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BUDDHISM AND RECOVERY
October 20-25, 2026
KEVIN GRIFFIN
WITH GREG PERGAMENT TEACHING QIGONG

Join us for a unique meditation retreat combining traditional Buddhist practices with recovery and Twelve Step work.  Primarily conducted in silence, the retreat focuses on insight/mindfulness meditation, with additional interactive exercises, lectures, and meetings exploring ways that Buddhism and the Steps can complement each other. Daily Qigong practice brings added benefit and energy to the retreat.

The emphasis will be on bringing mindfulness to all our activities, whether in formal meditation, movement, speaking, listening, or eating. Participants will practice Noble Silence outside of the interactive exercises and 12-Step-style meetings. All recovery paths are welcome, whether Twelve Step, Refuge Recovery, substance, process, or relationship-oriented.

The intensive nature of the retreat allows for profound personal openings, insight, and transformation. The support of the community carries us through the sometimes challenging, sometimes inspiring elements of this deep inner work.

A minimum of 30 days clean and sober is required for attendance.

Location: Oakwood Retreat Center –  Selma, Indiana

Cost: $1050.00 ($200 deposit; $850 final payment)–scholarships available

Kevin Griffin is a Buddhist teacher and author known for his innovative work connecting dharma and recovery, especially through his 2004 book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. He is a leader of the mindful recovery movement and one of the founders of the Buddhist Recovery Network. He has been a Buddhist practitioner for over thirty-five years and a teacher for two decades. His latest book is Living Kindness: Metta Practices for the Whole of Our Lives.

Greg Pergament (Chi Kung teacher), is the author of Chi Kung and Recovery. Greg has been in recovery for over two decades and has studied and taught Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan for many years. He has an extensive background in Buddhist Vipassana meditation, is a firetender for Lakota Inipi ceremonies, and has helped facilitate many Vision Quests.

Register for Retreat

LIVING THE
PRECEPTS

A Monthly Practice Group

A friendly, peer-led, reflective Zoom gathering for anyone who has taken the Dharma Center’s Precepts Course — or anyone interested in living more ethically with the guidance of the Five Buddhist Precepts. We’ll explore how to practice the Five Precepts in daily life, with discussion, reflection, and community support. No commitment–join when you can.

📅 Fourth Monday of Every Month
🕖 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST
💻 On BDCC Zoom

Questions or register

Sue Noble at suenoble55@gmail.com or 513.509.7705

Register here–just to give us an idea of interest and to receive email reminders

MEDITATE WITH ART

featuring the

Buddhist Dharma Center of Cincinnati

at the Cincinnati Museum of Art

Most Second Saturdays from 11 a.m.–noon (confirm on “calendar”)

Free. Registration not required.

Join this artful meditation practice and connect with your inner peace. Meet on the yellow couches in the Schmidlapp Gallery and then be guided by the meditation instructor to a gallery where the meditative experience takes place.

Test

Moline is located a block and a half south of Chase and Hamilton and a block and a half north of the five point intersection on Hamilton.  Look for parking on Hamilton, not Moline.

Directions:

From I-75, take the Hopple Street Exit (#3). Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp and go over the bridge. At the next light, turn left onto Central Parkway. Stay in the center (left hand) lane until Central Parkway dead ends into Ludlow Avenue. Turn left and go over the viaduct. Ludlow Avenue becomes Hamilton Ave. Continue “straight” through the five point intersection. (Knowlton’s Corner)

Notes:

Be sure to arrive a few minutes before the starting time for meditation. We must lock the door before meditation begins.

Access issues: We have one large step without a ramp. Please email us ahead of time to find out if we are accessible for you.

Parking:

Look for parking on Hamilton Ave.  There is limited parking along Moline as well as handicap parking on the blacktop area in front of the Center.

 A Monthly Practice Group

A friendly, peer-led, reflective Zoom gathering for anyone who has taken the Dharma Center’s Precepts Course — or anyone interested in living more ethically with the guidance of the Five Buddhist Precepts. We’ll explore how to practice the Five Precepts in daily life, with discussion, reflection, and community support. No commitment–join when you can.


Email dharma.center420@gmail.com

The Buddhist 12 Step Study Group (B12) explores how Buddhism and 12 Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous ( NA, etc), can benefit and nurture each other. Both practices begin with the acknowledgement of suffering, the realization that suffering arises from craving, and that there is a solution. The path of the 12 Steps and the Noble Eightfold Path travel through remarkably similar territory and have much to offer each other.

We meet every Saturday from 7:00-8:30 pm. Following a brief welcoming discussion and introduction period, there is a 20 minute guided meditation followed by reading and discussing books that connect Buddhism and the 12 Steps. We close with a lovingkindness practice.

No dues or fees; no need to pre-register.

No meditation experience or particular faith or spiritual practice is required. Neither is membership in a twelve step program. We are simply people exploring the path out of the suffering brought about by craving and clinging in whatever form it arises.

For more info OR to get on the B12 email list:

Please join us on Wednesday evenings for an informal session with meditation instruction, meditation, and discussion. The discussion segment will be a time for questions and answers as well as teaching and dialogue on various topics pertinent to meditation and Buddhist teachings. Whether you are a one-time visitor, an occasional participant or regularly attend these evenings, we hope you will find them helpful. There is no cost but donations are most welcomed.

Buddhist Dharma Center of Cincinnati Sunday Chanting

 

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato  

sammaa-sambuddhassa.  

(Three times.) 

(Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One,  the Rightly Self-awakened One)

Buddham saranam gacchaami. 

Dhammam saranam gacchaami. 

Sangham saranam gacchaami. 

Dutiyampi buddham saranam gacchaami.

Dutiyampi dhammam saranam gacchaami.

Dutiyampi sangham saranam gacchaami. 

Tatiyampi buddham saranam gacchaami.

Tatiyampi dhammam saranam gacchaami.

Tatiyampi sangham saranam gacchaami. 

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One,  the Rightly Self-awakened One. 

I go to the Buddha for refuge. 

I go to the Dhamma for refuge. 

I go to the Sangha for refuge  A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

A second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge. 

A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

A third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge. 

————————–

 

Sentient beings are numberless;

  we vow to liberate them all.

Delusions are endless;

we vow to cut through them all.

The teachings are infinite;

we vow to learn them all.

The Buddha way is inconceivable;

we vow to attain it.

 

 

The Maha

Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra_      

(The Heart Sutra)

 

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita

perceives that all five skandhas are empty

and is saved from all suffering and distress.

Shariputra,

form does not differ from emptiness,

emptiness does not differ from form.

That which is form is emptiness;

that which is emptiness form.

The same is true of feelings,

perceptions, impulses, consciousness.

Shariputra,

all dharmas are marked with emptiness;

they do not appear or disappear,

are not tainted or pure,

do not increase or decrease.

Therefore, in emptiness no form, no feelings,

perceptions, impulses, consciousness.

No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;

no color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch,

no object of mind,

no realm of eyes

and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness.

No ignorance and no extinction of it,

and so forth until no old age and death

and also no extinction of them.

No suffering, no origination,

no stopping, no path, no cognition,

also no attainment with nothing to attain.

The Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Parmita

and the mind is no hindrance;

without any hindrance no fears exist.

Far apart from every perverted view one dwells in

Nirvana.

In the three worlds

all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita

and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.

Therefore know that Prajna Paramita

is the great transcendent mantra,

is the great bright mantra,

is the utmost mantra,

is the supreme mantra,

which is able to relieve all suffering

and is true not false.

So proclaim the Prajna paramita mantra,

proclaim the mantra which says:

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha

 

Check back often for Important Announcements

ZOOM LINK

Meeting ID 846-2289-0309

Passcode CBDC

Peace begins in the present moment.

There are no announcements at this time. We invite you to check back soon for upcoming teachings, retreats, special events, and opportunities to practice together.