Alcoholism, 'wasm, and Buddhist Speculations

After more than twenty-four years without a drink, alcohol has no place in my life today despite years of destructive and clearly alcoholic drinking. Furthermore, the basic precepts to which I committed myself when I "took refuge" as a Buddhist specifically prohibit partaking of any intoxicant. Nevertheless, I came to believe that, although I do not recognize an inherently "alcoholic nature," I am certain that my reaction to ethanol differs in some fundamental way from the majority of the population. Since there seems to be some degree of hereditary tendency toward alcoholism in families, that is a reasonable assumption. Therefore I do not argue with the AA assertion that there doesn't seem to be any way to make normal drinkers out of alcoholics of our type.

On the other hand, in this connection I have to think of two diseases with which I have been dealing, diabetes and prostate cancer. The genetic and developmental factors that have caused my diabetes do not seem to be reversible! Nevertheless, I do not "define" myself as a diabetic although I must take it into account every day in so many ways. On the other hand, I find great value in thinking of myself as a "cancer survivor," because I no longer have any evidence of the cancer in my body. With regard to alcoholism, like the diabetes, it does not seem to be reversible, but, like the cancer, there does not seem to be any evidence of it in me any longer. However, also like the cancer, I have to monitor for any sign of its activity. Therefore, when I experienced a "drinking dream" recently, I thought it advisable to get back to AA meetings.

This presents a little problem for me now as a Tibetan Buddhist, because, despite its disclaimers, it is a monotheistic organization rooted in the Western Abrahamic faiths. While this presented only minor difficulties when I was a different brand of Christian than the majority, now opening a meeting with the "Serenity Prayer" and closing with the "Lord's Prayer," not to mention all the "God" references in the readings, do not sit well. That has been a significant obstacle to my frequent attendance at AA meetings.

I recently came upon an adaptation of the 12 Steps in keeping with Buddhist principles written by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Although I am not sure I agree with him on all points, the work is a worthy effort to meet a need. Perhaps this or another such effort will find applicability to those needs, but I have to look at the resources currently available to me.

I find one particular meeting here in Plant City more comfortable than others. The focus of this one is meditation which is something central to Buddhist practice. This seems a suitable venue for my attending AA meetings both for myself and for the benefit of others. After staying sober this long, I do have experiences which can help others if I share them. This is very much in keeping both with AA's traditions about service and with Tibetan Buddhism's stress on compassion.