From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
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to view the Big Book or 12&12 chapter, or Grapevine text1.
... experience.
BB
There Is A Solution, p.27
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.
2.
... experience.
BB
There Is A Solution, pp.28-29
3.
... experience.
BB
More About Alcoholism, p.39
This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize, to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has
been revealed to us out of bitter experience.
4.
... experience.
BB
We Agnostics, p.56
One night, when confined in a hospital, he
was approached by an alcoholic who had known a spiritual experience.
5.
... Experience."
BB
We Agnostics (Note), p.47
6.
... experience.
BB
How It Works, p.70
7.
... experience.
BB
Into Action, p.75
8.
... experience.
BB
Into Action, p.85
That is our experience.
9.
... experience.
BB
Working With Others, p.92
10.
... experience.
BB
To Wives, pp.118-119
Your husband will be the first to say it was your devotion and care which brought him to the point where
he could have a spiritual experience.
11.
... experience.
BB
The Family Afterward, p.128
12.
... experience.
BB
A Vision For You, p.158
13.
... experience.
BB
Doctor Bob's Nightmare, p.180
Of far more importance was the fact that
he was the first living human with whom I had ever talked, who knew what he was talking about in regard to alcoholism from actual
experience.
14.
... experience.
BB
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience, p.568
Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is
the essence of spiritual
experience.
15.
... experience.
12&12
Contents (Tradition Three), p.10
16.
... experience.
12&12
Step Eleven, p.104
17.
... experience.
12&12
Tradition One, p.131
18.
... experience.
12&12
Tradition Three, p.139
19.
... experience.
12&12
Tradition Four, p.149
20.
... experience.
12&12
Tradition Six, pp.157-158
21.
... experience.
12&12
Tradition Eight, p.167
But when we had declared that our Fellowship couldn't hire service workers nor could any A.A. member carry our knowledge into other fields, we were taking the counsel of fear, fear which today has been largely dispelled in the light of
experience.
22.
... experience a
man was brought in to ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxxi
23.
... experience: A
woman's voice came faintly over ...
BB
To Employers, p.137
24.
... experience after
another clinched this determination until ...
12&12
Tradition Three, p.141
One dramatic experience after another clinched this determination until it became our universal tradition.
25.
... experience along
to me -- if I cared ...
BB
Bill's Story, p.9
26.
... experience an
entire psychic change there is ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxix
This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.
27.
... experience and
a life of sane and ...
BB
The Family Afterward, p.130
We have found nothing incompatible between a
powerful spiritual
experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.
28.
... experience and
knowledge.
BB
There Is A Solution, p.19
29.
... experience and
learn.
12&12
Step Eleven, p.100
30.
... experience" and
"spiritual awakening" are used many ...
BB
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience, p.567
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.
31.
... experience and
told him about the course ...
BB
A Vision For You, p.157
The two friends spoke of their spiritual
experience and told him about
the course of action they carried out.
32.
... experience as
Medical Director of one of ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxvii
I say this after many years' experience as Medical Director of one of the oldest hospitals in the country treating alcoholic and drug addiction.
33.
... experience before
the world.
BB
Foreword to Second Edition, p.xvii
It was now time, the struggling groups thought, to place their message and unique experience before the world.
34.
... experience by
the dozen.
BB
More About Alcoholism, p.42
35.
... experience can
benefit others.
BB
Into Action, p.84
36.
... experience can
recover, provided he does not ...
BB
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience, p.568
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does
not close his mind to all spiritual concepts.
37.
... experience closely
tallied with his own.
BB
A Vision For You, p.160
Impressed by those who visited him at the hospital,
he capitulated entirely when, later, in an upper room of this house, he heard the story of some man whose experience closely tallied with his own.
38.
... experience does
provide certain answers that work ...
12&12
Step Twelve, p.117
We A.A.'s cannot pretend to offer full answers to age-old perplexities, but our own experience does provide certain answers that work for us.
39.
... experience, following
a meeting with an alcoholic ...
BB
Foreword to Second Edition, pp.xv-xvi
Six months earlier, the broker had been
relieved of his drink obsession by a sudden spiritual experience, following a meeting with an
alcoholic friend who had
been in contact with the Oxford Groups of that day.
