"stuart" <ggo@feds.org> wrote in message
news:teCre.49368$wr.2319@clgrps12...
>
> "Darren" <darren@notathome.net> wrote in message
> news:7gzre.9151$q46.6445@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
> >
> > "stuart" <fred@nospam.com> wrote in message
> > news:Glrre.54211$HI.36493@edtnps84...
> >>
> >> Darren <darren@notathome.net> wrote in message
> >> news:coqre.9079$q46.3288@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
> >> > At tonights meeting and on many meetings in the past, members stated
> >> > something on the lines that step 9 isn't about quelling your
concience
> > but
> >> > making the other person feel better. I don't understand. What has
that
> > to
> >> do
> >> > with sobriety? also one member felt bad because he felt good about a
> >> person
> >> > forgiving him... WHAT? If the person who is making amends feels good
as
> >> well
> >> > as the person he/she is making amends too then where's the harm?
surely
> > if
> >> > you're feeling good and because you are feeling good then thats a
good
> >> > thing, yes?
> >> >
> >> > Darren
> >>
> >> I think there are as many interpretations of the purpose of the steps
as
> >> there are members. My take on it is along the lines as yours. What's
the
> >> general idea? To stay sober, right? So, my way if viewing step nine is
to
> >> clean my side of the street so my conscience doesn't bother me.
> >
> > Some members of AA would say that you are being selfish. I would reply.,
> > "reality check boys". The church is down the road there. Go there for
your
> > spiritual and moral guidence. here, the goal is to remain sober but if
> > that's how they do it then fair enough. I could have spoken out last
night
> > but i didn't. Perhaps that was best huh?
> >
> >> But, having said that, AA is also a spiritual way of living which
means,
> > in
> >> part to me anyhow, to be rid of the bondage of self.
> > Impossible. The one person you always wake up with, live with, sleep
with,
> > work with, die with is yourself and the same applies to every creature
in
> > the universe is yourself. There is no such thing as someone or something
> > who
> > is totally selfless throughout thier entire lives. There are varying
> > degress
> > and moments of selflessness but no total selflessnness. Hell according
to
> > the christians not even their god is selfless. The guy needs you to
> > worship
> > him. Now thats selfish.
>
> Oh absolutely true. If you look at Chap 4 in the 12&12 it talks about
> 'self-will run riot'. There's what I was referring to. It's tricky because
> to some degree we all need to be selfish and look after ourselves, but
where
> spirituality comes in is when we have caring and concern for others of our
> own kind, our collective souls if you will..
Fair enough if you are suffering with selfishness gone mad and are needing
spiritual help then AA isn't the place. That's for your church, mosque,
temple, little white circle whatever. My fall comes from the inability to
withstand each and every crushing blow to me ego, self confidence etc by a
capitalist money motivated societty who values money more than life.

Darren