“We found the Great Reality deep down within us.” “… search diligently within yourself … .” “With this attitude, you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.” (The Big Book, p.55)
What alterations to your “inner motivations” have you noticed, lately?
“Our minds and bodies
seem tired of it all, yet the
dynamic forces of change or
true conversion, deep within,
may be working to give us the
answers that alter our inner
motivations and change
our lives.” (The Basic
Text, p. 78)
FINDING YOUR SPIRITUAL TRUTH “DEEP DOWN WITHIN” –
“We found the
Great Reality deep
down within us.” “…
search diligently within
yourself … .” “With this at-
titude you cannot fail. The
consciousness of your
belief is sure to come
to you.” (The Big
Book, p.55)
“It requires greater
courage to preserve in-
ner freedom, to move on in
one’s inward journey into new
realms, than to stand defiantly
for outer freedom. It is often
easier to play the martyr,
as it is to be rash
in battle.”
– Rollo May (1909 – 1994) U.S. existential psychologist
“Addiction is a family disease, but we could only change ourselves.” (IP No. 13, Youth and Recovery)With Twins “It’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world.”– Al Franken (1951 – ) U.S. Senator / satirist
What type of self-care have you practiced lately, when the going gets tough?
A long time ago at the village of Serki, a woman gave birth to twins – both boys. They were very nice children. One of the twins, Eiba by name, had a white spot on his right hand. The other one – they called him Saiba – had two white spots on his left hand. Father and mother were very happy and very sad at the same time. You will ask – why? Because there was a very bad custom in Serki to kill twins. And the chief of Serki said, “Those twins must die, too.” But their father and mother did not want to kill the twins.
“What?” said the chief angrily? “You don’t want to kill them? Go away from the village and never come back or I shall kill you together with your children.”
So the poor family went away from the village.
For many years the family lived in a forest. Life was not easy there. But the children grew up strong. When they grew up, they helped their father and mother with their work. They were good and handsome young men.
One day they found a man in the forest. He was dying. They tried to help him. But he said, “Don’t help me. I shall die soon. I came from Serki. There is a war on there now. We fought bravely. But the enemy is stronger than we are. Go and help my people if you can.”
With these words he died.
Eiba and Saiba wanted to go to Serki and help to fight. But their father and mother were against it and said, “The Chief does not want you there. He wanted to kill you when you were small children. That’s why we went away from Serki and came to live in the forest.”
But the twins wanted to go and help Serki. They said, “This is our country. We must help the people of our country.” So the boys came to Serki and fought against the enemies. They fought bravely. The people of that country won the fight and made the enemy run. So the war was over. Then a feast at the chief’s house began. Saiba and Eiba were at the feast, too. Then one of the men stood up and said, “There are two young men here, two brothers. I think they are very brave soldiers. But we don’t know who they are.”
The twins’ uncle was at the feast, too. He said to the chief, “Do you remember two little twins – one with a spot on his right hand and the other with two spots on his left hand? Eighteen years ago you told their father and mother to go away from our village as they did not want to kill the twins. These are the same twins.”
The chief stood up and asked the twins to forgive him. Then he sent the two young men back to their father and mother with many presents and a letter in which he asked them to come back.
From, that day on they stopped killing twins in Serki.
“We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect.” (As Bill Sees It, p. 95) “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” – Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) U.S. poet laureate
Where have you felt at home, lately, and felt spiritually recharged, whether in a meeting or someplace else that warms your heart?
“But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most.” “The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being.” On friendship & others (12 & 12, p. 53)
What have you done to restore the relationships you hold most dear, lately?
“If one of our character defects is dishonesty, we can think about situations in our lives where we normally lie and imagine how it would feel, to tell the truth for a change.” ” . . . [then] we may feel a sense of relief at the possibility of a life free from having to cover small deceits with major fabrications….“ (It Works, How & Why, p. 46) “It is a true saying that ‘One falsehood leads easily to another.’ “ – Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC) Roman philosopher/statesman
What “big chunks of truth” were revealed thru a “little lie” you told, lately?
