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By Incarcerated People

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

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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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Melbourne Beach, Florida.
On Mindfulness

All I daydream about is here right now

A reflection on becoming more present, thankful, and mindful in the things we're doing and…

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Dark clouds with a little blue sky showing through
On Self-Worth

Being present

A person in prison reflects on taking inventory of the past, present, and future, and…

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Prison cell doors.
By Incarcerated People

The de facto clause

Due to government fear that he will re-offend, an incarcerated person is held under civil…

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Hands rolling mantras
On Overcoming Anger

Saved by the Dharma

A formerly incarcerated person describes how the Dharma helped him turn anger into compassion in…

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Grapes on a vine.
On Overcoming Anger

Grape or no grape?

A television show on animal behavior brings insights into working with anger.

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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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Blue sky behind prison razor wire.
Prison Poetry

Think about it

If you are incarcerated, are you necessarily in a prison?

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Transparent goldent Buddha.
Prison Poetry

Try again

Remembering the patience and determination of the Buddha during our own struggle for awakening.

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A　ｓｉｇｎａｇｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｎａｍｅ　Ｃｈｏｉｃｅ．
On Mindfulness

The choices we make

Taking responsibility for and facing our past behaviors is the first step toward change.

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Sign that says path of life
On Mindfulness

Turning my life around

A person in prison shares his experience of living the five precepts.

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Grey shadows in an abstract pattern.
Prison Poetry

Whisper

Poem by a person in prison. Dark in tone, it touches on the inter-connectedness of…

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