The Great Reality!

“We found the Great Reality deep down within us” (AA, Chapter 4, We Agnostics, p. 55)

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old):

“What you're describing is a consequence of being "disempowered" by the cult and also precisely the reason why AA advocates reliance upon a non-human power (ie. a God of your understanding)  rather than any other. Bill Wilson refers to this situation in the 12 and 12 when he talks about unhealthy dependencies.  The cult provides a nice little cocoon in which to hide (which of course feels sooooo good when you're still part of it!) but does not prepare anyone for dealing with the real world with all its stresses and strains.  Loneliness, fear, suffering... these are all part of the life as it actually is as opposed to the "Disneyland" portrayal of it where "misery is optional" and all you have to do is call your sponsor when anything goes wrong and they'll sort if out for you.  If anyone spared more than a few moments' thought to this they would see what a crock of shit that platitude really is! Of course an alcoholic wants to be happy, joyous and free - and ALL THE TIME. When I was a drunk that was one of the central reasons why I drank - fear of suffering, or even worse, fear of feeling. As they say in AA: "The good news - when you get sober you get your feelings back! The bad news - when you get sober you get your feelings back!" A human power no matter how benign cannot reach into the void that lies at the heart of everyone.  Each individual has to face this reality for themselves and always alone. But the power to do this paradoxically comes from deep within us in a place that we cannot access simply through the unaided will or the exercise of some kind of "option".  It's a transcendent power, the Great Reality that lies deep within us, and the whole purpose of the programme is to reach in there and find the solution.  You can call it God or Higher Power but it really is no more than what we truly are.  The idea of Step11 (and the rest of the programme) is no more than to move closer and closer to that central reality until we are One with it.  Then not only are we in conscious contact with God -  we ARE God!

Finally you're actually more powerful than you realise - you just don't know it yet! So take heart, pick up the spiritual tool kit and ROCK THE WORLD!”

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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