Long ago there lived a king. Writers, poets, and musicians came from many places to see him. The king liked to hear their stories, poems, and music. But there was one man whom the king liked better than the others. His name was Mahamood. He knew many tricks, sang funny songs and danced well. He could make the king laugh and the people called Mahamood the Fool of The King. There was one thing that the king did not like in Mahamood. He ate very much. This little man ate from morning till night.
The king thought, “My poor Mahmood will die soon if he eats so much.”
Then he called together all his ministers and servants and said, “Listen to me. For one day you must not give Mahamood anything to eat. Do not give him wine, nor fruit, nor meat. Do not give him even a piece of bread! He must not sit at my table. He must not have anything to eat the whole day.”
“Oh, yes, my King, that’s right. He is too fat,” said one of the ministers. So the next day there was no place for Mahmood at the king’s table. He went to the wall and stood there. He thought, “I shall wait. Soon the servants will bring me food and drink.”
But the servants did not bring him anything. He did not ask for food, because he was afraid of the king.
“If a man makes the king angry, that man will die,” he thought.
Poor Mahamood was very hungry. Then one of the servants dropped a little piece of bread. Mahmood quickly picked it up. Now I have something to eat,” he thought. ‘I shall eat it when the king is not looking at me.”
When dinner was over, the poets read their poems, the musicians played and the dancing girls began their beautiful dances.
“Now the king is watching the dancing girls,” thought Mahmood, “I shall eat my piece of bread.” But the king was watching Mahmood all the time. He asked the musicians to stop, called Mahamood to come to him and asked, “I hear that you have a donkey. Where did you get It?”
“I bought it in Tripoli, my King!” answered Mahamood. “Oh, I see,” said the king.
So the musicians were playing and the girls were dancing. Then Mahmood wanted to eat his piece of bread. But the king asked him to come nearer and said.
“How much did you pay for your donkey in Tripoli?”
Mahmood put the bread in his pocket quickly and answered. “Sixteen gold coins, my King.” The king went on like this all the afternoon.
When Mahmood tried to eat his piece of bread, the king always asked him a question. At last evening came. Mahmood could not stand. He was so hungry and tired. When the feast was over, Mahmood ran to the kitchen, but the kitchen was locked and Mahmood had only his small piece of bread to eat. He ate it up and went to his room. But he could not sleep. He was very hungry.
Then he ran to the king’s room. He knocked at the door. The king asked angrily, “Who is knocking at my door so late?”
“Oh, my King,” said Mahmood. “I am sorry, but I must tell you that I did not buy my donkey in Tripoli, but in Benghazi.”
The king thanked him and told him to go away.
A few minutes later Mahamood knocked at the door again. “Oh, my King, but I told you a lie this afternoon. I did not pay sixteen gold coins for the donkey. I paid twenty gold coins for it.”
“Oh, you fool,” cried the angry king. “I shall cut off your head for your silly tales about the donkey and give your body to the jackals!”
Mahmood listened to the king and smiled: “Oh, yes, I know that. But before I die may I say my last wish? Only one wish!”
“What is your last wish?” asked the king.
“My last wish is to have a good supper.”
The king understood everything. He laughed and told his servants to bring the best food to his room. He sat down at the table with Mahamood. They ate and laughed until morning came. After that Mahmood was never without food. And he was always happy.
“We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.” (The Big Book, p. 23) “The ignorant mind, with its infinite, afflictions, passions, and evils, is rooted in the three poisons. Greed, anger, and delusion.”- Bodhidharma (c. 5th century AD) Zen Buddhist monk & founder of Kung Fu.
What delusions that you mistakenly hold about yourself that you feel oughta be SMASHED?
I’m thinking about you.
What else can I say?
The palm trees on the reverse
are a delusion; so is the pink sand.
What we have are the usual
fractured coke bottles and the smell
of backed-up drains, too sweet,
like a mango on the verge
of rot, which we have also.
