Letter # 90: "The Second Step"

February, being the second month of the year, offers opportunity to review the “second step” of the “12-step program” for addictions. And February's name from the Latin word februum, meaning purification, gives good reason for cleaning up our lives.
Twelve-step programs started out for alcoholism but are now extended to many other dependencies that cause guilt, shame, fear, hopelessness, failure, rejection, anxiety, or humiliation. Such dependencies include gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, work, exercise, cutting, shopping, and religion. Help for such problems is offered by many organizations e.g. Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous.
The method of the "twelve-steps" is described in the Big Book, published originally in 1939 by Alcoholics Anonymous. More than 25 million copies, in many languages, have been sold.
The "twelve-step" method has been adapted for many addictions.
Before looking at the second step, let's review the first, which is: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.” That admission is essential.
The second step is: “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” This is the step of enhancing one's belief system. It's a bold step to take but, once taken, it could bring a person on to a path of infinite possibilities.
While the immense benefit from twelve-step programs comes from spirituality, religious addicts might experience a worsening of pre-existing rigid attitudes and thus cause themselves added emotional pain and guilt. Carl Jung (1875-1961), warned, “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.” Being drawn to these habits causes impairment but being drawn to spiritual habits can bring relief and happiness. Guru Nanak sings of a "nectar", the drinking of which brings bliss: “Nirmal rasna amrit(u) pio; sada suhela kar(i) leh(i) jio,” which means “Drink the pure nectar of the Name with your tongue; And in this way make your soul happy forever.” [SS Asht 14. P143]

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008
References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.