Recovery, Spirituality, & Meditation – Mark H.

About This Speaker Tape

MARK H. recounts his sobriety journey, starting with his separation from alcohol and cocaine on October 19, 1982. He emphasizes that the core problem isn't the substance, but a deep-seated 'brutally selfish' nature.

His path involved intense study of meditation, drawing from Buddhist and Eastern traditions, which he found more potent than traditional AA teachings. He stresses that the real work lies in the daily disciplines of Steps 10 and 11—the 'line of the will'—which force one into the present moment. He repeatedly hammers home that true recovery means realizing one's 'utter universality' and that the only way to achieve this is through constant self-inventory and the willingness to surrender to a Higher Power, even when it feels like a betrayal of the ego.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction: Speaker identifies as an alcoholic and mentions his separation from alcohol and cocaine on Oct 19, 1982.
• 0:35 Speaker discusses the concept of separation and fear, stating, 'There's no such thing as separation and fear.'
• 1:50 Reading meditation text: 'Once you have seen the face of Higher Power, you will see that same face on everyone that you meet.'
• 4:10 Speaker recounts studying with a Native American medicine man in Kerrville, Texas, and meditating in a circle on the red road.
• 10:00 Speaker emphasizes that meditation is the single most impactful thing he has done, noting the Big Book says to do it 365 days a year.
• 15:00 Discussion on the nature of the self, noting that the 'committee in your head' is a source of internal conflict.
• 20:00 Speaker discusses the 'Higher Power issue' and the 'AA donkey' metaphor, stating all paths lead to the same summit.
• 38:00 Detailed discussion on the 4th step inventory, noting that 'a lot more happens between pen and paper than mind and mouth.'
• 45:00 Speaker explains that the 10th and 11th Steps are 'practices'—Pause, Turn, Ask—that must be done all day long.