Keith A. – Traditions – Tradition Two and the Group Conscience – 2014

About This Speaker Tape

The workshop opens with a rigid reading of NA's foundational texts, setting a formal stage for Keith and Troy to dismantle the tension between personal ego and group survival. Keith maps out the danger of 'moralizing' and the trap of thinking one's own ideas are superior to the group conscience, sharing a poignant memory of drinking from the water cup of a woman dying of AIDS to signal absolute acceptance. Troy digs into the friction of autonomy, recounting the wreckage of meetings that vanished from schedules due to silence or became dominated by a single personality.

The session closes with a raw exchange among members about the 'NA Nazi' reputation and the grueling practice of tolerance when dealing with members who refuse to change, framing the Traditions not as rules, but as the only thing keeping the doors open.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening readings: The NA clarity statement and the 12 Steps.
• 11:45 Keith begins his share on Traditions 1 and 2; emphasizes that Traditions are non-negotiable.
• 22:10 Keith describes the spiritual act of drinking from a member's water cup to show acceptance.
• 31:40 Keith shares a story of anger and betrayal after a group conscience vote went against him.
• 43:15 Troy discusses Tradition 3 and the 'We Belong' workshop experience.
• 52:30 Troy explains the danger of 'autonomous' groups that stop communicating with the area.
• 58:10 Troy describes the pain of having to declare a meeting 'no longer Narcotics Anonymous' due to a dominant personality.
• 1:05:20 David shares his experience as an 'NA Nazi' and his journey through the Steps.
• 1:14:10 Laughter: Members discuss the struggle of practicing tolerance with difficult old-timers.