Wholesome or unwholesome seeds
By D. D.
Incarcerated people 
On Mindfulness 
Aug 1, 2005 
Having a healthy outlook even while in prison.
What we see and hear plants seeds in our mind. (Photo by Edgaras Jazelis)
I’ve become aware that what I see and hear plants seeds on my mind, or waters seeds that are there. For example, pornography plants unwholesome seeds on my mindstream. I recognize the potential for harm it causes to myself and others. What is really disturbing to me is how incarcerated people here use pornography to fuel unhealthy and even criminal fantasies. It is mind-boggling that the administration allows people to have porno in their possession and yet we are prohibited from owning a small meditation bench. Can’t they see the harm that porno is for some obsessive types in here? It just doesn’t make sense.
About three years ago, on impulse I bought a couple of pages of porn pics from this guy. I put them in my drawer and there they sat for months. I never really had the desire to look at them, and so after a while I decided to get rid of them. It wasn’t that I was being puritanical, but I just wasn’t interested in keeping them any longer. So I thought, “I’ll just sell them to someone in here. After all, there are many eager buyers.” But then I realized that in doing so, I would be perpetuating unhealthy seeds in someone else’s mindstream. I went to my drawer, tore them up, and that was the last time I had any porno in my possession.
Incarcerated people
Many incarcerated people from all over the United States correspond with Venerable Thubten Chodron and monastics from Sravasti Abbey. They offer great insights into how they are applying the Dharma and striving to be of benefit to themselves and others in even the most difficult of situations.
