FROM A SITE VISITOR: [Received 11 Feb 2007] “You mentioned today that 95% or more are addicted to something. Is it possible that Realization can treat addiction? I’ve tried off and on for years to cut back on my drinking, and a lot of what you talk about is what I’ve heard in treatment. Of course, a lot of it is different cause I’ve been told only a higher power can help me and you don’t seem to believe in Him.”
F.: First, thanks for writing. Next, it should be no surprise that some estimates suggest that close to 100% of all people on the planet suffer from the addictive personality to some degree, considering everything that persons can become addicted to—including alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, spiritual programs, crack, computer games, gambling, eating, “love,” heroin, gurus, nicotine, work, power, religion, control, ad infinitum. The addictive personality is multi-faceted, and treatment often requires a plan that is holistic in its approach. Recent research proves that childhood trauma almost always precedes adult addiction, so treatment for PTSD is now included in the more comprehensive treatment approaches.
As for “Realization treating addictions,” the pointers offered on this site are not presented as a treatment for any illness or disease other than “The Disease of the Planet”: the corrupted consciousness. (Is the corrupted consciousness a major element of the addictive personality? Definitely.) That said, the content of many treatment plans for the addictive personality share some commonalities with the Advaita message. Why? Because addicts—trapped as they are in their particular personality—are exactly like the other persons on the planet who are also trapped in personality: all of them are almost always mistaken but never uncertain. In fact, all of them are quite sure that their thinking is "right" and that their beliefs are true and that their perspectives are clear when nothing could be farther from the truth.
So first, see that personality—including the addictive personality—is at the root of all personal problems. Furthermore, getting in touch with reality and being restored to sanity is common to both the Advaita teachings and to the treatment of the addictive personality (and the sane would never suggest that sanity can be restored merely by the asking). Also, both speak of regaining the ability to differentiate true from false; both speak of casting aside ideas, emotions and attitudes/beliefs; and both concur with the Advaitan poet’s advice, “To thine own Self be true.”
Also, the teachings contained in treatment plans and in the Advaita teachings are being offered to a similar audience, namely, those who lack awareness, those who have lost reason, and those who are staggering through this existence as a result of corrupted consciousness while (1) thinking they know exactly what they are doing and while (2) convinced that their perspective is totally accurate (when, in reality, it is totally inaccurate, twisted, warped, and distorted).
Furthermore, as with the Advaita teachings, many treatment plans for the addictive personality point out that ego / the false self / the phony “I,” is at the root of the selfishness, the self-pity, the self-destruction, the self-centeredness, and the self-absorption that typifies persons trapped in the addictive personality (which, again, includes almost every person on the planet). All of that attachment to self prevents being restored to sanity—to being in touch with reality—and prevents knowing the True Self and that which is beyond. Of course, “personality” is also common to those assuming false roles as well as to those ensnared in the addictive personality. Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
F.: First, thanks for writing. Next, it should be no surprise that some estimates suggest that close to 100% of all people on the planet suffer from the addictive personality to some degree, considering everything that persons can become addicted to—including alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, spiritual programs, crack, computer games, gambling, eating, “love,” heroin, gurus, nicotine, work, power, religion, control, ad infinitum. The addictive personality is multi-faceted, and treatment often requires a plan that is holistic in its approach. Recent research proves that childhood trauma almost always precedes adult addiction, so treatment for PTSD is now included in the more comprehensive treatment approaches.
As for “Realization treating addictions,” the pointers offered on this site are not presented as a treatment for any illness or disease other than “The Disease of the Planet”: the corrupted consciousness. (Is the corrupted consciousness a major element of the addictive personality? Definitely.) That said, the content of many treatment plans for the addictive personality share some commonalities with the Advaita message. Why? Because addicts—trapped as they are in their particular personality—are exactly like the other persons on the planet who are also trapped in personality: all of them are almost always mistaken but never uncertain. In fact, all of them are quite sure that their thinking is "right" and that their beliefs are true and that their perspectives are clear when nothing could be farther from the truth.
So first, see that personality—including the addictive personality—is at the root of all personal problems. Furthermore, getting in touch with reality and being restored to sanity is common to both the Advaita teachings and to the treatment of the addictive personality (and the sane would never suggest that sanity can be restored merely by the asking). Also, both speak of regaining the ability to differentiate true from false; both speak of casting aside ideas, emotions and attitudes/beliefs; and both concur with the Advaitan poet’s advice, “To thine own Self be true.”
Also, the teachings contained in treatment plans and in the Advaita teachings are being offered to a similar audience, namely, those who lack awareness, those who have lost reason, and those who are staggering through this existence as a result of corrupted consciousness while (1) thinking they know exactly what they are doing and while (2) convinced that their perspective is totally accurate (when, in reality, it is totally inaccurate, twisted, warped, and distorted).
Furthermore, as with the Advaita teachings, many treatment plans for the addictive personality point out that ego / the false self / the phony “I,” is at the root of the selfishness, the self-pity, the self-destruction, the self-centeredness, and the self-absorption that typifies persons trapped in the addictive personality (which, again, includes almost every person on the planet). All of that attachment to self prevents being restored to sanity—to being in touch with reality—and prevents knowing the True Self and that which is beyond. Of course, “personality” is also common to those assuming false roles as well as to those ensnared in the addictive personality. Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
