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Prison Poetry

People in prison write verses from the heart about their Dharma practice.

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Gold colored sunset behind silhouette of trees. — Prison Poetry

Gathas for daily life

An incarcerated person is inspired by the writing of Thich Nhat Hanh.

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Silhouette of man standing behind prison bars. — Prison Poetry

Developing bodhicitta

A man serving a life sentence transforms feelings of dread into compassion for all beings.

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Closeup of the statue of a smiling Buddha's face. — Prison Poetry

Love

Finding the value of love in searching for peace and equanimity.

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The word "Why?" written on a metal sliding door. — Prison Poetry

Why?

Poetry from inside a state prison.

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Silhouette of trees against a dark night sky filled with stars. — Prison Poetry

The peace and beauty of the night’s darkness

A prison volunteer finds respite from the daily struggle.

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Person compassionately holding the hands of another person. — Prison Poetry

The cure

On March 15, 2019, 50 people at mosques in New Zealand were murdered by a…

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Prison Poetry

Sravasti Grove

An incarcerated person expresses his gratitude for having met the Dharma.

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Gray stone and rings in sand of Zen rock garden. — Prison Poetry

The garden notices the rocks moving

An incarcerated person writes about seeing others as equal in worth.

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Man with eyes closed. — Prison Poetry

A glimpse into the ultimate

A powerful meditation on using the mind to shatter illusions.

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Man writing in a notebook. — Prison Poetry

A suicide

An incarcerated person learns of his cousin's death.

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Piece of chocolate cake. — Prison Poetry

Big piece

Complaining about our lot just leads to more confinement. An incarcerated person talks about contentment.

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A monk looking into his bowl of soup. — Prison Poetry

Eating blame

Learning to swallow our pride can help to create peace and clarity.

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