#Aa big book pdf how to

Our more religious members call it “God-consciousness.” Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. What often takes place in a few months could hardly be accomplished by years of self-discipline. He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before he is himself. Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time. Though it was not our intention to create such an impression, many alcoholics have nevertheless concluded that in order to recover they must acquire an immediate and overwhelming “God-consciousness” followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook.Īmong our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule. In the first few chapters a number of sudden revolutionary changes are described. Happily for everyone, this conclusion is erroneous. Yet it is true that our first printing gave many readers the impression that these personality changes, or religious experiences, must be in the nature of sudden and spectacular upheavals.

The terms “spiritual experience” and “spiritual awakening” are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms. The appendix was designed to clear up the confusion. If the burning bush variety experience didn’t occur, many thought they had failed. Apparently many in the early fellowship thought the term “experience” had connotations of “suddenness” as if a burst of new life and energy was intended to be thrust upon them. In Appendix II Spiritua l Experience they try to clear up the murky waters a bit. There is a good reason for this – because the book does! You might have noticed that I use the terms spiritual awakening and spiritual experience interchangeably.

In other words, a spiritual experience is necessary within the AA system. The Big Book isn’t shy on this prescription.

Like what the hell is a spiritual awakening? Spiritual Experience Defined That does leave loads of questions though, does it not? The message is this: as a result of working the steps you can have a spiritual awakening. It’s funny, if you ask a million different people what the AA message is they will likely provide you with a million different answers. They will always materialize if we work for them.I think the first half of the 12th Step sums it up as succinctly as ever… “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message…” They are being fulfilled among us-sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.Īre these extravagant promises? We think not.

#Aa big book pdf how to

We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.

We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.