I'm not going to teach Zen here, I'm not qualified. I have been studying karate from a Master of karate and Zen for over 27 years so I feel qualified to introduce the basics. The best way I have of explaining Zen is using the word "mindfulness". My description of what mindfulness means is to "be focused on where you are and what you are doing at this second". I don't remember where I read or heard this phrase, hope I will be forgiven for using it ????????????????
It is not necessary to read definitions or descriptions to determine if you and addict, you know if your an addict. If you suspect you are, then you have a problem with addiction. You would not be searching for answers about your disease if you did not suffer from addiction. Those who are not addicts do not do searches about addiction. If you are reading this, then you or someone close to you has a problem with addiction. A friend from AA use's the following example: "have you ever answered the questions on a "am i an addict, survey?. People who are not addicts don't take these studies", how true.
If you, or someone close to you, is struggling with addiction, you know how difficult it is to recover. The addict attempts to stop the never ending cycle of swearing to not do today what they did yesterday, only to fail and repeat the cycle again. In our attempt to change our lives and our constant failure we come to loath our-selves. Everyday we get up and commit that today will different, "I'm going to make the change and begin to live a life without addiction" only to fail again.
The first step on the journey to recovery is the acceptance of your addiction and committing to the difficult work ahead. The decision that has to be made and will be the most agonizing is that you must stop drinking and/or using drugs. It is not possible to go any further without taking this step. AA applies the concept of not trying to make the problem any bigger than it has to be, using the slogan "stop drinking one day at a time", this is the same thinking as "trying to not eat the whole elephant in one sitting, but eat one bite at a time". When we get up in the morning and are overwhelmed with the desire to use, don't think about tomorrow or next week, just resolve to not drink or use drugs for today. Learning from your failed attempts you will have look for new techniques and solutions. Make no mistake about committing to change, this will be the most difficult thing you have done in your life. Figuring out how your going to stick to this decision will be the second. You must understand and believe that you will not be able to do this alone, it is going to require a support group. You are going to need that support group everyday in the beginning. You will need someone to guide you and be there to give you courage when you feel it is impossible to go on. In AA this would be a sponsor, but a sponsor does not have to from the rooms, they may be a clergy, teacher, anyone with the strength to lead you on your journey.
The key word is 'change'. It is necessary to change you, you are an addict and if you don't change then in all likely hood you will continue a life of addiction. It is imperative that you find a life worth living. A life that really makes your socks go up and down in the morning when you wake up. You have a passion for what you do, how you live, that you can't wait to start your morning. You are excited, and you are at peace, you are under control, you know what you are about, you say what you do and you do what you say. Others believe in you , trust you, and you believe and trust in your-self. You no longer live a life in active addiction. The never ending cycle that leads us to self-loathing also strips us of our self-respect, our self confidence, our dignity. Without self-respect we cannot have the self-confidence to believe that we are capable of doing what must be done to live life with dignity, holding our head up, back straight, with pride.
Do something respectable. It is not important what that something is, maybe walking, it should be something you enjoy so you'll be more likely to stick with it, but it must be done everyday, without fail, because to fail is to repeat the same never ending cycle we lived with addiction. You need to be able to see your-self doing what you said you would do, without fail. doing this over time will build that trust that is necessary so we can believe, trust, in our-selves.