Letting Go and Going Forward: A Buddhist Recipe for Change

In Buddhism it seems we’re always being told to “let go”: let go of anger, let go of craving, let go of fear, of jealousy, of lust. Yet we rarely examine what the phrase truly means. Sometimes the imperative calls for a mere suspension of unwholesome behaviors or emotions. But Vipassana teacher and recovering alcoholic Kevin Griffin shows how Buddhism holds a far richer understanding, one that treats our afflictions as powerful platforms for transformation and growth. He offers a three-part technique—cultivating awareness, clarifying motivation, and planning action—that empowers us to turn letting go into moving forward. 

A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12 Step participant, Kevin Griffin is a leader in the mindful recovery movement and one of the founders of the Buddhist Recovery Network. He teaches internationally and specializes in helping people in recovery connect with meditation and a progressive understanding of the 12 Steps.