The Neural Buddhists

Although he mentions neither addiction nor recovery, in his New York Times article "The Neural Buddhists", David Brook reminded me of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous's take on spirituality. In the chapter "We Agnostics", on page 55, it says "We found the Great Reality deep down within us." As such, the basis of the 12 Steps program is the belief that - in David Brook's words - all "people are equipped to experience the sacred, to have moments of elevated experience when they transcend boundaries and overflow with love."

It seems that the ongoing cognitive revolution in neuroscience - led by scientists such as Andrew Newberg - is supportive of the experiences of practioners of mysticism of all types... including 12 Steppers, Buddhists and those of us who're both.