A Buddhist Approach to Subduing & Overcoming Addictions - Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara (temple in Berwick) and Buddhist Vihara Victoria (Melbourne) Australia

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Sahassvagga - Thousands : Though he should conquer a thousand thousand men in battlefield, yet he, indeed, is the noblest victor who should conquer himself. Dhammapada Verse 103.

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa!

A BUDDHIST APPROACH TO SUBDUING & OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS¹

All unenlightened beings are encumbered with strong craving which binds them tightly to the ever turning wheel of life and death (samsara). Fortunately unlike most other beings in samsara human beings have the capacity to train, develop and strengthen their minds to a level where craving can no longer grip and control them, thus preventing them from acting out in a variety of unskilful ways.

Most unskilful behaviour of beings can be attributed to the three root causes of greed (lobha), anger (dosa) and deluded/confused thinking (moha).² Of these three roots lobha plays a significant part in lay people’s lives. The Lord Buddha did not lay down a code of discipline as strict as that of monks and nuns (bhikkhus/bhikkhunis) for lay people and did not disallow the enjoyment of sense-pleasures³ for them. However on many occasions he pointed out the dangers of sensual pleasures. The Lord Buddha expected the laity to reduce their attachment to sense-pleasures and to develop the higher Path for greater peace and happiness.

One of the dangers of indulging in sensual pleasures³ is the development of strong attachment to the the strong pleasant feelings (or the ‘high’) arising from them. This strong attachment to the strong pleasant feelings arising from sense pleasures is what is usually characterised as an addiction. Another characteristic of addictions is that they usually lead to some kind of harm and/or loss mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and/or socially.⁴ So it is imperative to control, curb and put an end to addictions that cause one and/or others harm.

Human beings have many addictions in relation to the sense-sphere.³ People get addicted to drugs,⁵ alcohol,⁵ smoking,⁵ gambling,⁵ thinking,⁵ partying,⁶ going out,⁶ the internet,⁶ computer games,⁶ food,⁶ drink,⁶ work,⁶ buying material possessions (e.g. clothes, shoes, cars, etc.)⁶ and even to friends.⁷ What is common to all these addictions is the excessive attachment that is developed to the pleasant feelings arising from that object or activity of addiction, usually leading to some kind of harm to oneself and/or others. The Lord Buddha advised in the Dhammapada to remove one’s impurities in small degrees, a little amount at a time, much like a skilled silversmith removes the impurities from silver a degree at a time.⁸ In the same way addictions can be brought under control and eventually given up in small degrees over time.

Someone who is trying to reduce their addiction to excessive eating for example would firstly reduce their food intake or the number of times that they eat food in the day slowly over time. If they get strong desires/urges to eat in excess they should first try to subdue this at the mental level through wise reflection (yoniso manasikara) and other such thought control techniques. They could reflect on the drawbacks of excessive eating and think how it would affect their health, appearance and make the body uncomfortable afterwards. If this does not work they could go to the point of food distribution (e.g. kitchen, restaurant, etc.) without entering it contemplate the disadvantages⁹ of eating excessively, realise that this is not as important as what they initially thought it was and then safely return to their room or home. Alternatively they could eat a small amount or use a healthy and non-harmful substitute like a drink or soup to curb the strong desire.

The very same approach can be applied to other addictions too. The general guidelines are i. reducing the activity of addiction slowly over time; ii. attempting to subdue strong mental urges for the addiction through wise reflection (yoniso manasikara) and other such thought control techniques; ii. reflecting on the drawbacks of the addiction (i.e. how it can hurt oneself and others and destroy lives); iii. if the mind is overcome, visiting the physical site of the activity of addiction (e.g. the pub/bar for alcohol or the casino for gambling) without entering it, realising that it is not as important as one initially thought it was (i.e. experiencing and understanding â€˜anticipation versus realityâ€™) and returning safely and/or iv. using a safer substitute to control the addiction (e.g. playing cards with friends rather than gambling with real money). This could be done each time the mind becomes overcome with craving and desire for the object of addiction. When these addiction are denied over time the mind will gain the confidence and strength¹⁰ to fully overcome them. This will also to a great extent purify the mind of strong cravings and desires until one achieves a higher fruit (e.g. stream-entry – sotappatti) along the Path.

After one gains the strength to overcome addictions (strong craving/desire for the feelings of the addiction) at a gross physical level, it would be easier to overcome them at a much more subtle level within the thoughts and the mind. The Lord Buddha has outlined many techniques, contemplations, reflections and meditations to purify the mind of craving, desire and lust.¹¹ It is up to each individual to investigate these various techniques and apply them effectively under the guidance of a skilled teacher in order to control and eventually fully subdue strong passions that give arise to seemingly unbreakable addictions.

May you gain full control over your negative addictions and fully subduing them enter the stream (sotappatti) in this very life!

    OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS

When the mind is overcome,
and hankering after addictions,
	reflect wisely (yoniso manasikara),
remember the dangers inherent in engaging in them,
and the advantages of avoiding them.

