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 a wet start to September in the Colorado front range. It's a beautiful thing to be outside right after a rain. All of the senses can come alive in that moment offering a wonderfulspace to be mindful and present.

Already people are saying they don't know where the year went. To balance this make the intention to sit in practice. Come back to your breath regularly. This can be very intimidating, or hard with the worry that somehow we're not meditating correctly. If concerned about technique or a wondering mind, please ask a sangha member for help. Let's enjoy/savor these movements. The capacity to do so is within us all.

Peace & Harmony,
RD Denver

Spotlight

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1. How did you find Recovery Dharma?

A close friend of mine in recovery found it and thought I might relate to it.

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

Just once, very briefly. Another friend convinced me to spend part of a weekend at Drala Mountain. While I was in the Stupa, I was really intrigued by the teaching exhibits around the outer walls.

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

Yes I am an active member of Narcotics Anonymous.

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?

Dharma,
- Simplified, I think Dharma is a cause and effect practice. Suffering happens, sometimes I'm causing it, and I don't have to keep causing it.
Sangha
- The acceptance that we're all trying to recover in whatever way we can, and there may be multiple paths to get there.
Meditation
- I always thought I was failing at meditation because I couldn't calm my mind. Learning that this was an incorrect understanding of meditation was a relief.

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

New to recovery
- The specific substance that got us into recovery is usually just a symptom. More often it is the way we think and respond to life. Many of us used substances to quiet a mind that wouldn't stop. Removing the substance is only the beginning. Lasting recovery comes from learning a different way to think.
New to Dharma
- Once you start working the inquiries, you begin to realize that everything we need for recovery is already within us. The challenge is learning how to uncover it and to apply it in our lives.

6. (optional) Any additional thoughts to share?

My biggest hurdle with 12-step programs has always been the God part. It was a relief to find a recovery program where belief in God isn't a requirement.

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: September 11
Higan (Higan-e), September 20-26, a weeklong autumn equinox festival observed by Mahayana Buddhists.
Full Moon (Harvest Moon): September 26

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?

2026 Rally For Recovery Denver!!!

Saturday, September 19, 2026
12-4:00PM
Advocates for Recovery Colorado
Cheeseman Park
Advocates for Recovery Colorado (AFRC), in partnership with Over the Rainbow Behavioral Health, presents the 2026 Rally for Recovery—Saturday, September 19th from 12–4 PM at a NEW LOCATION for 2026, Cheesman Park, centrally located in Denver, Colorado.
This years Rally will welcome even more vendors than ever, family friendly events, food, entertainment from the 2026 Recovery’s Got Talent Showcase and feature the Walk for Recovery Parade, sponsored by Centennial Peaks Hospital, to kick things off! More details coming soon!!
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.

Creative Writing Workshop

Phoenix Gym 2239 Champa St. Denver CO
Sep 21, 11:00 - 12:00 PM
Join us for a relaxed and welcoming Creative Writing Workshop — a safe space to spend an hour writing, reflecting, and creating with light music in the background. Writing utensils, and paper will be provided, so just bring yourself and your thoughts. Use this time to jot down memories you want to keep, stories you want to share, or something you’ve been meaning to reflect on but haven’t quite figured out yet. Your writing can go anywhere — journal entries, poems, short stories, novels, comedy, jokes, or even doodles are all welcome. No experience is needed, just a willingness to show up, reflect, and create in community.
What to bring?
- Just bring yourself! Writing utensils and paper will be provided. You’re also welcome to bring your own journal, notebook, or favorite pen if you prefer
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 livelihood

The final factor in the ethical group is Wise Livelihood, which focuses on how we support ourselves in the world. Again, the intent is to avoid causing harm. For most of us, our work occupies so much of our time and attention, so how we choose to make a living takes on special importance. Understanding the principle of karma, and knowing that unethical activity gives rise to harmful karma, whatever choices or circumstances lead us to a particular job need to be recognized as having karmic consequences.

We try to avoid jobs that give rise to suffering and seek work that does no harm or reduces suffering. The Buddha mentions five kinds of livelihood to avoid: trading in weapons or instruments of killing, trafficking in or selling human beings, killing of other beings, making or selling addictive drugs, or business in poison. We’re encouraged to avoid occupations based on dishonesty or injury.

Read this and the rest of the book here. This starts on page 31.

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.