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By Incarcerated People

Reflections, essays, and poems by people in prison about their Dharma practice.

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3 stuffed mice-One bigger mice taking sticks, one smaller mice taking a basket and one small mice looking at the big one carrying the sticks.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

A family of mice

A family of mice in his locker—be compassionate or let them die?

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A road sign with the name Gratitude Road.
On Mindfulness

Gratitude

Getting caught up in our egos keeps us from appreciating the good things we do…

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Stone image of a bodhisattva.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Joys of taking the bodhisattva vows

An incarcerated person shares the impact of taking the bodhisattva vows on his Dharma practice.

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Fingers coming through a white wall
On Overcoming Anger

Making the teachings personal

An incarcerated person reflects on refuge and the insights he has developed through practice.

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Prison Poetry

Deeply committed to freedom

An incarcerated person writes about the choice we make each day: to rise above our…

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On Overcoming Anger

Growing pains

A story about an unhappy childhood, a lot of hate and anger, and, in the…

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A group of women waiting for a group therapy session to begin.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Scars and catharsis

An incarcerated person is asked to confront the results of his actions.

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A white sign on a window with the words: If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
On Overcoming Anger

Grouchy me

Controlling the mind in order to control anger.

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A sign on the wall that says 'Change'.
By Incarcerated People

Adapting to changes

Meeting both good news and bad news with equanimity.

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Silhouette of men behind prison bars.
By Incarcerated People

The prison way of life

A person in prison reflects on how the rules of life in prison run counter…

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A letterbox with the word HOPE, very clear blue sky in the background.
By Incarcerated People

We are human beings

What the people on the outside should know about life in prison.

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On Overcoming Anger

Dealing with the guards

If we change our behavior, others might change in response.

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