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,

Having come to Dharma, or reading this out of curiosity, we are familiar with how to create suffering within our lives through our addictive behaviors. As we wecome in March, we can set the intention of making it a good month. This can be done by taking advantage of the many opportunities offered throughout our recovery. In and around Denver there is a wealth of organizations that offer ways to connect. A few of them are listed below in the events or resources sections.

We began this year by examining the Four Noble Truths and will follow with the Eighfold Path. In the third month we can reflect on the Third Noble Truth: there is an end to suffering. Our book states that craving leads to suffering and says, “we come to understand that if our thoughts, words and actions are driven by greed, hatred or confusion, we are creating suffering within suffering.” We are not always good at recognizing our motivations. Particularly early in recovery. Thankfully, that's ok.

We come from an over abundance of suffering, and now understand that suffering is impermanent. The flip side of the coin, and graciously, is that the truths are not.

Peace & Harmony,
RD Denver

Sangha Spotlight

Jake

1. How did you find Recovery Dharma?

I found Recovery Dharma through an invitation by a friend. I was looking for a recovery space that centered mindfulness and communication rather than shame or hierarchy. I liked the idea of focusing on the Buddha’s teachings as practical tools rather than beliefs I had to sign onto.

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

I had some light exposure before, mostly through my youthful search to find answers. I'd dabbled in many philosophies, ideologies, and religions. Recovery Dharma was the first time the teachings felt not only directly applicable, but absolutely necessary to my daily life. It helped frame suffering and craving in a way that felt compassionate instead of moralizing.

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

Yes. I use talk therapy, meditation outside of meetings, and intentional routines that support stability and reflection. That said, I'm still a work of progress, and my routine is often changing so that I don't become stagnant.

4. 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?

The emphasis on impermanence and acceptance has been especially helpful. Learning to notice urges and emotions without immediately acting on them has changed how I move through my days.

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

Community is the answer. Like everything else, our relationship to sangha can change. If you step away and later return, you’ll find the same intention here: compassion, presence, and a place to sit.

Buddhist Celebrations

this month

(*celestial events are added as particularly in Theravadan Bhuddism, the lunar cycles are part of the cyclical nature of existence. These days may be incorporated within your own personal practice.)

March 3, 2026 (Tuesday): Magha Puja Day (Makha Bucha). Often called "Fourfold Assembly Day" or "Sangha Day," it celebrates the day 1,250 monks arrived to hear the Buddha preach without prior invitation. It is a public holiday in Thailand and Laos.
March 3: Full Moon
March 18-19: New Moon
March 26, 2026 (Thursday): Śākyamuni Renunciation Day. Commemorates Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) leaving his royal life to pursue enlightenment.
March 29, 2026 (Sunday): Parinirvana Day (Nirvana Day). Observed in Mahayana Buddhism to mark the death of the Buddha and his entry into final nirvana.

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)

Sundays, 6:45PM (except first Sunday of each Month reserved for business meeting).
Come and do your Inquiries with us! Whether just Starting on the first, picking up where you've left off or if you've done them before to understand how responses may have changed in time. We may be on different ones. What matters is that we come together for ourselves and to support others on the jouney.
Each meeting is facilitated by somebody new. Maybe yourself?

Guided Nature Meditations -Westminster, CO
Saturday, March 7, 2026
11:00 AM 12:30 PM
Advocates for Recovery Colorado
For more events with AFR click here.

Colorado Artists in Recovery (CAiR) hosts several workshops throughout the month, and welcomes all in recovery to participate for free. Whether you are new in recovery or wanting to try something new well into your journey, these workshops offer wonderful opportunities to explore new talents and meet others within positive/safe spaces.

Creative Recovery - Open Studio Session

Join us for Open Studio, creativity, connection, and sobriety unite. Enjoy art supplies, games, NA bevvies, and community connection! Art supplies will include a variety of options like acrylic and watercolor paints, brushes, paper, canvases, pencils, and charcoal—everything you need to create at your own pace!

March 18: 1-3pm
Champa Street Gym
2233 Champa Street, Denver, CO

Please reserve a spot ahead of time on the NewForm app.
For a full listing of events at the Phoenix Gym, click here.

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.

Sundays 5:30 The Phoenix (In-Person) 2233 Champa St. Denver, CO 80205
Tuesdays 6:45 The Phoenix (In-Person) 2233 Champa St. Denver, CO 80205 (in Baby Champa, the door to the left of the gym entrance).
Thursday 6:30 pm MT Lakewood (In-Person) @ Shepherd of the Hills Church - 11500 W 20th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Thursday 7:00 pm MT Denver (In-Person) @ FREE Spiritual Community Center - 2122 S. Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80210

For a complete list of meetings in the area, visit our website. To have your Dharma group added to our list, please reach out at RecoveryDharmaMetroDenver@gmail.com.

From the Book

THE THIRD NOBLE TRUTH:

Ending the Suffering

It is possible to end our suffering. When we come to understand the nature of our craving and realize that all our experiences are temporary by nature, we can begin a more skillful way to live with the dissatisfaction that is part of being human. We don’t need to be torn apart by our thoughts and feelings that say, “I have to have more of that,” or “I’ll do anything to get rid of this.” The Third Noble Truth states that the end of craving is possible. Each of us has the capacity for recovery.

We are responsible for our own actions and for the energy we give our thoughts and feelings. This means we have some control over how we respond to our own suffering, because the unpleasant emotions take place within us; we create them through our response to experience. We don’t need to depend on anyone or anything else to remove the causes of our suffering. We may not be able to control anything “out there,” but we can learn to choose what we think, say, and do. We come to understand that if our thoughts, words, and actions are driven by greed, hatred, or confusion, we are creating suffering within suffering. If we let go of these attitudes, we can lessen suffering or even create freedom. We can choose to give up these causes of disturbing and unpleasant emotions. This is the true empowerment and freedom of recovery — recognizing that happiness and suffering are up to us, based on how we choose to respond to our experiences.

Read this and the rest of the book here. This starts on page 15.

Community Resources

Recovery Dharma supports a holistic path to recovery. There is no one right way to recover and 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:

Advocates for Recovery - recovery meetings, events, coaching
CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness)
CAIR (Colorado Artists in Recovery) - artists workshops and events
Rooted303 - personal development classes, recovery coaching, support groups
The Phoenix - A Sober Active Community offering free exercise classes
Hard Beauty - recovery coaching and workshops
Meditation Resources - Insight Timer App, Sounds True One, Waking Up, Headspace, Plum Village App, Recovery Dharma Meditations.