Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction

Insightful

The meetings are essential but the book is a guide. I absolutely despise 12 step programs. This is NOT like 12 steps to recovery. this is an 8 fold path. It is not a linear path. Does not have to be taken in order. In fact all folds of the path are to be applied simultaneously. Meditation is KEY. I now have 9 months clean. 💥💪🙏

In one word: Brilliant.I work as a therapist in a treatment center. We treat 400-500 alcoholics and addicts each year. Many people resist the Judeo-Christian themes in 12 step work. For those people, there are few viable alternative recovery roads. Noah has illuminated for all suffering addicts the Buddhist path as a road to sustained recovery from addictions. He does an excellent job highlighting the truth of addiction, solid and deep inventory to explore, the necessity of abstinence in order to recover, the actions and practices (the path) one can take to contented long term sobriety, and the joy of fellowship and mentorship to sustain us as we travel the recovery and dharma road. Refuge Recovery can serve the purpose of helping newcomers get on the road to recovery, as well as benefit those who have been in recovery for some time but who may have gotten a bad case of so-dryety over the years, and now can re-discover contented sobriety through this powerful pathway.Refuge Recovery seems well suited to those who want to do 12 step programs AND Buddhist recovery/Refuge Recovery - as well as those seeking a different path to recovery than currently dominate the recovery world. There are many wonderful books that create a bridge between meditation, Buddhism and the 12 steps. What has lacked to date is the equivalent of a `Big Book' for recovering people open to Buddhist philosophy and teachings. This book is a great 'Big Book' for the 21st century - keeping the best of what is offered in 12 step philosophy - while removing antiquated aspects and language. Refuge Recovery is a complete recovery program, which if followed, can and has brought about complete recovery from addictions of all kinds. This path laid out in this book provides a way of living that will be compatible for those seeking a non-theistic way of walking the spiritual road of recovery. As an addiction treatment professional, I have extreme gratitude for Noah's efforts, as well as for those who share their stories in the back of this wonderful book. I hope the treatment community embraces this powerful movement. May Refuge Recovery grow and flourish, for the benefit of all beings.

Great book that I constantly find myself applying the lessons from. Not a day goes by where I do not use something from this book. This book, Refuge Recovery meetings and a mindfulness practice are major part of my foundation. As many have noted, it is a wonderful compliment to a 12 Step Program but robust enough to standalone if that is what the individual desires. It is extremely flexible. In my area, Refuge Recovery is growing rapidly and I do feel that this book/program is tailor made for the issues we face in todays world.This book has lots of info on focusing on the inner self as to be expected. It deals with trauma and pain and how to let go of it. It also never demands perfection. You don't have to be a Buddhist monk to find value from it (not that you won't find value if you are a monk or serious/advanced practitioner). The more we learn about addiction, the more we learn about its routes in pain, trauma, suffering and guilt and shame. The diseases festers in these areas.Its extremely easy to understand and easy to grasp. Like the 12 Steps, it requires work, tough introspection and moments of being uncomfortable. I find it very much helps with all the "life stuff" that happens once we put the substances down. So many addicts/alcoholics find that they face new and possibility completely unexpected behaviors as a result of getting clean. This book is great for somebody that is seriously contemplating if they have an addiction issue as well as for someone with 25 years of recovery that finds themselves feeling stuck in a rut or is just seeking growth.

wonderful new perspective on recovery. really absorbing this book

Well written, practical, experiential path to Recovery from Addictions.(Not perfect, but revisions are planned in a yet to be announced updated edition)The separate Refuge Recovery support groups spawned by the book combine some of the wisdom & experiences of 12 Step program 'structure' with the proven, transformative directions of the Four Noble Truths & Eight Fold Path.Accessible to all, newcomers & longer term recovery practitioners.Refuge Recovery support groups (non-profit, separate from Refuge Recovery Treatment Center, and the author/publisher of the book) have grown from about 100 in June 2015, to 300 worldwide in October 2017 to well over 600 in October 2018.Update & Clarification:One reviewer indicated that Refuge Recovery, which some people call RR, is pre-empted by Rational Recovery, which was also nicknamed RR, which was essentially a for profit support group created by Jack Trimpey in 1986.They effectively shut their doors in 1998 with this declaration:"The Recovery Group Movement is Over! ... Beginning January 1, 1999, all addiction recovery group meetings for Rational Recovery in the United States, Canada, and abroad are hereby canceled and will not be rescheduled ever again, it's just a waste of time and is completely unproductive."SMART Recovery, a credible & effective treatment program, evolved from the ashes of Rational Recovery.

Book arrived when promised in the condition stated on the site. Thanks

A very good approach to address addiction and recovery from a Buddhist perspective. Simple and down to earth, yet powerful advise

If you’re struggling with substance use and don’t find AA or NA a good fit for you, try this book. The principals are all about living a mindful life

Good to read. Based on Buddhist philosophy

Noah is a damn tool but this book is great anyway. It was written by a group of people and was supposed to be released without attribution to a particular author (as Noah himself has said in the past) but the publisher demanded Noah attach his star power.The wisdom inside is mostly just ancient Buddhist philosophy and not the work of any one person. The design of the Buddhist wisdom into a modern addiction program was done by a group of people who worked together to o vent their meeting format and their simplifications of the four noble truths and eightfold path into a treatment program.If you are trapped with addiction this book can really help you, as can the Refuge Recovery meetings that happen all over North America as well as the online meetings every day.

Helpful guide to mindful reflection.Happy with my purchase.