Description:
"Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume," edited by Stephanie Kaza, is a powerful anthology that explores the modern phenomenon of addiction through the lens of ancient Buddhist wisdom. The book’s core argument is that the fundamental principles of Buddhism—particularly the teachings on desire, greed, and attachment—provide a direct and clear path to understanding the roots of our consuming habits.
The collection features essays from a wide range of Buddhist teachers and writers who apply these timeless teachings to modern life, including our relationships with food, shopping, technology, and more. The book reframes the "urge to consume" as a form of suffering that can be addressed not with willpower or deprivation, but with mindful awareness and compassion. "Hooked!" is a groundbreaking resource that encourages readers to look deeply at their own habits and to cultivate a sense of inner freedom that is not dependent on external possessions or pleasures. For those in recovery, this book offers a new perspective on the cycle of craving and a practical path to finding lasting peace and contentment.
Study Guide for Recovery
This study guide is designed to help you explore the concepts in "Hooked!" and apply them to your own journey of recovery.
Key Themes & Concepts
- Desire and Greed: The book provides a foundational understanding of the Buddhist perspective on desire and greed as root causes of suffering, which can be directly applied to the experience of addiction.
- The Urge to Consume: The essays address how the mind's habitual "urge to consume" can manifest in various forms, from substance use to over-consumption of food or technology.
- Mindful Awareness: The book emphasizes that mindful awareness is a powerful tool for observing cravings and urges without acting on them.
- Finding Freedom from Attachment: The teachings provide guidance on how to release the attachments that lead to suffering and find a sense of inner freedom.
Discussion Questions
- The book connects the Buddhist concept of desire to the "urge to consume." What are some urges, beyond substances, that you are working to find freedom from?
- The title "Hooked!" is a powerful metaphor. How have you felt "hooked" in your life, and what does it mean to you to begin to unhook yourself?
- The book's essays address how a mindful awareness can help with cravings. What is one way you can bring more awareness to your cravings today, rather than trying to escape or ignore them?
- Think about the role of consumerism in modern life. How does the pressure to "consume" fuel the cycle of addiction, and what is one way you can intentionally resist that pressure?
- What is one small step you can take today to cultivate a greater sense of contentment that is not dependent on something external?
Additional Resources
- Article: "The Dharma of Consumerism"
- Read an article that explores the intersection of Buddhist principles and the modern phenomenon of consumerism. (Search "Buddhism and consumerism" for a variety of helpful resources.)
- Guided Meditation: "Mindful Consumption"
- This guided meditation helps you to bring a mindful presence to the act of consumption, whether it's eating, shopping, or using technology. (Search "mindful consumption meditation" on a podcast or meditation app.)
- Website: The Buddhist Recovery Network:
- This organization supports the use of Buddhist principles and practices to support recovery from addiction.
- Article: "Greed and Spiritual Practice"
- This article from a spiritual publication provides a deeper look at the concept of greed from a Buddhist perspective and how it can be addressed through spiritual practice. (Search "Buddhist teachings on greed".)
