tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749057940065570973.post3311450563056286885..comments2024-02-08T12:39:48.238-05:00Comments on "RECOVERY TABLE" Spiritual Awakening, Alcoholism and Addiction Recovery: H.O.W. It WorksBhuddinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04582636577048530680noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749057940065570973.post-15145513833765993362012-04-19T10:26:08.423-04:002012-04-19T10:26:08.423-04:00Alcoholics are "self-centered to the extreme....Alcoholics are "self-centered to the extreme." Most other people are just extremely self-centered. One of my spiritual mentors urged me to "study all religions" until I could see the "sameness" in them all. (After his own study he converted to Catholicism, as it had the most saints.) The essence of all religions is that there is a higher consciousness available to those who practice meditation and prayer to overcome the ego, returning us to our natural state of being. Thus, we are urged to "become as a little child" to enter into the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />Jesus always spoke of the Kingdom of God in parables. The Kingdom of God is like "a pearl of great price," like "a mustard seed," etc. The one time he was directly confronted by the Pharisees as to when the Kingdom of Heaven would come, he answered: The Kingdom of God cometh not by observation. You cannot say 'Lo! it is here' or 'Lo! it is there' The Kingdom of heaven is within you." (Luke 17:20-21).<br /><br />It is only the ego, each person's seemingly separate 'self,' which separates us from the divinity within us. Our Inner Christ, the Atman or Buddha-nature, however one describes it. For this reason, in the Book of James, it is said that "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8). We are apt to do, say, or think anything when we are identified with our self-conscious thinking. The author of the Book of James later writes: "Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. Wash clean your hands ye sinners. Purify your heart ye double-minded." (Note: It is clear that the author is talking about our ordinary consciousness when he says "purify your heart.")<br /><br />Is this not the essence of the A.A, program, and all spiritual paths?Bhuddinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582636577048530680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749057940065570973.post-88106447673711579932012-04-16T08:56:55.521-04:002012-04-16T08:56:55.521-04:00..Bhuddini..i was contemplating this post again th.....Bhuddini..i was contemplating this post again this morning and it dawned on me how so many,if not all,people who are not Alcoholics would greatly benefit spiritually from this practical wisdom..as a follower of Christ Jesus and a recovered Alcoholic i see how the knowledge contained in this post is actually the missing other half of the puzzle of the Gospel recipe for 'conversion'...its baffling as to why this message,minus the references to being an Alcoholic,isn't a core teaching from within Chrisendom....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749057940065570973.post-58747844069941881542012-04-12T17:50:35.293-04:002012-04-12T17:50:35.293-04:00Thanks, but I'm just passing on what was passe...Thanks, but I'm just passing on what was passed on to me.Bhuddinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582636577048530680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749057940065570973.post-79072445998094931902012-04-12T16:47:32.118-04:002012-04-12T16:47:32.118-04:00..WOW..im left speechless rabbi..i've never en.....WOW..im left speechless rabbi..i've never enountered anyone with such a comprehension of the psychology behind the Alcoholic mind and such Proficiency in forming and articulating thoughts...you truly are a Master...thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com