40.
... experience galore.
BB
The Family Afterward, p.126
With these we have had experience galore.
41.
... experience had
made him skeptical, he finished ...
BB
There Is A Solution, p.26
42.
Experience has
often warned us that nothing ...
BB
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition, p.564
Experience has often warned us that nothing can so
surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.
43.
Experience has
often warned us that nothing ...
12&12
Tradition Seven (Long), p.191
Experience has often warned us that nothing can so
surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.
44.
... experience, has
stepped over the threshold of ...
BB
A Vision For You, p.160
Many a man, yet dazed from his hospital experience, has stepped over the threshold of that home into freedom.
45.
... experience has
taught us that:
BB
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition, p.563
46.
... experience has
taught us that:
12&12
Twelve Traditions (Long Form), p.189
47.
Experience has
taught us that these are ...
BB
We Agnostics, p.50
Experience has taught us that
these are matters about which, for our purpose, we need not be worried.
48.
... experience has
taught us we cannot live ...
12&12
Step Five, p.55
A.A. experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character
defects which cause or aggravate them.
49.
... experience has
yet given to those ever-urgent ...
BB
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition, p.561
The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous
are, we A.A.'s believe, the best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can
A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
50.
... experience, he
conceded, was absolutely necessary, but ...
BB
A Vision For You, p.155
A spiritual experience, he
conceded, was absolutely necessary,
but the price seemed high upon the basis suggested.
51.
... experience, how
the queer mental condition surrounding ...
BB
Working With Others, p.92
Show him, from your own experience, how the queer mental condition surrounding that first drink prevents normal functioning of the
will power.
52.
... experience in
a book which finally reached ...
12&12
Foreword, p.17
Nevertheless, the infant Society determined to set down its experience in a book which finally reached the public in April 1939.
53.
... experience in
A.A. does seem to suggest..."
12&12
Tradition Nine, pp.173-174
54.
... experience in
proof of it, still be ...
12&12
Step Eleven, p.96
To certain newcomers and
to those one-time agnostics who still cling to the A.A. group as their higher power, claims for the power of prayer may, despite all the logic and experience in proof of it, still be unconvincing or quite objectionable.
55.
... experience in
the Cathedral burst upon me.
BB
Bill's Story, p.12
56.
... Experience"; in
the second edition, the appendices ...
BB
Preface, p.xi
The second printing of the
first edition added the appendix "Spiritual Experience"; in the
second edition, the appendices on A.A. Tradition, the "medical view" and "religious view" of A.A., the Lasker Award and information on how to contact A.A. were added, and the appendix on the
Alcoholic Foundation
was discontinued.
57.
... experience in
this Step has meant to ...
12&12
Step Eight, p.82
Whenever our pencil falters, we can fortify and
cheer ourselves by remembering what A.A. experience in this Step has meant to others.
58.
... Experience," indicates
a multitude of ways in ...
BB
There Is A Solution, p.28
The distinguished American psychologist,
William James, in his book "Varieties of Religious Experience," indicates a multitude of
ways in which men have discovered God.
59.
... experience is
a criterion, more than half ...
BB
A Vision For You, p.163
Some of them may sink and perhaps never get up, but if our experience is a criterion, more than half of those approached will become fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous.
60.
... experience, is
sound, and who is willing ...
12&12
Tradition Two, p.135
The elder statesman is the
one who sees the wisdom of the group's decision, who holds no resentment over his reduced status, whose judgment, fortified by considerable experience, is
sound, and who is willing to
sit quietly on the sidelines patiently awaiting developments.
61.
... experience is
the thing of supreme value ...
BB
The Family Afterward, p.124
Henry Ford once made a wise remark to the effect that experience is the thing of supreme value in life.
62.
... experience, it
didn't necessarily mean that we ...
12&12
Step Five, p.58
But while this was a humiliating experience, it
didn't necessarily mean
that we had yet acquired much actual humility.
63.
... experience may
come to you.
BB
To Wives, p.116
This experience may come to you.
64.
... experience means
anything at all, this is ...
12&12
Step Five, p.56
Yet if A.A.'s experience means anything at all, this is not only unwise, but is actually a perilous resolve.
65.
