on their individual income and the value that they place on what has been offered. The livelihood of the teacher is - in part - dependent on the generosity of Dana. There will be more details of this on the retreat.

To ensure that any retreat is right for you, please read all the information provided carefully. Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
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