OUTREACH (aka treatment & corrections)

Recovery Dharma

This page offers ideas on ways to reach out to the community; especially to those who are going through treatment or are experiencing incarceration.

There are unique challenges and differences when taking meetings to treatment centers, correctional facilities, hospitals, and other institutions, and we are working on resources to help. In the meantime, feel free to follow the links to see how you can start and grow your local sanghas.

Mission

To support and encourage Recovery Dharma members with outreach efforts.

vision

Every single member of Recovery Dharma feels empowered and capable of introducing the program of Recovery Dharma to anyone affected by addiction around the world.

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Meetings: We facilitate meetings in T&C facilities

Find or create a variety of formats and scripts that meet the needs of people who are new to recovery
Create a system or structure for volunteers to facilitate meetings at treatment and correction facilities.
Contact local treatment and correction facilities to let them know that your sangha is available to facilitate meetings at their facility.
Listen to, and learn from, the facilities about their availability, limitations and requirements for recovery program meetings.
Register the meeting on the Recovery Dharma Global Website. There is an option on whether or not to publicize the meeting

Meditation: Offer guided meditations for people in T&C

We use the same meditations but allow for adjustments such as:

Using just the basic RD meditation without options
Shorten silent pauses to 30 seconds
Skip difficult people in heart practice meditations

Choose meditation scripts or recordings that are noted as beginner friendly or introductory from the Recovery Dharma Global website.
Invite a variety of volunteers to read meditation scripts to help demonstrate that the task is accessible to all members.

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Inquiry & Investigation: Encourage and support self-inquiry

Use use inquiry questions for topics of discussion
Ask speakers to share about their experiences with the inquiry process
Host special meetings or workshops for members to write during the session and share their insights from the writing.
Create systems for Wise Friends and Mentors to develop and then to reach out to those who live in treatment and correction facilities.
Make flash cards or other documents that members can use to start to answer inquiry questions through discussion and sharing.
Provide or donate towards writing materials.

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Renunciation: Support renunciation for people in T&C

We share how the concepts and practices around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path all work together to support our letting go of their addiction, and support theirs similarly.
Some may need to to identify and let go of intoxicating behaviors or substances before being able to connect with the Buddhist practice.
Some may need the help of Buddhist inquiry and practice before being able to let go of addictive behaviors and substances.
Many will expand their definition of addictive and intoxicating behaviors and substances as they deepen their understanding of their recovery.

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The Path: We introduce the Path to people living in T&C facilities

We facilitate and encourage the reading of the book and checking out our website for more info.
We raise funds to freely offer printed versions of the book and literature to treatment and correction facilities.
We share about our experience with an aspect of refuge, the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold path.
We share our experience of wise friends and mentorship with those living in T&C

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Wise Friends & Mentors: Cultivating relationships within the T&C community

Build up the Sangha’s capacity to have wise friends and mentors available for newly engaged members.

Make announcements at meetings
Develop inquiry circles or texting friend groups
Use or create literature about Wise Friends and Mentors for meeting readings and topics of discussion.
Create a culture that includes a variety of ways to engage in Wise Friendship.

Growth: Facilitating growth in T&C facilities

We create and facilitate opportunities to deepen practice, such as workshops, retreats and other events.
We share of other organizations in our community that support Buddhist learning, practice and retreats.
We encourage those who are new to approach the practice with curiosity – both to determine if this a safe and reliable refuge and to overcome obstacles such as boredom and difficulty.