"spiritual" in the Big Book

spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead.

When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet.

The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe.

We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help.

Some of our alcoholic readers may think they can do without spiritual help.

Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences.

This hope, however, was destroyed by the doctor’s telling him that while his religious convictions were very good, in his case they did not spell the necessary vital spiritual experience. *For amplification—see Appendix II.

enough, we find such convictions no great obstacle to a spiritual experience.

All went well for a time, but he failed to enlarge his spiritual life.

Fred would not believe himself an alcoholic, much less accept a spiritual remedy for his problem.

“Then they outlined the spiritual answer and program of action which a hundred of them had followed successfully.

“Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems.

Though not a religious person, I have profound respect for the spiritual approach in such cases as yours.

If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.

To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face.

But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life —or else.

That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral.

But his face falls when we speak of spiritual matters, especially when we mention God, for we have re-opened a subject which our man thought he had neatly evaded or entirely ignored.

This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book.

Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you.

At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him.

It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.* That was great news to us, for we had assumed we could not make use of spiritual principles unless we accepted many things on faith which seemed difficult to believe.

When people presented us with spiritual approaches, how frequently did we all say, “I wish I had what that man has.

Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, * Please be sure to read Appendix II on “Spiritual Experience.”

Many of us have been so touchy that even casual reference to spiritual things made us bristle with antagonism.

Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be on other questions.

We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves.

We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.

Yet we had been seeing another kind of flight, a spiritual liberation from this world, people who rose above their problems.

We had seen spiritual release, but liked to tell ourselves it wasn’t true.

One night, when confined in a hospital, he was approached by an alcoholic who had known a spiritual experience.

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.

We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

We found it very desirable to take this spiritual step with an understanding person, such as our wife, best friend, or spiritual adviser.

From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick.

When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.

But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is in­ finitely grave.

We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.

As we look over the list of business acquaintances and friends we have hurt, we may feel diffident about going to some of them on a spiritual basis.

To some people we need not, and probably should not emphasize the spiritual feature on our first approach.

He is going to be more interested in a demonstration of good will than in our talk of spiritual discoveries.

Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.

The spiritual life is not a theory.

Unless one’s family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them.

We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters.

That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels.

What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.

Stress the spiritual feature freely.

The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles.

When dealing with such a person, you had better use everyday language to describe spiritual principles.

Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection.

If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience.

Should they accept and practice spiritual principles, there is a much better chance that the head of the family will recover.

He should concentrate on his own spiritual demonstration.

Both you and the new man must walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress.

An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status.

But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good.

If you think he will be shy of a spiritual remedy, ask him to look at the chapter on

If such women adopt a spiritual way of life their road will be smoother.

We have elsewhere remarked how much better life is when lived on a spiritual plane.

As our husbands began to apply spiritual principles in their lives, we began to see the desirability of doing so too.

Now we try to put spiritual principles to work in every department of our lives.

If your husband is trying to live on a spiritual basis, he will also be doing everything in his power to avoid disagreement or contention.

be the first to say it was your devotion and care which brought him to the point where he could have a spiritual experience.

Your husband will see at once that he must redouble his spiritual activities if he expects to survive.

You need not remind him of his spiritual deficiency—he will know of it.

In the first flush of spiritual experience they forgave each other and drew closer together.

They criticize, pointing out how he is falling down on his spiritual program.

If they sense these things, they will not take so seriously his periods of crankiness, depression, or apathy, which will disappear when there is tolerance, love, and spiritual understanding.

For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never preceded.

Assume on the other hand that father has, at the outset, a stirring spiritual experience.

There is talk about spiritual matters morning, noon and night.

Dad is not so spiritual after all, they say.

We have indulged in spiritual intoxication.

He will perceive that his spiritual growth is lopsided, that for an average man like himself, a spiritual life which does not include his family obligations may not be so perfect after all.

In the midst of an understanding and sympathetic family, these vagaries of dad’s spiritual infancy will quickly disappear.

Instead of treating the family as he should, he may retreat further into himself and feel he has spiritual justification for so doing.

Though the family does not fully agree with dad’s spiritual activities, they should let him have his head.

some of his manifestations are alarming and disagreeable, we think dad will be on a firmer foundation than the man who is placing business or professional success ahead of spiritual development.

Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have eventually seen the childishness of it.

We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.

One more suggestion: Whether the family has spiritual convictions or not, they may do well to examine the principles by which the alcoholic member is trying to live.

Nothing will help the man who is off on a spiritual tangent so much as the wife who adopts a sane spiritual program, making a better practical use of it.

Being possessed of a spiritual experience, the alcoholic will find he has much in common with these people, though he may

We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative.

Whether the family goes on a spiritual basis or not, the alcoholic member has to if he would recover.

He had to painfully admit that and mend his spiritual fences.

A spiritual experience, he conceded, was absolutely necessary, but the price seemed high upon the basis suggested.

The use of spiritual principles in * This refers to Bill’s and Dr. Bob’s first visit to A.A. Number Three.

The two friends spoke of their spiritual experience and told him about the course of action they carried out.

He had begun to have a spiritual experience.

After a bit, he said, “The way you fellows put this spiritual stuff makes sense.

They experienced a few distressing failures, but in those cases they made an effort to bring the man’s family into a spiritual way of living, thus relieving much worry and suffering.

tended by anyone or everyone interested in a spiritual way of life.

Understanding our work, he can do this with an eye to selecting those who are willing and able to recover on a spiritual basis.