Comment on the 12 self-help steps of the AA
OIDA-therapy and the AA 12 Step Program
We want to give a practical example here how the principles of OIDA-therapy have already been applied for years in many countries. The Alcoholics Anonymous was capable of taking advantage of the strength of faith, without ever restricting or imposing any particular creed upon those who came for help with their alcohol or drug-problems. Let us see, how their 12 Steps are actually very mystical and subscribe to the recommendations found in mystical traditions, and are therefore beautifully one of the most successful methods known for rehabilitating addicts.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable. This is the spirit of helplessness of a humble believer, who cries out for help, without knowing from where this help may come. This person is depending on the invisible sympathy of someone above them, for their condition, and now they become ready to adjust their lifestyle, according the help they will receive.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Faith is the fundament in this hope. And what is our position? We just need it. We cannot do without it anymore. Is our situation in general any better? Should not our entire society cry out like this? But of course entire societies do not have faith, because only individuals can have faith, and only individuals can change society. This puts the responsibility into the hands of each and every one of us. OIDA- therapy wants to help to create an approach where we will not get entangled with sectarian disputes or disturbance for either sectarian or hypocritical “religious” sides. Otherwise our purpose will be defeated and in endless repetition discourage the needy individuals to reach their most important goal:: their healing from their respective ills.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Here with the openness and respect for everyone’s faith, identifying God as a greater power, who is willing to and capable of taking over our own lives, and directing our will, to act according to our own needs and to those of the people around us. This is so nice, because here God has been given an active participation. We are ready to submit to His instructions. That is the only appropriate approach to God, if you really want to contact Him, according to mystical traditions. Going beyond this in the practical life of those who follow a mystical tradition is that they do not only ask a favor from God, but they also desire to do some active service for Him. Of course in point number 12 the recovered addict promises that he accepts his duty from now on, to take this healing message to others, who are having problems. This can be understood as offering service to God.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. We must search through all the details of our activities in the past. This is so wonderful. Now we are accepting spiritual responsibility for the damage we have caused in the life of others. We repent and accept that we just cannot go ahead; ignoring the misery we have previously spread in our life full of aggression towards others. According to many mystialc traditions, having harmed animals is also a reason why suffering comes into our life. Therefore making an inventory is the first and best foundation for not repeating the same mistakes again and to become aware of how many debts we have. Whether you kill, or you send an animal to be killed, what to speak of a man, you are equally responsible for the pain and bloodshed that you have caused.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Also this point is very wise. We admit our failure, and make ourselves aware of the full impact. We confess it to God in our prayer, and it is very important to find another trustworthy human being who can listen to everything you have done, and who will watch over you and your stages of recuperation. Association with others who give a good example is always helpful. Birds of the same feather flock together. And if you want to stay strong on your path and do not want to fall down again, you have to get together with others, and do something together. In AA this type of place of worship is where they meet together in the same way that mystical paths always promote the creation of facilities used to meet with other faithful members. Here the term faith-healing means that you are being healed partially because of your own faith, as well as by faith which comes from association with the congregation.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Here we turn to God, because He is the only one, who has such powers. We ask Him to do the impossible, to remove all these defects of our character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. … and to help us to overcome our shortcomings. This approach to God is a beginning of a new life, which we maybe would have never reached, if we would not have suffered first…. And we can experience how He comes into our life, by giving us determination to overcome our addiction, which is so difficult. But this is not enough.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. This is should not only be in our mind, we have to act upon it.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. At this stage you go and find people, who have suffered because of you. You apologize, and you explain to them that by the grace of God you are changing. Of course you do not go to those, who would even suffer more, if they see you. To them you apologize in your mind, or send them a letter. Now everybody knows, you have to make a big decision, and you have to struggle to live up to it. This process in continued in number 10.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Humility is not a one day affair; it has to accompany us through all our life. To do that requires some realization. Unfortunately corporations have no consciousness…… so that they can repent and amend all the disasters they have created in the environment, but rather – like impersonal monsters – they go on creating disasters in the lives of millions. If we admit our role we can accept that we have to change. The worst scenario you can imagine is if a person who is totally wrong insists that they are right. What could the best healer, or healing system to do fo them? For such a person there is only one thing left - Karma: the law of action and reaction.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Here we are advised to increase our transcendental connection. To pray to the Lord, or to meditate upon Him, to increase our conscious contact with him. Praying that He will grace us with realizations of His sweet will, and the power to carry out His will. There is a beautiful prayer in this connection: ‘Oh, my Lord, please let me become an instrument of your Love.’
Whoever enters into this devotional mood, has access to the healing circle, and may even see things beyond healing the insanity. We are allowed to approach the Lord, as we have understood him.
In OIDA Veda diagram 17 we find a long list of different ways of perceiving God, within the different mystical traditions.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. In other words, we are requested to be a full-time helper of others who we meet in suffering conditions. This Samaritarian aspect is the nature of most mystical traditions. It is actually a divine principle. You get what you are giving. You want help? Give help. You want love? Give love. Do not be so foolish as to expect anything good in your life from others, if you are not also ready to give the same. The concern for helping others as is obviously noticeable in the history of AA and their success can show us the power of faith in healing.
This proves the validity of the OIDA-therapy concept, which of course depends on the individuals who are going to put it into practice.. But the big problems, the obstacles within us such as egotism, lust, anger and greed will require a lot of praying and a lot of help to bring about a tangible change.