Give yourself a safe substitute,
	something that will placate the
overcome mind,
so that no harm comes,
	to others or yourself.

Failing all this,
	go to the place of the addiction,
be it the pub/bar for alcohol,
the casino for gambling,
the restaurant for food addiction,
	but stay safely outside without going in.

Then reflect and understand,
that it isn't as important as initially thought,
turn around,
	and return safely home.
	
Train yourself gradually thus,
at a gross physical level,
	also training the subtle mind,
	where these addictions take root in
thoughts,
when pleasant feelings for sensual pleasures arise.

In time mastering the control of addictions,
both at the gross physical level,
	and at the subtle mental level,
you'll be well on your way,
	to higher spiritual fruits (e.g. stream-entry – sotappatti).

    TWO STEPS FORWARD

Don’t worry,
its just one step backwards,
	its not the end of the world.
When you take one step back,
take two steps forward – 
	and everything will be alright.

    LEARN TO BEAR

Is the hunger[1] unbearable?
Are your legs aching from sitting?[2]
Is it too cold, 
	or too hot?
Learn to bear pain.


[1] For example the hunger due to fasting from higher precepts such as the eight or ten precepts.

[2] Practice this without going to extremes and causing oneself physical injury.

Notes

1. The latest version of this article can be found in HTML format here http://tinyurl.com/mglvj8 or here http://dhammagroup.co.cc/dg/pubs/addict and in PDF format here http://tinyurl.com/mbaylk or here http://dhammagroup.co.cc/dg/pubs/addict.pdf

2. Greed (lobha) including qualities such as desire, craving, jealousy, lust, passion, longing, affection, wanting, pining, hankering, wishing, etc.; ii. anger (dosa) including qualities such as aversion, irritation, ill-will, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, etc. iii. and delusion (moha) including qualities such as confusion, stupidity, foolishness, mental blindness, ignorance, etc. All mental defilements ultimately arise from ignorance (avijja). See here http://tinyurl.com/ljdjxd or here http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.001.than.html

3. Sensual/sense pleasures are the enjoyment derived from pleasing the six senses of eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind. Refer to Sensual Pleasure & Pain.

4. There are worthwhile addictions that have no drawbacks and lead one to more and more happiness such as meditation. Many thanks for Ajahn Brahm for highlighting this. Refer to page 1, Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator’s Handbook here http://tinyurl.com/ldky4q or here http://www.dhammagroup.co.cc/dg/ref/books/mbb1-5.pdf

5. These addictions can be highly destructive mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and/or socially.

6. These addictions can be moderately destructive mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and/or socially.

7. An addiction to friends/relatives is not skilful as it is based on excessive attachment. However association with good friends that encourage one to do good deeds and become better without leading one astray is essential for one’s happiness and safety. Friends have a significant influence on oneâ€™s addictions such as drinking and gambling, so it is important to avoid friends that encourage one to indulge in these harmful activities while associating with those who discourage them (refer to the Sigalovada Sutta). One should also train oneself to associate with others without getting attached to them. If after seeking them out one cannot find good friends, who irrespective of their religious and ethnic backgrounds lead good and moral lives, one should lead a life of solitude. Refer to Appendix A: A Selection of Verses from the Dhammapada below.

8. Refer to Appendix A: A Selection of Verses from the Dhammapada below.

9. The Lord Buddha outlined the effectiveness of wisely reflecting (yoniso manasikara) on the disadvantages of something in order to overcome it. One can also also wisely reflect on the advantages of not engaging in that negative activity to further purify the mind of strong craving.

10. Many thanks to Ven. Bodhicitta for pointing this out.

11. Refer to Related Discourses (suttas) and Other Resources below.

Appendix A: A Selection of Verses from the Dhammapada
Source: http://tinyurl.com/mcw9hp or http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/KN/Dhammapada.htm

    FRIEND

If one can find a companion, upright, straight & firm,
then walk along with him in joy & awareness,
so overcoming all danger.
 

    SOLITUDE

If one cannot find a clever companion, upright, straight & firm,
then walk alone like a king leaving the kingdom, like an Elephant
freely roam in all the forest.
 

    SOLITARY FREEDOM

Life in solitude is better than friendship with the fool.
Let the one live alone, acting only right, freed from greed,
like the Elephant freely roam in all the forest.

    PLEASANT

Pleasant are friends, when a need arises.
Pleasant is all fun, when shared with friends.
Pleasant is the stored merit of good at the moment of death.
Pleasant is it to leave behind all Suffering.
Pleasant is being a Father.
Pleasant is being a Mother.
Pleasant is being a Bhikkhu.
Pleasant is the state of the accomplished.
Pleasant is a prior righteous life, when old.
Pleasant is faith, when firmly established, unshakable by doubt.
Pleasant is the arising of Insight.
Pleasant is the avoidance of all Evil.
Yeah!

    GRADUALLY

One by one, step by step, drop by drop, little by little
can one blow away the impurities of one’s mind even
& exactly as a smith blows away the impurities of silver.