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It
is my belief that before we can embark on and embrace a spiritual
path we must learn to live life on life's
terms. More precisely we must live life with a faith that a Power
greater than ourselves guides us and the events in our lives.
This understanding is the basis of most religions, philosophies
and practices and is also the underlying principle of the 12
Step program.
This
site's previously stated purpose is to provide a simple, easily
used set of tools that will allow you to lead
a more spiritual
life and bring you closer
to your Higher Power. It is my belief, based on both experience and observation,
that there is no simpler, and easier used set of tools than the 12 Step program.
The 12 Steps, originally formulated in the late 1930’s, are based upon
principles and ideas that go back hundreds and thousands of years. A few of
the basic principles behind all 12 Step programs are going to meetings regularly,
reading the program's text and writing about it, and making a conscious contact
with a Higher Power. This is, in essence, the Hindu concept of Satsang. Another
basic principle is living life “one day at a time.” This is nothing
more than a restatement of the Zen Buddhist philosophy of being alive and present
in the moment. Another example is the “Serenity Prayer” that most
12 Step programs use to either open or close their meetings with. It is believed
that this prayer dates back to the early part of the 6th century when a Christian
martyr named Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius first uttered it. These are
just three of the many examples of the ageless understandings that have been
incorporated
into the 12 Steps.
What
makes the 12 Steps such wonderful tools is that they can quickly
guide the practitioner from dealing with a behavioral symptom
into
dealing with the
spiritual
deficiencies that are at the root of that symptom. Though originally designed
to help men and women overcome alcoholism, the 12 Steps are now being successfully
utilized worldwide to help people overcome addictions to drugs, gambling,
sex, eating, spending, rage, etc. It is my belief that any
system that can help
people overcome such powerful addictions by teaching spiritual principles
can be useful
to anyone looking to advance along their spiritual path. |