The Buddha's Intoxications

SUNDAY September 7, 2025 at 10AM PST

Join us Online with Vince Cullen

More About the Teaching

In this talk, Vince Cullen explores the remarkable journey of Siddhartha Gotama, not as a distant spiritual icon, but as an ordinary human being facing extraordinary questions. What compels a young man, surrounded by luxury and security, to abandon everything and step into the uncertainty of homelessness?

Far from the familiar legend, we discover Gotama as a man confronting his deepest fears — from the intoxicating comforts of privilege to the raw vulnerability of the wilderness. Through stories from the Early Pali Texts, Vince shows how Gotama’s courage and clarity offer a practical, compassionate map for anyone ready to face life’s turbulence without numbing or escape. This isn’t about perfection — it’s about the gritty, human work of letting go of what doesn’t serve us.

Vince will uncover the human story behind the Buddha’s journey — from comfort and privilege to the fearless search for freedom. We will explore Gotama's own 'intoxications', fears and motivation for leaving home at 29-years old - a black haired young man in the prime of life - through to his demise 41-years later as an old Indian beggar, who died very peacefully from a very painful illness.

More About Vince

Having drunk alcoholically from the age of 14 until 39, Vince Cullen sat in his kitchen and poured a glass of lager. He made a promise to himself that this would be his last drink… ever. That was nearly 28-years ago. Since then, he has been associated with Wat Thamkrabok, the famous detox monastery in Thailand and Buddhist-oriented drug and alcohol recovery.

In 2009, Vince founded the Fifth Precept Sangha and since then has taught Hungry Ghost Retreats in the UK, Ireland, India, Nepal, Thailand and the USA. He has been a board member of the Buddhist Recovery Network and also a Buddhist Prison Chaplain at establishments in the UK. Recently, Vince has joined with Dr. Cathryn Jacob to develop the RAFT to Freedom programme which has at it’s core a massive 67-chapter workbook that is freely available online at raft2freedom.org

For the few years or so, Vince has been travelling extensively looking at the world through the lens of the Dharma. Random thoughts, photos and daily budget costs can be seen at Travelling Simply to Simply Travel.

Find out more about RAFT to Freedom here:

https://raft2freedom.org/

More About the Academy

The Academy has invited some of the leading teachers in the field of Buddhist recovery. On the first Sunday of every month for an hour each teacher will explore the sharp edges of suffering through the lens of the Buddhist Teachings.

The Academy brings together teachers from different Buddhist lineages and approaches. Themes like addiction, alcoholism, depression, stinking thinking and compulsive behaviors will be explored.

During this event we will meditate, listen to the teaching, then have time for a Q & A at the end.

Dana

This event is offered freely, but signing up with any donation helps support the Buddhist Recovery Network mission to promote the use of Buddhist teachings and practices to help people recover from the suffering caused by addictive behaviors . Your support will also allow us to connect with you and send you a reminder, 24 hours and 1 hour before the event.

ZOOM LINK

Click to Join via this Zoom Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88942155730?pwd=Q3dBMkRCUTZKZ0NOUjY4ODk1Mnozdz09

Meeting ID: 889 4215 5730 and passcode: 110088

The Buddha's Intoxications

By Buddhist Recovery Network

The Buddha's Intoxications

BRN Academy with Vince Cullen - September 7, 2025