A.A. Steps for the Underprivileged Non-A.A.

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A.A. Steps for the Underprivileged Non-A.A.
by Edward J. Dowling, S.J.

(A longrime friend of AA shows how the Twelve Steps can be
effectively applied to any problem in life.)

More influential on history than the Nile or the Mississippi, is
another river - the Gulf Stream. Without it the British Isles
would be as bleak as Labrador or Siberia.

AA is like a Gulf Stream in the ocean of today's life. It is
indistinguishable from its banks -- but its wind, like burnt
incense, whisper hope and life to human Siberias.

"It's like AA" has been the passport to acceptance among the
dignosclerotic (hardening of the dignity) for such stigma-
pilloried movements as Narcotics Anonymous, Crime Prevention,
Recovery, Inc., Divorcees Anonymous, Divorcees Unanimous, WANA,
Adiposics Anonymous, the Mattachine Society, Average People,
Nicotinic Nobodies, Daughters of Bilitis, Gamblers Anonymous,
Check Writers Anonymous, Security Cloister, Politicians Anonymous,
and other self-help groups in areas of varying degrees of
seriousness and helplessness.

Definitions of Twelfth Step words in the Twelve Steps suggest the
extent of the application of these Steps to non-alcoholics.

Sanity in the Second Step agrees with psychiatrists' classification
of alcoholism as a psychosis. If these steps can arrest one
psychosis, why not other psychoses and neuroses? At least two groups,
"Security Cloister" and "Average People" use AA's Twelve Steps as a
filter for spiritual and religious helps in arresting neuroses and
psychoses.

Alcohol is a narcotic. Narcotics Anonymous members use the
Twelve Steps.

Alcoholism is, when unchecked, gluttony for alcoholic drink. AA's
success with this type of gluttony opens new hope for the better
known gluttony, which is killing many people -- respectfully
autopsied as obesity or overweight.

My 240-pound gluttony gave me two heart attacks. An alcoholic
doctor gor me down toward 180 when he advised a total AA abstinence
from starch,butter, salt and sugar. He said these four foods were
probably my "alcohol." Abstinence was so much easier than temperance.
The "balanced" diet often prescribed was loaded with these four
"craving-creating appetizers." I was like a lush tapering off on
martinis. Only after the discovery of the AA approach to craving-
creating intake did I realize that the Jesuit Ignatius' first rule
for diet in his Spiritual Exercises was to go easy on craving-
creating food and drink.
[...]

"The Soul of Sponsorship, The Friendship of Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J.,
and Bill Wilson in Letters," by Robert Firzgerald, S.J.,
Hazelden, 1995.

[me]

The Dune books can impart wisdom.

“The mind imposes an arbitrary framework called “reality,” which is quite independent of what the senses report.” – Cogitors fundamental postulate
“When the observer truly believes the illusion, it becomes real.” – Swordmaster Zon Noret
One of these is the widely believed notion of ‘self’. This delusion is the cause of suffering.

AA introduces and encourages a different perspective and so reduces suffering. AA is but one means of escape.