The air clear sweat, mosquitoes
& their tracks; birds & elusive.
Time comes in waves here, a sickness, one
day after the other rolling on;
I move up, it’s called
awake, then down into the uneasy
nights but never
forward.
The roosters crow
for hours before dawn, and a prodded
child howls & howls
on the pocked road to school.
In the hold with the baggage
there are two prisoners,
their heads shaved by bayonets, & ten crates
of queasy chicks.
Each spring
there’s race of cripples, from the store
to the church.
This is the sort of junk
I carry with me; and a clipping
about democracy from the local paper.
Outside the window
they’re building the damn hotel,
nail by nail, someone’s
crumbling dream.
A universe that includes you
can’t be all bad, but
does it? At this distance
you’re a mirage, a glossy image
fixed in the posture
of the last time I saw you.
Turn you over, there’s the place
for the address.
Wish you were
here.
Love comes
in waves like the ocean, a sickness which goes on
& on, a hollow cave
in the head, filling & pounding, a kicked ear.
” … this emerging from isolation through the open and honest sharing of our terrible burden of guilt, brings us to a resting place where we may prepare ourselves for the following Steps … .” (12 & 12, p. 62) “What we’re all striving for is authenticity, a spirit – to – spirit connection.” – Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) U.S., TV mogul / actor
Under what circumstances have you felt especially connected with your HP or fellows?
Immense is my love for the seasons of the year,
for you are the seasons of my life, forever.
To feel the seasons, to have you near,
the joy of feeling you beside me, always together.
The autumn colours with its splendor,
reflection of the spectrum of life you bring me,
makes me feel the love so tender,
for it is a rainbow I see,
that brings me joy and pleasure,
to have found you at the end of the rainbow, my treasure.
The winter, cold, pure snow,
the serenity of the snow-covered fields and hills.
It is for me to feel and know
the warmth within you that my heart fills,
to warm me on those cold winter days,
which you fulfill in so many little ways.
With a wonder of new life emerging,
nature awakens with a light spring shower,
you bring about life as does spring,
so you fill my heart like a blooming flower.
You make me feel life’s meaning, serenity,
which I shall treasure, through eternity.
So soft is the summer breeze, the warmth of the night,
the days of clear skies, sun so bright.
So soft is your touch, so light,
so sweet is your smile, beauty for the sight.
It is as the warmth and light of the summer that us endears,
bringing us together for all future years.
The seasons of the year once more
renders nature with beauty not forgotten.
The beauty of you which I adore,
for your vivaciousness, I’m smitten.
Seasons – winter, spring, summer, and fall,
throughout the years of past and to be,
I realize the true love of all,
is the lease of life your passion enriches me.
“… in Steps One through Three, we were given the basic tools we need to negotiate the path of recovery.” “On this spiritual foundation, we lay the principles of commitment and perseverance as we work the Sixth Step.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 44)
What experiences have you had with overcoming adversity, lately?
Vikram was a brave king. Once, he had to fight against a large army with just a few soldiers, he was defeated. He had to run for his life.
Vikram took shelter in a forest cave. He was very depressed. His courage had left him. He was blankly gazing at the ceiling of the cave. An interesting scene captured his attention.
A small spider was trying to weave a web across the cave ceiling. As the spider crawled up, a thread of the web broke and the spider fell down. But the spider did not give up. He tried to climb again and again. Finally, the spider successfully climbed up and completed the web.
Vikram began to think, “If a small spider can face failure so bravely, why should I give up? I will try with all might till I win”. This thought gave strength to the defeated king.
Vikram got out of the jungle and collected his brave soldiers. He fought against the large army. He was defeated again. But now, he would not give up his fight.
Vikram, again and again, fought against the large army and finally, after many attempts defeated the large army and regained his kingdom. He had learned a lesson from the spider.
MORAL: Perseverance paves the way to success. (http://www.english-for-students.com/The-King-and-The-Spider.html)
