From Abstinence to Abandonment
“But let me be honest here. The first two years of sobriety were miserable.” ~ Vince Cullen
» Read moreCategory: Hungry Ghost News
Hungry Ghost Retreats News
From Hungry Ghost to Being Human (Series)
Avoidable-suffering is universal and takes many forms, however, this series of talks may be of particular interest to anyone currently struggling with the three fires of Cravings, Aversions and Confusions. ~ Vince Cullen
» Read moreHeart & Soul – Buddhist Detox
“It is interesting to note that the current Abbot, Phra Atikarn Vichien Gitiwanno, says the herbal medicines are only 20% of the treatment offered. I don’t entirely agree with this percentage, in line with the founding Abbot Luang Por Chamroon Parnchand whom I met in 1998, and I would put the contribution of the herbal treatment at just 5% of the efficacy of the entire programme.” – Vince Cullen
» Read moreEveryone Suffers From Mental Illness
“Buddhism asserts that everyone suffers from mental illness; that is simply being human; that is the baseline. Thank you, Andy Palmer, for a very enjoyable and wide-ranging exploration of how this reality played and continues to play itself out in my life!” ~ Vince Cullen
» Read moreOvercoming Addiction with Buddha Dhamma
“Life is stressful, uncomfortable, uncertain, insecure, disappointing, painful.
Life is complicated, boring, impersonal, difficult, distressing, challenging, unfair.
Life isn’t just stressful; in many ways it is traumatic…
…but, on the other hand, life can be a wonderful adventure.” ~ Vince Cullen
» Read moreConcrete Beds & Wooden Pillows
Concrete Beds and Wooden Pillows… Waking Up the Hard Way… or Finding Insight but not much Serenity.
» Read more“Addiction & the Hell Realm” – Addiction & Recovery in the Buddhist Suttas
“Addiction & the Hell Realm…” A Buddhist perspective on Trauma, Craving, Addiction and Recovery in the Early Buddhist Suttas.
» Read more“Life is not fair…” – Addiction & Recovery in the Buddhist Suttas
“Life is not fair…” A Buddhist perspective on Trauma, Craving, Addiction and Recovery in the Early Buddhist Suttas.
» Read moreUnderstanding Sajja and Conquering the Hungry Ghost
“In terms of addictions and compulsions,
there is a liberating difference between ‘abstinence’ and ‘abandonment’.”
~ Vince Cullen
Sajja – A Practice for Transformation
In 2003 I took my first one-month temporary ordination at Wat Thamkrabok, a unique monastery in central Thailand. My intention on that occasion was to explore Buddhism and meditation, but what I got was not what I expected. I was given a ‘Sajja’ or a ‘truth’ to practice for 4-hours per day for the next 2-years.
My Sajja – “No one can do it for me, I must do it for myself”.
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