... experience of
a man who thought he ...
BB
We Agnostics, p.55
66.
... experience of
an occasional retreat from the ...
12&12
Step Ten, p.89
Many of us also like the experience of an occasional retreat from
the outside world where we
can quiet down for an undisturbed day or so of self-overhaul and meditation.
67.
... experience of
any alcoholic will abundantly confirm ...
BB
There Is A Solution, p.23
68.
... experience, of
course.
12&12
Step Two, p.27
69.
... experience of
meditation and prayer across the ...
12&12
Step Eleven, p.98
70.
... experience of
society and government everywhere, that ...
12&12
Tradition Three, p.141
Why did we dare to say, contrary to the experience of society and government everywhere,
that we would neither punish nor deprive any A.A. of membership, that we must never compel anyone to pay anything, believe anything, or conform to anything?
71.
... experience of
the A.A. pioneers captured in ...
12&12
Introduction, p.14
We hope that the collective spiritual
experience of the A.A. pioneers captured in these
pages continues to help alcoholics and friends of A.A. understand the principles of our program.
72.
... experience of
this kind, and he was ...
BB
More About Alcoholism, p.39
73.
... experience, only
to enjoy, in a few ...
BB
The Family Afterward, p.134
74.
... experience out
of the past.
BB
The Family Afterward, p.132
Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we
burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past.
75.
... experience, plus
the knowledge he had acquired, ...
BB
More About Alcoholism, p.40
He was positive that this humiliating experience, plus the knowledge he had acquired, would keep him sober the rest of his life.
76.
Experience proved
that we could not endorse ...
12&12
Contents (Tradition Six), p.11
77.
... experience seems
impossible, but to continue as ...
BB
We Agnostics, p.44
To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems impossible, but to continue as he is means disaster, especially if
he is an alcoholic of the hopeless variety.
78.
... experience shows
that nothing will so much ...
BB
Working With Others, p.89
Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.
79.
Experience shows
that such an attitude is ...
BB
Working With Others, p.103
80.
... experience shows
that this is not necessarily ...
BB
Working With Others, p.101
81.
... experience shows
that you need not be ...
BB
We Agnostics, p.44
82.
... experience, some
of it painful.
BB
To Wives, p.121
83.
... experience, strength,
and hope.
BB
Foreword to Third Edition, p.xxii
Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope.
84.
... experience, strength,
and hope with each other, ...
BB
Foreword to Fourth Edition, p.xxiv
In any meeting, anywhere, A.A.'s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics.
85.
... experience, strength
and hope with each other ...
Grapevine
Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous
is a fellowship of men and
women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their
common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
86.
... experience taught
us that to take away ...
12&12
Tradition Three, p.141
At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery.
87.
... experience tell
all these they may still ...
12&12
Step Two, p.28
88.
... experience that
A.A.'s Twelve Traditions took form ...
12&12
Foreword, p.18
It was out of this vast welter of explosive experience that A.A.'s Twelve Traditions took form and were first published in 1946 and later confirmed at A.A.'s First International Convention, held at Cleveland in 1950.
89.
... experience that
particularly in these cases we ...
12&12
Step Eleven, p.104
It is A.A.'s experience that particularly in these cases we ought to pray that God's will, whatever it is, be done for others as well as for ourselves.
90.
... experience, that
we have found nothing which ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxviii
We feel, after many years of experience, that we have found nothing which has contributed more to the rehabilitation of these men than the altruistic movement now growing up among them.
91.
... experience, that
we surely must try with ...
12&12
Step Seven, p.73
But again we are driven on by
the inescapable conclusion which we draw from
A.A. experience, that we surely must try with a will, or else fall by the wayside.
92.
... experience, the
alcoholic will find he has ...
BB
The Family Afterward, p.131
Being possessed of a spiritual experience, the alcoholic will find he has much in common with these people, though he may differ with them
on many matters.
93.
... experience the
conviction grew that A.A.'s had ...
BB
Foreword to Second Edition, p.xix
But out of this frightening and at first disrupting experience the conviction grew that A.A.'s had to hang together or die separately.
94.
... experience the
kind of giving that asks ...
12&12
Step Twelve, p.106
95.
... experience, the
man agreed that no amount ...
