Buddhist Recovery Network

BRN Podcast: Buddhist Recovery Network

Buddhist Recovery Network

  • #14 – Suffering and Happiness – Both are Present, Embrace Them ft. Steven Tierney, Ed.D.

#14 – Suffering and Happiness – Both are Present, Embrace Them ft. Steven Tierney, Ed.D.

Monday 13th May 2019

Steven Tierney explores balancing suffering and happiness in addiction recovery with Buddhist teachings and mindfulness.
20 minutes
Informative
Hopeful
Encouraging
Transformative
Engaging

About this podcast

BRN Podcast: Buddhist Recovery Network
Author:
Buddhist Recovery Network
Overview:
Categories:
Mindful Recovery
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Creative Recovery Journeys
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
69 (View all)
Rounded Button Dark
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!

Finding Balance: Embracing Suffering and Happiness in Recovery with Steven Tierney

As Buddhists, we know that suffering is part of life. We accept that. Then, right in the center of the Big Book of alcoholics anonymous (p 132) is a wonderful sentence: “We absolutely insist on enjoying life... we are not a glum lot”!
Can you really find happiness amidst the struggles of addiction recovery? Steven Tierney, Ed.D., joins the Buddhist Recovery Network to explore this profound question. In this episode, titled 'Suffering and Happiness: Both are Present, Embrace Them', Steven dives into the ancient Buddhist teaching of 'Drishta dharma sukha viharin', which encourages living happily with things as they are. For many who've battled addiction and recovery, this idea might seem overly simplistic or even dismissive.
Yet, as Buddhists, the acceptance of suffering as an inherent part of life is key. But how do we balance this with the insistence on enjoying life, as encouraged by the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous? The answer lies in letting go. Renunciation, according to Gil Fronsdal, is a powerful practice in Buddhism that enhances our lives rather than diminishes them.
Abstaining from intoxicating substances is part of this practice, allowing us to welcome suffering and delusion without clinging to them. Steven shares his insights on decision-making and staying present, emphasizing the importance of compassion, friendship, and service in the recovery journey. This episode offers a refreshing perspective on how to embrace both suffering and happiness, making it a must-listen for anyone on the path to sobriety.
alcoholfree.com
Published by The Mindful Drinking Company Limited
4 Providence Court, Pynes Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5JL, England
Registered in England and Wales.
Company Number: 1195057. Vat Number: GB320915135.
Registered address as above.
© Copyright 2005-2025 The Mindful Drinking Company Limited.
All Rights Reserved.
alcoholfree.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.