Heart of Recovery

Recovery, Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth The Heart of Recovery weekend program offers a supportive space for individuals who are stable in their various recovery journeys and are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Grounded in the principles of meditation and select Buddhist teachings, this program provides tools to gain insight into the connection between body, mind, and breath while working with difficult emotions. Participants are invited to explore these practices within a compassionate community, fostering a sense of connection and mutual support. Guided by the lens of the Shambhala path, the program integrates themes from Eric's book, Basic Sobriety , which bridges recovery with mindfulness and spiritual growth. Together, we’ll explore how the principles of recovery align with meditation and Buddhist fundamentals, empowering participants to cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and joy in their lives. Understanding Suffering This program is ideal for those ready to explore the intersection of recovery and spirituality with curiosity and an open heart. The ground of the Buddhist path is the understanding of suffering and how it manifests in our daily lives. Over the course of the weekend we will introduce this ground as part of the journey of recovery and the foundation from which we develop the bravery of living a life free from our addictions. Activities & Teachings Through group meditation, discussions, and talks we will explore the journey of sobriety, framed around what is traditionally called the “three yana journey” of Buddhism (yana can be translated as “vehicle”), overlaying those journeys with the path of our freedom from addictions of all types. There will be periods of: Silence Meditation Formal Discussions Casual Discussions and Conversation Exploration of the Awakening Springtime Environment of Karmê Chöling Who Should Attend Participants who have a commitment to bringing caring attention to an addiction in sobriety are welcome to attend. Previous experience with meditation is not necessary, nor is experience with the 12 Step recovery method. Participants will be guided through the teachings and practices of both of these disciplines. Note on sobriety: This retreat is for anyone seeking release from addictive behaviours and patterns in their lives (whether with food, drugs, alcohol, sex etc…), including those in painful relationships with addicts. All participants are required to commit to abstain from drinking or other non-prescribed substances, regardless of whether they are working specifically with drug and alcohol issues during the weekend and on the Karmê Chöling land. Arrival & Departure Friday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. The program will officially begin at 7:30pm. On Sunday, the program will finish by 12:30pm with lunch afterwards. Getting Here Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling including pick-up service from Hanover, Lebanon, White River Junction and Burlington to our front door.