Buddhist Approach to Step 11

Step 11 in AA states: "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."

A Buddhist practitioner might approach this step through:

Meditation Practice

• Daily mindfulness meditation to cultivate present-moment awareness
• Loving-kindness meditation to develop compassion for self and others
• Walking meditation to maintain mindfulness throughout daily activities

Buddhist Principles

• Replacing "God as we understood Him" with concepts like Buddha-nature or dharma
• Focusing on the Four Noble Truths to understand suffering and its cessation
• Following the Eightfold Path as guidance for ‘right action’ and intention

Daily Practice

A Buddhist-oriented Step 11 practice might look like this:

1. Morning meditation and set intentions for the day
2. Mindful awareness of thoughts, actions, and their consequences
3. Evening reflection on the day's events and lessons learned
4. Regular study of Buddhist teachings to deepen understanding
5. Asking ourselves, “Who can I help now?”

Key Benefits

• Enhanced self-awareness without reliance on a theistic higher power
• Development of equanimity in facing life's challenges