Crossing to the other shore
By G. S.
Incarcerated people 
Prison Poetry 
May 11, 2005 
This came to me in my meditation, I'm not sure from where ...
Eyes boring into emptiness—why?
Man looking to his existence—where?
Vajrasattva—destruction!
Rivers roll by
Rivers pass around
The bend.
Struggling, flailing arms,
Flopping legs, grasping feet …
White water rapids—ahhh …
Man no more—where?
Emptiness—fear—why?
Ignorance—reaching—reaching
Out—confusion.
Vajrasattva—HELP!
Head above,
Trepidation, terror, silence.
Mind here, mind there—hope.
Can’t look! Peeking through fingers spread,
Vajrasattva—compassion, calm abiding,
Rest, solace, one-pointedness—there!
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.
