Thank you for sharing your story and your wisdom, Taishin Michael. I love how you express the spaciousness of Buddhism and the spaciousness of sobriety. Both can hold so much and can look so many ways.
I agree! Lately, I’m seeing the expression “Truth is not a thing” everywhere and in many ways. There is a lot of wiggle room, we need only become willing to wiggle in it.
I can relate to trying to control others. I found that I often tried to control others not only because I didn't trust them, but because I didn't trust myself if things were to go any other way than what I expected. It was a journey to release the control, but the more I started to trust myself in my sobriety, I realised that I could handle anything and I didn't need to be "in the know" or in control because whatever happens next I can trust myself to pull through it.
Also, my boundaries got stronger and I let go of a lot of the people I didn't trust, and with my new found boundaries, the people who did stay were confronted with my strength and respect in myself and knew they had to do differently if they wanted to stay in my life.
Recovery Dharma was the first recovery meeting I attended online during 2020. I really appreciated the Buddhist approach to recovery.
I, too, had to learn to step into Not-Knowing and find comfort in being there. I was always there a lot of the time—maybe even all the time!—but I did not want to accept it.
Similarly, I had to learn to “protect my peace,” as a dear friend would put it.
Sobriety has required a lot of “learning by unlearning” from me—and it has all been worth it.
Thank you for sharing your story and your wisdom, Taishin Michael. I love how you express the spaciousness of Buddhism and the spaciousness of sobriety. Both can hold so much and can look so many ways.
I agree! Lately, I’m seeing the expression “Truth is not a thing” everywhere and in many ways. There is a lot of wiggle room, we need only become willing to wiggle in it.
Thank you for sharing, Taishin Michael.
I can relate to trying to control others. I found that I often tried to control others not only because I didn't trust them, but because I didn't trust myself if things were to go any other way than what I expected. It was a journey to release the control, but the more I started to trust myself in my sobriety, I realised that I could handle anything and I didn't need to be "in the know" or in control because whatever happens next I can trust myself to pull through it.
Also, my boundaries got stronger and I let go of a lot of the people I didn't trust, and with my new found boundaries, the people who did stay were confronted with my strength and respect in myself and knew they had to do differently if they wanted to stay in my life.
Recovery Dharma was the first recovery meeting I attended online during 2020. I really appreciated the Buddhist approach to recovery.
Thank you for sharing, Kaitlyn.
I, too, had to learn to step into Not-Knowing and find comfort in being there. I was always there a lot of the time—maybe even all the time!—but I did not want to accept it.
Similarly, I had to learn to “protect my peace,” as a dear friend would put it.
Sobriety has required a lot of “learning by unlearning” from me—and it has all been worth it.
Yessss "learning by unlearning" I can relate. As you said, it's all been worth it.
So wonderful to get to know Taishin better!
And I really appreciate Kobun Chino's translation of the Bodhisattva vows, hadn't heard that version...
It seems that many people are unfamiliar with Kobun’s expression of the vows. I continue to delight in sharing them and try to do so often.