Seekers on Unique Paths

after my 4 week, I realized that I had not consumed alcohol not thought about it for 4 days.

at the end o 2 months I ran into a Tibetan monk in his robes that invited me to join his meditation group, 2 three hour, one 1+ lunch on Saturdays, hour a week. didn't miss all 3 a week for 6 years.

http://www.buddhanet.net/metta.htm
it is really important to start with Vapassina. just watching the breath and letting go of intruding thoughts. after about 6 month one can start some Shamata meditation, you really cant do Shamata first.

http://www.buddhanet.net/insight.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/metta.htm

the 3 rules of meditation
1] start where you are.. still drinking/ok still angry/it's ok don't think you can fix yourself first, it doesn't work that way.

2] start with the beginning, with Vapassina. you must have the skills it teaches ..FIRST.

3] IT TAKES TIME.. increments of months. keep a journal, with a teacher it takes about a year to grow the neurons and reconnect others that meditation stimulates. you will be physically restructuring your brain. you are training your brain to live in the present moment, that is what it is about.