Right effort, learning, and love
By J. P.
Incarcerated people 
On Mindfulness 
Feb 9, 2006 
I began keeping a journal in my Buddhist training, and it shows the gradual discovery of my own suffering.
I woke this morning with a little more understanding of myself. It is true that by increasing my effort in training and by really learning, help comes in response to what I have learned. What I have learned is this; in most of my thoughts I spin the central theme of hurt. I take on events, spin out the details, and magnify my own hurt. I do this by the judgments I make about the motives or opinions of others. And then, when my mind has evoked a string of emotions, and in response even thoughts and emotions well up, it becomes even more painful than before. I began to look for help and found it all around me and much to my surprise, from within!
Buddhism teaches that all beings are basically looking for love.
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.
