Statement​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Buddhist​ ​Recovery​ ​Summit​ ​2017

Over​ ​a​ ​hundred​ ​people​ ​gathered​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Buddhist​ ​Recovery​ ​Summit​ ​in​ ​Lacey,​ ​Washington​ ​to​ ​share​ ​their knowledge​ ​and​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​the​ ​worldwide​ ​movements​ ​integrating​ ​Buddhism​ ​and​ ​Recovery.​ ​Dharma teachers,​ ​health​ ​care​ ​professionals,​ ​psychotherapists,​ ​counselors​ ​and​ ​people​ ​in​ ​recovery​ ​discussed​ ​the future​ ​of​ ​Buddhist​ ​Recovery.

Together​ ​they​ ​explored​ ​a​ ​range​ ​of​ ​recovery​ ​styles​ ​and​ ​practices,​ ​including​ ​Refuge​ ​Recovery,​ ​the​ ​Eight Step​ ​Recovery,​ ​Sit​ ​and​ ​Share,​ ​Heart​ ​of​ ​Recovery,​ ​Noble​ ​Steps,​ ​and​ ​Mindful​ ​Recovery.​ ​There​ ​was​ ​a keynote​ ​panel​ ​including​ ​Noah​ ​Levine​ ​and​ ​Kevin​ ​Griffin​ ​from​ ​the​ ​USA,​ ​Valerie​ ​(Vimalasara) Mason-John​ ​from​ ​Canada,​ ​and​ ​Vince​ ​Cullen​ ​from​ ​Ireland,​ ​which​ ​discussed​ “What​ ​is​ ​Buddhist Recovery?”​ ​The​ ​summit​ ​also​ ​explored​ ​the​ ​intersection​ ​of​ ​Buddhist​ ​recovery​ ​and​ ​the​ ​12​ ​step​ ​recovery model.​ ​The​ ​summit​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​Buddhist​ ​recovery​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of​ ​its​ ​forms​ ​to​ ​people​ ​suffering from​ ​addiction​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​their​ ​religion​ ​or​ ​spiritual​ ​traditions.

George​ ​Johns,​ ​President​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Buddhist​ ​Recovery​ ​Network​ ​(BRN)​ ​says:​ “​Over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​10​ ​years​ ​we have​ ​seen​ ​a​ ​plethora​ ​of​ ​new​ ​Buddhist​ ​recovery​ ​programs​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​the​ ​recovery​ ​world.​ ​Using mindfulness​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​stress,​ ​depression,​ ​anxiety​ ​and​ ​pain​ ​has​ ​captured​ ​the​ ​world’​s​ ​attention.​ ​It​ ​is inevitable​ ​that​ ​Buddhist​ ​Recovery​ ​would​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​and​ ​deepen​ ​this​ ​movement.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​core​ ​of​ ​the Buddhist​ ​teachings​ ​is​ ​mindfulness​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​out​ ​of​ ​suffering.​ ​​Buddhist​ ​recovery​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​host​ ​of teachings​ ​and​ ​practices​ ​to​ ​live​ ​a​ ​life​ ​free​ ​from​ ​the​ ​misery​ ​of​ ​addictions,​ ​and​ ​BRN​ ​is​ ​committed​ ​to nurturing​ ​and​ ​disseminating​ ​these​ ​ideas​ ​to​ ​help​ ​the​ ​still​ ​suffering​ ​addict.”​

BRN​ ​initiatives​ ​include​ ​maintaining​ ​and​ ​expanding​ ​their​ ​website​ ​(​buddhistrecovery.org​)​ ​as​ ​a​ ​global resource​ ​for​ ​Buddhist​ ​recovery,​ ​offering​ ​facilitator​ ​and​ ​peer-led​ ​training​ ​and​ ​materials​ ​for​ ​Buddhist recovery​ ​meetings,​ ​nurturing​ ​regional​ ​BRN​ ​affiliates,​ ​and​ ​orchestrating​ ​annual​ ​Buddhist​ ​recovery summits​ ​and​ ​retreats.

The​ ​Summit​ ​was​ ​initiated,​ ​planned​ ​and​ ​co-sponsored​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Northwest​ ​Dharma​ ​Association,​ ​a non-sectarian​ ​umbrella​ ​for​ ​Buddhist​ ​organizations​ ​and​ ​individuals​ ​in​ ​Washington,​ ​Oregon,​ ​Idaho, Montana,​ ​and​ ​British​ ​Columbia.

Wishing​ ​all​ ​beings​ ​compassion,​ ​clarity,​ ​and​ ​freedom.

Buddhist​ ​Recovery​ ​Network
buddhistrecovery.org

Northwest​ ​Dharma​ ​Association
northwestdharma.org