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Beyond Recovery
BEYOND RECOVERY offers the tools that we can use to move on from
mere abstinence to the natural freedom that is our true nature. Rupert
Spira writes in the foreword, 'Beyond Recovery's real quality lies in
the honest, humorous and warm-hearted ways in which Fred explores and
exposes the complex patterns of avoidance and denial that characterise
the resisting, seeking self and the non-judgmental way in which he
describes it. Drawing on numerous examples from his own colourful life,
he speaks with passion and humility of a path that started for him as an
obsessive search for happiness in the acquisition of objects,
relationships and states, evolved through addiction, recovery, spiritual
seeking and self-enquiry, and continues in an ever-deepening surrender
to the undeniable, unnamable reality of what eternally is.'
mere abstinence to the natural freedom that is our true nature. Rupert
Spira writes in the foreword, 'Beyond Recovery's real quality lies in
the honest, humorous and warm-hearted ways in which Fred explores and
exposes the complex patterns of avoidance and denial that characterise
the resisting, seeking self and the non-judgmental way in which he
describes it. Drawing on numerous examples from his own colourful life,
he speaks with passion and humility of a path that started for him as an
obsessive search for happiness in the acquisition of objects,
relationships and states, evolved through addiction, recovery, spiritual
seeking and self-enquiry, and continues in an ever-deepening surrender
to the undeniable, unnamable reality of what eternally is.'
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
24 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 23, 2025
Absolutely fantastic.
The author, Fred Davis asserts:
Long after the overt addiction has stoped.
We can still suffer tremendously due to addiction to self/ego.
Meaning, we can reflexively become identified with a survival personality, which enables us to take action, and function in the world, and relate to others, but which is also limited, and dissociated, and willful, and resistant of “what is”.
Words TRULY fail here.
But many of us in recovery have had to become aware of this dimension of being/doing. Whereby we have had to (out of absolute necessity and as a matter of life and death) turn our will over to a higher power in order to be restored to sanity.
This can sound like a religious claim.
And depending on how intimate your experience with such things is, you may interpret this in very literal, religious ways.
Nothing wrong with that.
But there is a deeper interpretation.
Founded in a much more deeply experienced truth.
A wordless and ineffable truth.
Wherein these same (absolutely limited) statements regarding “turning our will over to a power greater than ourselves” refer to a profoundly liberating way of being.
It’s the essence of spiritual traditions.
It’s a profound “non-dual” awakening.
According to Davis.
Long after our last [BLANK] - drink/hit whatever.
We can still be “addicted” to being in a willful survival mode.
But we can also become liberated from that addiction to being that constricted/reactive small self.
We can abide in awareness.
We can become liberated, awake, free.
As a natural extension of our recovery.
Hear hear.
5/5 STARS ⭐️
NOTE:
Just finished a second reading of this.
I loved it all over again.
Some of the very best writing on radical acceptance and (what AA terms powerlessness) that I’m aware of.
5/5 STARS ⭐️ (2.0)
The author, Fred Davis asserts:
Long after the overt addiction has stoped.
We can still suffer tremendously due to addiction to self/ego.
Meaning, we can reflexively become identified with a survival personality, which enables us to take action, and function in the world, and relate to others, but which is also limited, and dissociated, and willful, and resistant of “what is”.
Words TRULY fail here.
But many of us in recovery have had to become aware of this dimension of being/doing. Whereby we have had to (out of absolute necessity and as a matter of life and death) turn our will over to a higher power in order to be restored to sanity.
This can sound like a religious claim.
And depending on how intimate your experience with such things is, you may interpret this in very literal, religious ways.
Nothing wrong with that.
But there is a deeper interpretation.
Founded in a much more deeply experienced truth.
A wordless and ineffable truth.
Wherein these same (absolutely limited) statements regarding “turning our will over to a power greater than ourselves” refer to a profoundly liberating way of being.
It’s the essence of spiritual traditions.
It’s a profound “non-dual” awakening.
According to Davis.
Long after our last [BLANK] - drink/hit whatever.
We can still be “addicted” to being in a willful survival mode.
But we can also become liberated from that addiction to being that constricted/reactive small self.
We can abide in awareness.
We can become liberated, awake, free.
As a natural extension of our recovery.
Hear hear.
5/5 STARS ⭐️
NOTE:
Just finished a second reading of this.
I loved it all over again.
Some of the very best writing on radical acceptance and (what AA terms powerlessness) that I’m aware of.
5/5 STARS ⭐️ (2.0)
December 19, 2020
While I am a strong proponent of twelve-step recovery and believe that the idea of nonduality also holds value, there was little - or at least difficult to follow - connection between the two here, even if the objective was to describe a difference.
More times than not, a chapter would begin by stating or paraphrasing one of the twelve steps, go on to outline completely unrelated aspects of nonduality, and then return to the step in the final sentence.
So while some of the content is useful, the style and ability to “cohesively bridge” the two as the endorsement on the back of the book suggests, was lacking.
More times than not, a chapter would begin by stating or paraphrasing one of the twelve steps, go on to outline completely unrelated aspects of nonduality, and then return to the step in the final sentence.
So while some of the content is useful, the style and ability to “cohesively bridge” the two as the endorsement on the back of the book suggests, was lacking.
October 10, 2018
This book is definitely written for someone that has a fundamental understanding of non-duality. I used this book as a companion book while I was actively working the 12 steps program. It was very useful and gave me context in which to do the 12 steps. Perhaps a matter of style, but I found Fred Davis' use of maxims in writing a little distracting. Overall I think that this is a fine book and I would have bought it again, had I not already purchased it. I recommend it.
December 20, 2020
This book would have been put on the DNF list were it not for a book club.
April 23, 2016
Twelve Steps to Enlightenment and Beyond
Another great book from Fred. I have read five of his now (6 if you include the free sampler) and every one is worth the price of purchase.
Yes, they really can wake you up. Yes, I am Awake too. It's not the almost impossibly difficult quest that religions want you to believe it is. When you experience Liberation it is more of a recognition, followed by the realisation of how obvious it now seems.
Read the books and Awaken to Reality. You'll love it.
Another great book from Fred. I have read five of his now (6 if you include the free sampler) and every one is worth the price of purchase.
Yes, they really can wake you up. Yes, I am Awake too. It's not the almost impossibly difficult quest that religions want you to believe it is. When you experience Liberation it is more of a recognition, followed by the realisation of how obvious it now seems.
Read the books and Awaken to Reality. You'll love it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews