Enough!: A Buddhist Approach to Finding Release from Addictive Patterns

Description

All of us are caught up in addictions-big or small. Enough! presents a practical path that releases us from the grip of negative habits and addictions that block a full and meaningful life. We can learn how to undo our habits and addictions, but to do this we have to first find their triggers. With the right techniques, we can disarm them and learn more effective ways for dealing with the pain that so often underlies our problem-causing behaviors. Without the support of effective methods, we are likely to return to our addictions when pain and painful issues arise. Choenyi Taylor helps us break through that cycle, reconnect with ourselves and others, and feel more centered in our spiritual awareness. The meditations in this book are designed to develop familiarity with states of mind that can release us from addictive patterns. Presenting the essence of Buddhism without the jargon and fusing it with Western psychology, Choenyi Taylor engagingly combines practical exercises that were developed through her workshops with meditations and stories and presents invaluable insights about how the mind works. Enough! is intended for anyone who is looking for a powerful and effective way out of addiction, regardless of religious or secular background, and is suitable for self-study or as part of a guided program.

Choenyi Taylor (Dr. Diana Taylor) was ordained as a Buddhist nun by the Dalai Lama in 1995. Active in the worlds of both Buddhism and Western psychology, she teaches Buddhism and participates in interfaith conferences and workshops for psychologists and health professionals. She is currently a lecturer and supervisor in the Graduate Diploma Program in Buddhism and Psychotherapy for the Australian Association of Buddhist Counselors and Psychotherapists, and is an honorary lecturer in Psychological Medicine at Sydney University.

"The Buddha's eight-step enlightenment program has a lot to say about freeing us from overwhelming attachments and other habitual patterns, and Choenyi Taylor has the experience and know-how to communicate this well. Her accessible and savvy hands-on guide is profound in applying spiritual principles of awareness, cultivation for reconditioning the heart and mind through a skillful combination of practical psycho-spiritual exercises, and insightful introspection. I heartily recommend this to all those struggling to become healthier and happier, more balanced, sane, and liberated."-Lama Surya Das, author of Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be "With Enough!, Choenyi Taylor has created a practical, step-by-step guide to finding freedom from addiction and compulsion, as well as a clear and honest approach to living life while walking a spiritual path. Taylor offers us a tremendous opportunity to transform the pain of our destructive behaviors into the fruit of spiritual awakening."-Michael Imperioli, actor, The Sopranos, and a Tibetan Buddhist "A major contribution to the integration of Buddhism into Western psychology and psychotherapy."-Ron Leifer, MD, author of Vinegar into Honey "A vital guidebook to the literature on both addiction and Buddhist philosophy. Even those who don't think they're addicted to any toxic substances or behaviors will find much to contemplate with Taylor's guidance. . . . Taylor brings together the perspectives of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy; her skill in finding similarities and points of intersection strengthen the work and makes this a stunningly valuable guide for changing addictive behaviors."-ForeWord "An eminently practical book that guides readers through stages of self-awareness and change, meditation by meditation. . . . Taylor's focused, purposeful, and hands-on guide to recovery through Buddhist meditational practice benefits from her years as a therapist, as well as her Buddhist sense of compassion; many readers in recovery, whether specifically Buddhist or not, will be grateful for her work."-Library Journal "In this generous and reader-friendly book, Dr. Taylor speaks clearly and to the heart to all people experiencing the burden of addiction. The combination of her vast knowledge as a treating psychologist and profound wisdom as a Buddhist nun is reflected in this informative and very practical self-help book. Her deep understanding of addiction and emotional and physical pain will inspire all readers and bring new hope to the most troubled spirit. If you feel affected by any addiction, this book is a must."-Bruno Cayoun, director of the Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy Institute "A stunningly valuable guide for changing addictive behaviors. . . . Present[s] the essence of Buddhism without the jargon usually found in many similar books."-Eastern Horizon "Enough! is a brilliant self-help book. . . . As a recovering addict of more than twenty years, these practices and skilful means are my way of staying clean, functional, and aware."-Margot-Deepa Slater, recovered addict, New South Wales, Australia "If you or someone you know is trying to overcome an addiction or habitual pattern, I highly recommend this book. For those involved in 12-step programs, I think this book will be a valuable tool to integrate into your program. For those that are trying to do it on their own, again, this is a useful book that can very well lead to a successful DIY approach to achieve your goal."-Precious Metal