Facilitators

Whether you facilitating a meeting or just interested this page is for you.

Meetings are independently founded, and most follow one of the main programs. You can read about the programs here and below you can find links to many downloads related to them. Many meetings are organized by a regular facilitator but some are not, e.g. recovery dharma supports a peer-based format.

You can start a meeting without aligning to a program; a meeting which incorporates meditation, readings, study and/or discussion,  but studying the programs, reading some of their resources and attending other meetings are a great way to get your framework figured out and hopefully one will resonate with you.  And along the way gather some material to study during your meeting. 

Want to try some out?
Each Wednesday evening we host a meeting with a rotating format, see BRN Online Meetings.

Safer Sangha

We are actively growing our resources related to making meetings a safer space for all attendees

• Visions Agreements for Multicultural Interactions (East Bay Meditation Center)
• BRN Diversity Statement

Program Resources

Overview of the various Buddhist Recovery Programs

Recovery Dharma

• Recovery Resources
• Meeting Resources
• Sangha Support

Eight Step Recovery

• Meeting format and Preface
• Guided meditations
  • Kindness
  • Loving-Kindness
  • Four Basic Needs of the Heart
  • 3-minute Breathing Space

Refuge Recovery – Meeting Resources

Heart of Recovery – Shambala.org

Kevin Griffin –
You can find Kevin’s latest Group Guidelines and Downloads on his website. But also some time back Kevin synthesized some advice on creating new groups based on a survey of the different formats. This can be found in the BRN Group Guidance PDF download. It covers group intention, leadership, membership, and form and content, as well as examples of other groups.

‘Sit & Share’ Recovery Meeting format and meeting workbook  by Vince Cullen – Workbook includes topics suitable for discussion in Buddhist recovery groups. (5thprecept.org)

Sample Meeting Preamble – This is a sample of what a facilitator (or another person present) can read at the beginning of each meeting. [PDF]

Sit Happens Meeting format 

Mindfulness for Recovery: Buddhist ‘Sit & Share’ Recovery Meeting format

Northwest Buddhist Recovery facilitator guidebook  by Debra Greenfield – This workbook was compiled for our 2013 facilitator workshop, to support new facilitators in establishing and running a Buddhist recovery meeting.  

From-Hungry-Ghost-to-Being-Human-(Taking-Sajja-Beyond-Thamkrabok) – by Vince Cullen   This booklet is used as a study guide for 5th precept “sit and share” meetings.  It is based on the teachings of the Thamkrabok Monastery in Thailand that emphasize a strict adherence to the 5th precept, and a vow of abstinence from intoxicants.