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By Incarcerated People

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

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Venerables Jampa, Tsultrim, and Damcho, smiling.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Jewels of the Dharma

The nuns in service of the Dharma inspire compassion and loving-kindness to take root in…

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Exterior view of Oregon State Penitentiary.
By Incarcerated People

Making mistakes

By changing the mind, it is possible to change suffering into freedom.

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Cross stitch of a riot scene.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

An almost riot

A person in prison reflects on the power people have, to bring about change when…

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Circles with a path and light in the middle of the circles.
On Cultivating Wisdom

Our circle of suffering

Analogy of struggles in samsara with the experience of a hunted animal. Unlike the animal,…

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A deer in silhouette.
On Mindfulness

Treasure the present

Correspondence with a person in prison on the benefits of learning how to live in…

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Wildflowers and grasses.
By Incarcerated People

A new place

A person shares his experience after he was moved to a different prison.

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Prison cell in dim light.
By Incarcerated People

Views on reforming the prison system

Alternatives to the current prison system exist, alternatives that provide rehabilitation and counseling options.

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A green and gold-colored beetle.
On Mindfulness

Beauty and the bugs

Finding beauty, love and happiness in the smallest of living beings.

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Metal door of a prison.
By Incarcerated People

Surviving in the system

How to bring personal responsibility to a difficult situation.

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A photo showing an inmate back, looking at the sunset.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

A friend in prison

Meeting something new — a friend and the Dharma.

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Inside of a prison cell.
On Attachment

Prison of desire

Finding inner freedom by seeing our shortcomings and working to change oneself.

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Someone's hand holding a lotus candle with light in a dark place.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Love, compassion, peace

Common threads of many religious traditions including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism.

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