September 2025

Written By Jason Link

 READ THE BOOK 

Click the link above to read the 2nd Edition of the Recovery Dharma book, including updates to the text and 14 personal stories of recovery from members of the community!




Dear Sangha,

   Going through our days we are often humbly reminded of the basics. We get carried away in processes and routines. Growth is amazing, and growth is what we strive for. This is in our recovery. This is in our work and as we build relationships. This is perhaps a good time to reflect on the third Noble Truth of Wise Speech so we may foster our relationships wisely.


In our speech we set the intention to be truthful. We may find through time ways we have been untruthful. When mindless in our addictions, mindfulness and meditations allow us to reflect on how we may become more wise in our speech. We may not outright lie. We may instead exaggerate slightly or leave out details. Most of the time if not all of the time we don’t even need to. We feel the need to do so to be accepted. We do it because we worry about not living up to expectations.


Those of us who find ourselves in recovery communities are rather fortunate. We find ourselves surrounded by people who are just happy we showed up. We have bad days. We have slip ups and disappointing results from things we had been looking forward to. This is a place and community who come together to celebrate the ups, or gather around when we feel lows. This is a great place to practice Wise Speech. Even if it’s basic, we can be honest together.

Sending peace,
Recovery Dharma Denver





Sangha Spotlight

Wyatt J, he/him/his – recovering alcoholic and addict

1. How did you find Recovery Dharma?

I found Recovery Dharma for the first time a little over 6 months ago. I was in a hopeless state of body and mind when I finally found the courage and desperation to check into a residential detoxification facility in the mountains of Morrison, Colorado. There, in that facility, I was lucky enough to experience a wide variety of recovery meetings and ideologies, and instantly formed a special connection with the ideology found in Recovery Dharma. I knew from my first month in sobriety that the Dharma would play a very influential role in my recovery journey.

2. Had you been introduced to the Buddha's teachings before?

There were two teachers in high school that familiarized me with the teachings of the Buddha long before I was ready to apply these principles to my life in a meaningful way. However, I still remember my first time being introduced to the Four Noble Truths and instantly appreciating the brutal honesty involved in the admission of the Truth of Suffering. There are not many systems of belief that are so transparent with the reality of life and the hardships it presents, and I carried the memory of that impact with me to the day that the teachings reappeared in my life.

3. Is there anything in particular from the Dharma (teachings), the Sangha (community), meditations or any other aspect that resonates with you in your day to day life?

One thing that resonates with me from the teachings is the idea of equanimity. In early recovery, it can be difficult to have patience and understand that you are making progress, even if it’s not as immediate as I would like it to be. Through my Dharma practice, I am learning to appreciate the journey and trust the process of healing and growth. It's a daily practice of acceptance and allowing things to unfold, rather than trying to force outcomes. This helps me find a sense of peace even when things are challenging.

4. Do you mix in any other practices with your recovery?

Yes! In conjunction with my Recovery Dharma sangha and practice, I am a proud and grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, as well as a couple standalone Buddhist recovery groups. I entered into recovery as a very isolated and lonely person with the ultimate gift of desperation. When I decided to commit to recovery, I went all in. I decided I would accept community and experience wherever I could find it. I know that I am potentially an outlier in Recovery Dharma being involved in a wide variety of recovery organizations, but as I learn to look for similarities and not differences in all of these programs, I have been able to connect with a wide range of people that all have the common goal of recovery and sobriety.

5. Is there anything you would want to share with someone new to recovery or new to the Dharma?

There are a few things I would like to share with someone new to recovery. First, seek out a supportive community that aligns with your values. Recovery is not a solitary endeavor. Second, extend grace to yourself. Healing is a process that unfolds over time, and progress isn't always a straight line. Acknowledge and appreciate even the smallest successes. Third, be open to all teachings and wisdom that resonate with you. Any principle that brings you serenity and clarity is a valuable asset on the path to recovery. Finally, always remember that each day presents a fresh chance to practice and evolve, and be thankful for every occasion that allows you to show how far you've come in your recovery.



Bhuddist Holy Days in July

  • Ullambana Day (September 7):

    A festival in which offerings are made to ancestors and prayers are said for the deceased, originating from Buddhist and Taoist traditions. 


  • Higan-e (September 19-25):

    A weeklong Mahayana festival at the autumn equinox, symbolizing the journey to the other shore (Nirvana) through practices of giving, precepts, perseverance, diligence, meditation (zazen), and wisdom. 



Upcoming Events

To have your Dharma and/or recovery events added to the newsletter, please email recoverydharmametrodenver@gmail.com.

Inquiries Group at the Phoenix Gym (2221 Champa St., Denver, CO 80205)

  • Starting Sunday, August 17th at 6:45PM

  • This group is already underway to explore the inquiries of the Four Noble Truths. This is our first group of this structure. Our intent is two-fold. For our own growth and developement, as well as fostering a community of wise friends who are able to walk others through the inquiries. We will be gathering feedback from our current group members, and creating further inquiry sessions from what we learn.

  • To be informed on future inquiries groups, please email us at recoverydharmametrodenver@gmail.com.



Rally for Recovery - Denver, CO



Meetings

Join us at one of our weekly meetings. We have in-person meetings nearly every day of the week across the Front Range as well as online meetings you can join from anywhere. We practice meditation together and then read from the Recovery Dharma book or another Buddhist text. The second half of the meeting is dedicated to providing space to talk about the topic or anything you need to share related to recovery.

We have a few new meetings to announce!

For a complete list of meetings in the area, visit our website.

 

From the Book

WISE SPEECH

Wise Speech is based on the intention to do no harm. We’ve all used speech in a manner that may create harm: lying to keep others from knowing what’s really going on; gossiping with the intention of putting someone down or satisfying our desire to be recognized; stealing time and attention by chattering on and on; or trying to convince others to meet our own needs at the expense of their own. Wise Speech includes all the ways we use our voices, including online and in writing.

The basic foundation of Wise Speech is honesty or truthfulness. Dishonesty is exaggeration, minimizing, omitting or lying with the intention of presenting a distortion of reality. It can take the form of “white lies” to avoid embarrassment or exposure, half-truths to keep from being caught, or seemingly harmless things said at the expense of others. We may say more than we really know to be true in the hopes of appearing smarter or more confident in our position or feeling. Sometimes we say something before we know the truth.

Dishonesty has to do with our intention in speech. Are we motivated by greed, fear, or confusion? Or are we motivated by a sincere desire to express what’s true, what’s useful, what’s kind, and what’s timely? Wise Speech means we speak with the intention of not causing harm, and of fostering safety and security in our community.

Read the full chapter here, starting on page 26.

 


Community Resources

Recovery Dharma supports a holistic path to recovery. There is no one right way to recover! It's always a good idea to add more tools to your toolbox to facilitate your healing.

Here are some other community resources to check out:

 

 CONTACT US 

Recoverydharmametrodenver@gmail.com

Powered by Squarespace

Unsubscribe

Jason Link
Next

August 2025