Beyond Insight

The following was sent to me by Jack at The Lazarus House. I think my readers will enjoy.

JULY 7 – BUILDING BLOCK 19 – SELF-KNOWLEDGE RELAPSE PREVENTION SERIES IS SELF-KNOWLEDGE THE ANSWER TO ADDICTION? “A certain American business man had ability, good sense, and high character . For years he had floundered from one sanitarium to another. (They didn’t have treatment centers in those days.) He had consulted the best know American psychiatrists; yet could not stop drinking. Then he had gone to Europe, placing himself in the care to the celebrated physician (the psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung.) He finished his experience with unusual confidence. His physical and mental condition were unusually good. Above all, he believed he had acquired such a profound knowledge of the inner working of his mind and its hidden springs that relapse was unthinkable. Nevertheless, he was drunk in a short time. More baffling still, he could give himself no satisfactory explanation for his fall.” (A.A. Page 26)
“Those of us who suffer from addiction, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking or using drugs on the basis of self-knowledge. This is a point we wish to EMPHAIZE and RE-EMPHASIZE, to smash home upon the person reading this information, as it has been revealed to us out of bitter experience.” (A.A. Page 39)
JULY 10– BUILDING BLOCK 22 – THE SOLUTION.RELAPSE PREVENTION SERIES. (Attachment may be easier to read.)What “wisdom” did the original members of A.A. pass on to us regarding this matter? “There was nothing else for us to do but to “pick up” the simple kit of “spiritual tools” laid at our feet.” (A.A. Page 25)Some alcoholics and drugs addicts may think they can do without spiritual help. Let us tell you about a conversation one of our members had with his renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Jung. He had spent six months under Dr. Jung’s care and believed the “self-knowledge” he acquired was the answer to his problem; that he would never pick up a drink again, but he relapsed. Upon meeting with Dr. Jung, the doctor said: "You have the mind of a chronic alcoholic. I have never seen one single case recover, where that state of mind existed to the extent that it does in you." Our friend felt as though the gates of hell had closed on him with a clang. He said to the doctor, "Is there no exception?" "Yes," replied the doctor, "there is. Exceptions to cases such as yours have been occurring since early times. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics and drug addicts have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. To me these occurrences are phenomena. They appear to be in the nature of:1. Huge emotional displacements and rearrangements. (Fear to courage, resentments to forgiveness.)2. Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once the guiding forces of the lives of these men and women are suddenly cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begins to dominate them. In fact, I have been trying to produce some such emotional rearrangements within you. With many individuals the methods which I employ are successful, but I have never been successful with an alcoholic of your description." Upon hearing this, our friend was somewhat relieved, for he reflected that, after all, he was a good church member. This hope, however, was destroyed by the doctor's telling him that while his religious convictions were very good, in his case they did not spell the necessary vital spiritual experience. Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend found himself when he had the extraordinary spiritual experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man. We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works. The distinguished American psychologist, William James, in his book ‘Varieties of Religious Experience,’ indicates a multitude of ways in which men and women have discovered God. We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired. If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try. (A.A. Page 27-8)“Every few days, Dr. Silkworth “suggests” our approach to one of his patients. Understanding our work, he can do this with an eye to selecting those who are willing and able to recover – on a spiritual basis.” (A.A. Page 162)Are we “suggesting” the same solution today, or have “meetings” become the “God” who keeps us clean and sober? Meeting makers make it. Has the “message” “We decided to go to any lengths to FIND a spiritual experience been replaced with “We decided to go to any lengths to AVOID picking up a drink or drug.” What do you think? Namaste, (The light in me honors the light in you.)Jack

Thanks Jack