BB
A Vision For You, p.155
When our friend related his
experience, the man agreed that no amount of will power he might muster could stop his drinking for long.
96.
... experience the
sense of ease and comfort ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxviii
They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they
can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks -- drinks which they see others taking with impunity.
97.
... experience, the
structure of our Society was ...
12&12
Tradition One, p.131
98.
... experience they
forgave each other and drew ...
BB
The Family Afterward, p.124
99.
... experience, they
have turned to easier methods.
BB
Into Action, p.72
100.
... experience, this
business of resentment is infinitely ...
BB
How It Works, p.66
But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of
a spiritual experience,
this business of resentment is infinitely grave.
101.
... experience, this
is one of the facts ...
12&12
Step One, p.21
102.
... experience, this
prayer was his expression of ...
12&12
Step Eleven, p.99
And as he came out the other side of that painful experience, this prayer was his expression
of what he could then see, feel,
and wish to become:
103.
... experience to
their service at The General ...
12&12
Tradition Eight (Note), p.169
(*) The work of present-day staff members has no counterpart among the job categories of commercial organizations. These A.A.'s
bring a wide range of business and professional experience to
their service at The General Service Office.
104.
... experience to
think that they can stop, ...
BB
More About Alcoholism, p.33
Young people may be encouraged by this man's experience to think that they can stop, as he did, on their own will power.
105.
... experience top
secret.
12&12
Tradition Eight, p.171
We cannot declare A.A. such a closed corporation that we keep our
knowledge and experience top secret.
106.
... experience, we
are sure they will come.
BB
A Vision For You, p.153
Should you wish them above all
else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come.
107.
... experience, we
ask that we be given ...
BB
Into Action, p.79
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.
108.
... experience were
being sold for money, hence ...
12&12
Tradition Eight, p.167
In all these instances, and more, it was claimed that A.A. knowledge and experience were being sold for money, hence these people, too, were professionals.
109.
... experience whether
we are drinking or not.
12&12
Step Ten, p.88
110.
... experience, which
as we have already told ...
BB
There Is A Solution, p.28
Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend found himself when he had the
extraordinary experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man.
111.
... experience which
finally produced the Twelve Traditions ...
12&12
Foreword, p.18
The Tradition section of
this volume portrays in
some detail the experience
which finally produced
the Twelve Traditions
and so gave A.A. its present form, substance, and unity.
112.
... experience which
has led us to the ...
12&12
Tradition Two, p.135
This is the experience which has led us to the conclusion that
our group conscience, well-advised by its elders, will be in the long run wiser than any single leader.
113.
... experience will
conquer.
BB
We Agnostics, p.44
If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness
which only a spiritual experience will conquer.
114.
... experience with
A.A., said: "The alcoholics we ...
BB
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A., p.570
Dr. John F. Stouffer, Chief Psychiatrist, Philadelphia General Hospital, citing his experience with A.A., said: "The alcoholics we get here at Philadelphia General are
mostly those who cannot afford private treatment, and A.A. is by far the greatest thing we have been able to offer them.
115.
... experience with
alcoholic excuses naturally arouses suspicion.
BB
To Employers, p.146
116.
... experience with
an alcoholic, this may seem ...
BB
Working With Others, p.101
To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic,
this may seem like tempting Providence, but
it isn't.
117.
... experience with
Step Four.
12&12
Step Four, p.46
118.
... experience with
the sufferings of our members ...
BB
The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxv
Convincing testimony
must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the
sufferings of our members and have witnessed
our return to health.
119.
... experience within
the Fellowship on how A.A. ...
12&12
Introduction, p.14
Bill W., who along with Dr. Bob S. founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, wrote the book to share 18 years of collective experience within the Fellowship on how A.A. members recover, and how our
society functions.
120.
... experience you
can be uniquely useful to ...
BB
Working With Others, p.89
Ministers and doctors
are competent and you can learn much from them if you wish, but it happens that because of your own drinking experience you can be
uniquely useful to other alcoholics.
121.
... experience you
must not miss.
BB
Working With Others, p.89
To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends -- this is an experience
you must not miss.
122.
... experience yourself,
you can give him much ...
BB
Working With Others, p.96
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