Buddhist Guide to Recovery

Blending the wisdom of Zen Buddhism and 12-step recovery, the path is one of awakening through presence, surrender, and self-inquiry. Through meditation, spiritual reflection, and practical action, suffering is met with awareness, and attachments are loosened. — .

The Buddhist view of addiction: craving (tanha) is the root of all suffering. Addiction is simply craving with a specific object attached — alcohol, drugs, food, sex, approval. Remove the object, and the craving remains. That's why quitting is not enough. You must uproot the craving itself.

The 12 Steps and the Eightfold Path converge: both require honest self-inventory, surrender of the ego, and service to others. Recovery IS a spiritual path. The substance was just the doorway.