"The final mystery is oneself."
— Oscar Wilde - Irish poet, dramatist, novelist and critic (1854-1900)

Attempting to live a moral life is unlikely to bear lasting fruit unless our efforts are steadfast and continuous. Every addict knows how firm convictions with sincere resolution, can melt like snow as some new onslaught of craving overcomes them. This lack of continuity is really the crux of the problem for the addict. If only they could hold on to their thoughts of abstinence!

Before we examine what can be done to help maintain the continuity of our commitment to sobriety, let's list some key truths that we have covered so far:

Knowledge about the nature and cause of addiction is only useful if it leads to practical application. The famous Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung once told a patient under his care for chronic alcoholism the following hard fact:

"Exceptions to cases such as yours have been occurring since early times. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. To me these occurrences are phenomena. They appear to be in the nature of huge emotional displacements and rearrangements. Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once the guiding forces of the lives of these men are suddenly cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begin to dominate them."
— Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book page 27.

Much has been written on how to bring about such a "vital spiritual experience". Words like "surrender" and "acceptance" and "higher power" are heard often in recovery circles. Let's take a look at some practical steps that may be helpful in our journey to recovery and long-term sobriety.

"What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself."
— Abraham Maslow - U.S. psychologist and philosopher (1908-1970)

Given that the root of our problem with addiction lies in the tendencies of our own mind, it seems obvious that we must find a way to change those tendencies.

You may think that you are already quite aware of your thoughts - but the mind is very quick, and often our awareness is too slow. How often have you done something only to wonder moments later why you did it? How often have you told a lie (or a half-truth) before you even realized what you were saying? Old self-defeating behavior is so deeply entrenched in us that we are often unaware of its insidious and automatic influence.

Just as physical exercise is used to train the body, meditation can be used to train the mind. There are many forms of meditation, just as there are many forms of physical exercise. When we meditate, some object or other is required to serve as a focus for the mind. Often the subject of meditation will be some religious object or image, or a word or phrase (mantra) repeated over and over. While there are benefits to those kinds of meditation, they do not serve our purpose - because we need a meditation object that is acceptable and understandable to all people regardless of cultural, educational, or religious background.

I have found that the best, most effective way to learn meditation is by attending a formal meditation course, where you can be free from the everyday distractions of home and work. Fortunately there are currently many locations around the world where these kind of meditation retreats are available. Information about 10-day Vipassana meditation courses in your area can be found at: http://www.dhamma.org. There is no fee attached to attending one of these meditation courses other than your time and expense getting there. Students who have already completed one of these courses may offer a donation for the benefit of future students.

There is no way that I can over-emphasize how valuable I have found Vipassana meditation to be! Through meditation, I believe that I have found a scientific method for inducing that "vital spiritual experience" that Dr. Jung was talking about many years ago. You truly owe it to yourself to learn how to plumb the depths of your own being. Most likely you will be surprised with what you find!

"When one experiences truth, the madness of finding fault with others disappears."
— S. N. Goenka - World renowned teacher of Vipassana meditation

Development of an ethical and helpful lifestyle depends on our heightened awareness of the present moment. But there is little use in simply having awareness of the fact that we are craving a drink, or that we are angry, or sad. We can say: "Yes, yes, I am totally aware of what I am doing wrong, but how can I prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed by my anger, or my depression?

Intellectually we can understand what enlightened teachers and philosophers throughout the ages have reminded us: that attachment to objects or outcomes is the cause of all our misery. Intellectually we can understand that since everything is constantly changing, there is not much point becoming attached to things that are only temporary by nature.

Unless our intellectual understanding is accompanied by experiential understanding, it just remains theoretical. We can read all the great scriptures of the world, go to 12-step meetings regularly, participate in alcohol and drug treatment programs - with no lasting results. Theoretical knowledge is good, even necessary; but by itself it may not be able to bring about the needed transformation of mind.

Direct observation of ourselves, at a very deep personal level, within the core of our own being, must accompany any theoretical knowledge; or else our understanding of ourselves will be superficial at best, and not up to the task of empowering significant personal change. Only when we actually experience a truth does it become of practical value to us. Someone can describe to you how to ride a bicycle - but without the direct experience, you will be unable to ride one yourself.

The missing link between intellectual and experiential knowledge can be found when we closely observe the sensations within our own bodies. The truth of impermanence is realized when we can directly observe the sensations of craving and aversion arising and passing away from one moment to the next. Once we experience this truth of impermanence, we are in a very real position to be granted the results of the Serenity Prayer: 

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference ".

If you have a sensation of craving, or anger, or depression, or pain, or pleasure, don't react to it. Learn how to observe the sensation objectively - knowing that it is won't last forever. Learn how to watch your feelings, and let them go. Learn how to observe them coming and going, arising and passing away. Neither suppress nor obsess over your temporary fleeting sensations.

Constant awareness of impermanence leads automatically to detachment from the fleeting sensations of craving. This is the development of wisdom, of true self-knowledge, of recovery from addiction, and elimination of misery.