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,

Happy May to everyone. We hope your year has been full of moments where the breath comes naturally. Even if it hasn’t this is why we practice our program. You can hear it in our meetings when shares includes moments of clarity, or moments when the opportunity to share lessens the weight of recent hardships. This is a program where relief comes from the sangha as well as from within.

Going through the year examining the Truths and path, May provides an opportunity to examine our intentions. The pacing of our world may take us by storm at times. Thoughtful and consistent meditation practice allows us to unravel the events of our days. Our book tells us, “…we can use wise understanding to live without clinging, attachment or craving.” If tripping over some of your moments, is there anything you’ve been holding on to? If you’ve been successful in letting go of suffering, what has been working? With insights on either side, please come to a meeting and share. Your presence is always welcome whether you come to release or share successes.

Peace & Harmony,
RD Denver

Spotlight

Rick

1. How did you find Recovery Dharma?

"I can’t recall exactly how I first discovered RD (Recovery Dharma), but I attended my first online meeting about five years ago. I remember the 'cool kids' at my AA club used to attend Dharma Punx—a predecessor to RD. After about 12 years of sobriety in AA, I had a realization that there were atheists in the program, which caused some cognitive dissonance. I wondered how they stayed sober without 'God' and began questioning the dogma I had grown accustomed to. I tried an atheist AA meeting, but it didn’t quite resonate. When I started exploring RD, I discovered that the Buddha only asked us to trust our own experience. This immediately clicked because it removed dogma from the equation. I’ve been a member for three years now and feel I’ve grown immensely, learning so much about myself through meditation and Buddhist principles."

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

"No, I hadn't."

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

"Yes—martial arts, strength training, philosophy, Hinduism, and various occult wisdom traditions."

4. Is there anything in particular from the Dharma, the Sangha, or the meditations that resonates with you in your day-to-day life?

"Mindfulness helps me shift my thought patterns into something positive and productive.

Additionally, meditation gives me the ability to regulate my nervous system without the need for drugs or alcohol."

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

"We already have everything we need to recover; we just need help uncovering our own inner resources."

6. Any additional thoughts to share?

“Yes, this quote from Nisargadatta Maharaj beautifully describes my journey:” “All you need is already within you, only you must approach your self with reverence and love.

Self-condemnation and self-disgust are grievous errors. Your constant flight from pain and search for pleasure is a sign of love you bear for your self; all I plead with you is this: make love of yourself perfect.”

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.)

May 1 Vesak / Buddha Day (Theravada/Global) & Buddha Jayanti
May 1 Full Moon (Flower Moon)
May 16 New Moon
May 24 Buddha's Birthday (Mahayana/Chinese/Korean).
May 31 Full Moon (Blue Moon)

Upcoming Events

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

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?

One Dish at a Time - Aurora, CO

Sunday, May 3, 2026
11:30 AM 5:00 PM

Stanley Market Place 2501 Dallas Street Aurora, CO, 80010 United States (map)

A cooking competition between recovery organizations cooking with "mystery box" ingredients from food banks. Contestants are judged on taste, presentation and creativity. They must rise to the occasion and show us who they are One Dish at a Time!

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.

OM Chanting Meditation Meeting

May 14, 5:30-7pm
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.

RhythmRx DENVER

Friday, May 22, 2026, 7:00 PM 11:00 PM
SKYLIGHT
833 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rhythmrx-denver-tickets-1985693276042

Dance tonight. Feel alive tomorrow! Join 300+ Denverites for a phone-free, alcohol-free, multigenerational epic dance party with DJ CYN.
RhythmRx is a high-vibe, multigenerational dance experience designed to help you move, release, and reconnect - with yourself and your community.
Alcohol-free
Whether you’re coming solo, with friends, or bringing a whole crew - this space is for you. No pressure, no expectations. Just music, movement, and joy.
Why RhythmRx?
Because movement is medicine.
Because community heals.
Because we all need spaces where we can just be.

You’ll leave feeling:

✔️ Lighter
✔️ More connected
✔️ Energized and grounded
A community-centered experience rooted in wellness

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

WISE INTENTION

Wise Intention describes the attitude or approach we take toward ourselves and the world. We can choose non-harming by avoiding actions that have harmful results, detaching from the cravings that seem overwhelming in the moment, and developing a kind and compassionate stance toward ourselves and the world. Wise Intention leads us to stop doing things based on confusion, ill-will, hatred, violence, and selfishness. It impacts all our relationships: with ourselves, other people, our community, and the world as a whole.

Wise Intention is deciding to act in ways that produce good karma and to avoid actions that produce bad karma. We start by looking at the kinds of thoughts that cause us to act in wise or unwise ways. If our thoughts are based on confusion, fear, and greed, then our actions will bring bad results and create harm. If our thoughts are based on generosity, compassion, and avoiding clinging, then our actions will bring good results. Thoughts that are based in lovingkindness and goodwill, that are free from the desire or intention to cause harm, lead us to act in a beneficial manner

Read this and the rest of the book here. This starts on page 20.

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.