November 21-A, 2022

The missing element
in all 12-Step programs
is a solid answer to
"After sobriety what?"

The missing component
in all forms of spirituality
is "After enlightenment/salvation what?"

It is as though once we are sober
and/or saved,
magic happens
and everything falls into place
and we live a life of meaning and purpose
until we are gathered to our ancestors
in the Pure Land on the Farther Shore,
or the Kingdom of God,
whichever we would prefer.

That didn't happen before we were high
all the time,
but we thing it will happen
once we sober up.

Good luck with that.

There is a Zen maxim that sets us straight:
"After enlightenment, the laundry!"

B-I-N-G-O!!!

In place of "the laundry,"
substitute "whatever needs to be done"!
And do that.
In each situation as it arises.
All our life long.

That's what enlightenment does for us.
And, sobriety.

By offering a program that enables us to maintain
enlightenment and sobriety
would guide us in developing a practice
of integrity/sincerity/spontaneity,
balance and harmony,
living out of our original nature,
exhibiting our innate virtues/character,
serving spirit/heart,
life/energy/vitality,
honoring what is meaningful to us
by doing things that are meaningful
with our life,
embracing emptiness/stillness/silence
regularly and intentionally,
living mindfully/consciously,
seeing and doing what needs to be done
as it is called for 
in all situations and circumstances,
no matter what,
as long as we are alive.

Until that happens,
things will be as they are forever.

–0–