Buddhism as a Language for Recovery

A Dharma Punk Program for Substance Addiction

Abstract

Addiction is a dysfunction of the eating habit, and a disease of lifestyle, interpersonal relationships, and responsibility as a human being. A Buddhist approach for addiction recovery is discussed. Noah Levine, a Buddhist meditation teacher in the United States, has learned a “twelve steps” program to recover from addiction, and has used Buddhist meditation to recover from his own juvenile delinquency and addiction. He has integrated both practices and has developed a project to support youth who also suffer from those addictions and delinquency. He defines addiction as the action to avoid human difficulties and alleviate the pain (drug abuse) without serious confrontation and observance. He also maintains addiction as dukkha (suffering as understood in Buddhism) and suggests refuge in the three treasures (Buddhahood as awareness of reality; Dharma as twelve steps, the four noble truths and the eightfold path; Sangha as a mutual support community) as a path to recovery. He finds common radical views to question the default value system both in Buddhism and punk rock music, of which he is a fan.