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,

Welcome to August with joy, and we hope that sentiment is recieved with a smile. With our practices we encounter highs and lows, and the Dharma allows us to be present in the moment. While reading this, may it be a pleasant moment.

We have been going through the truths and path recently. Let us pause for a moment with the Five Precepts (in more detail below in the reading): 1. Do not take the life of another, 2. Be truthful, 3. Do not steal, 4. Wise in our sexual behaviors, & 5. Do not use intoxicating substances. If not all of them all of them all the time (after all this is a practice) in what ways are you able to honor them? Of all the reasons we have to experience gratitude, do these observations provide more? The intent is that they do.

Peace & Harmony,
RD Denver

Spotlight

Pepper, She/Her

1. How did you find Recovery Dharma?

I kept seeing it in the Phoenix activities so I asked around in my other activities I was doing with the Phoenix and found out what it was. I decided to finally sign up for it and give it a try.

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

No I have never been introduced to Buddha teachings before all this is new to me until I came to recovery dharma at the phoenix.

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

I do meditation, acudetox, soundbath meditation, and yen yoga.

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?

Getting in the habit of daily meditation and staying grounded. Checking in with my mentor and doing my inquiries. Accepting that I have a positive community behind me.

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

This is an amazing community that is very positive and welcoming. They are not judgemental and will always be there no matter the situation. So if you are looking for a sober community this is a great place to look.

6. Any additional thoughts to share?

I'm so grateful to have found recovery dharma and my amazing mentor Heather. This is an awesome group of people they have helped me in so many ways I'm glad to have a great community of people that care about me.

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.)

New Moon (Total Solar Eclipse): August 12.
Obon, August 13, A Japanese Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of one's ancestors with traditional dances, lanterns, and family visits.
Full Moon (Partial Lunar Eclipse): August 28
Ullambana / Ghost Festival, August 25–30, Mahayana Buddhist and Taoist observance where people make offerings to relieve the suffering of ancestors and the departed.

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?

Drum Circle and Nature Meditations with Gregory Merritt! - Westminster, CO

Saturday, August 15, 2026
11:00 AM 12:30 PM
Advocates for Recovery Colorado
3440 West 71st PlaceWestminster, CO, 80030United States (map)
Come Join Advocates for Recovery Colorado Drum Circle and Nature Meditations with Gregory Merritt! A communal event full of rhythm, healing and connection. Some drums will be provided. Bring your own musical instruments if you have them! All are welcome.
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.
To Sign Up for a monthly newsletter of events click here.

OM Chanting Meditation Meeting

Phoenix Gym 2239 Champa St. Denver CO
August 13th 5:30-6:30PM
OM Chanting is a powerful group meditation that uses the primordial sound OM to help harmonize the mind, body, and environment. Practiced together in a circle, the vibration of OM supports emotional balance, inner peace, and spiritual connection. Through the collective chanting of this sacred sound, participants often experience deep calm, clarity, and a sense of unity. When we practice OM Chanting, we practice padaseva bhakti – the expression of Divine Love and service to all beings. The gathering will conclude with a guided meditation.

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

WISE ACTION

Wise Action is also based in the intention to do no harm and to foster compassion, lovingkindness, generosity, and forgiveness. We try to do what’s skillful, and avoid actions that are unskillful. Wise Action asks that we try to make choices based on understanding and not unthinking habits or ignorance.

The Buddha suggested that we make a commitment to avoid five specific actions that cause harm, a commitment which is known as the

Five Precepts. We commit to the Five Precepts as our basic ethical system:

1. We set the intention to avoid taking the life of another living being, or from causing harm to ourselves or another living being.

2. We set the intention to avoid taking what is not freely given, or stealing.

3. We set the intention to avoid causing harm through our sexual conduct, and to be aware of the consequences and impact of our sexual activity and desire.

4. We set the intention of being honest, of not lying, and of not using speech in a harmful way.

5. We set the intention to avoid the use of intoxicants and intoxicating behavior that cloud our awareness.

We need to continually reflect on and question the intentions behind our actions. We may have moments of clarity, but these can quickly pass, when old habits or thoughts resurface. We commit to constantly reminding ourselves of our intention to Wise Action: to act inways that are non-harming.

Read this and the rest of the book here. This starts on page 29.

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
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) - the state administration responsible for ensuring all people in Colorado have access to quality mental health and substance use disorder services, regardless of where they live, or ability to pay.
The Second Chance Center (SCC) - Dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated individuals transition to success, we provide the guidance and resources needed to create a fulfilling, successful future.
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.