AA and the 11th Step – How to Meditate..?

For those of us in 12 Step Programs – Formal Meditation Practice is literally ‘part of the program.’

Spelled out in Step 11: ‘Sought Through Prayer and Meditation…’

But if you are anything like me – I sat for years nodding in the affirmative and being agreeable to the concept of meditation.

I was certain it could and would be of benefit to anyone who developed a consistent practice – I just didn’t know what that looked or sounded like in practical application.

Like any good self-centered, newly sober human – I did what we of that particular stripe do in that situation – keep nodding yes, do nothing differently and wonder why nothing changes.

God forbid I actually ASK someone how to meditate and risk looking like a total newbie.

In all the years I have been going (and still go) to meetings – I don’t recall ever hearing the physical mechanics of Step 11 discussed and/or demonstrated.

You know, the actual Nuts n’ Bolts kind of thing – ‘sit like this’ – ‘put your arms like this’ and so forth.

I don’t remember anyone ever showing me the ‘how’ part of meditating – lots and lots of the ‘whys’ of Step 11 – that much I understood. The physical logistics however, remained a mystery…

I knew I was supposed to meditate – I just didn’t know how to meditate.

Thankfully, after eight and a half years in recovery, the lightbulb came on!

I overheard someone somewhere saying something like ‘You don’t ask your eye doctor about a sore foot’ – attempting to convey the message of ‘See a trained specialist.’

I’m not sure if the recipient of those words got the message – but I certainly did.

The personal meditation instruction I got (and still receive) was priceless as well as free.

Come with us on Sundays and experience the benefit of meditation practice in the Heart of Recovery.

Join our new Meetup Group:  http://www.meetup.com/Dallas-Heart-of-Recovery-Buddhist-Meditation-in-Recovery/