Radhanath Swamy Speaks on Alcoholics Anonymous

In Mumbai, some noble souls would regularly invite me to Alcoholics Anonymous. I found in these people more sincere and spiritual mood than in most temples and churches around the world. Because they really have accepted within their heart that they are totally helpless, they cannot overcome this force that is destroying their lives, and the only power that can help them is the power of God, and without like-minded persons helping them they cannot connect to that power of God.

But one unfortunate situation was that probably 95 percent of the people who were discussing these very nice topics were smoking cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes helped them to somehow or other tolerate that temptation for alcohol. Actually it was just diverting their attention from one destructive activity to another destructive activity. Both destroy the bodies and both destroy ones spiritual inclinations. In fact, any type of addiction to any type of material bodily pleasure is a great enemy of one’s spiritual life. Hence, the great teachers teach us that the same senses that are now causing us so much bondage and suffering, engage them in service of God. When our senses become purified, we become free from all these material addictions.

By Radhanath Swamy

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail