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By Incarcerated People

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

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Close up of Kwan Yin's face
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Kwan Yin

A person in prison reflects on the many forms of the bodhisattva Kwan Yin.

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On Overcoming Anger

Reflections on anger

Stories from incarcerated people about their struggles with anger and other afflictions.

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Silhouette of a sailboat in front of a sunset.
Prison Poetry

Truth

Finding the way out of samsara and ignorance.

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Prison cell with the words 'Prison poetry III" superimposed over it.
Prison Poetry

Prison poetry III

Poems written by people associated with the prison Dharma outreach program.

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A big bubble wrapping a woman who is meditating.
On Mindfulness

Celebration of Buddha’s enlightenment

An incarcerated person's gratitude to his sangha, discussing his history of violence, his discovery of…

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On Mindfulness

Mindfulness, contentment, and ABBA

Happiness is an inside job. One can cultivate happiness no matter the circumstances of our…

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A man with head bowed in prayer.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Prison and prayer

How practice sustained an incarcerated person during several weeks in solitary confinement.

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A man with both hands reaching to the sky.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Why not me?

An incarcerated person reflects on self-centered thought and its antidote, cultivating compassion for all sentient…

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Prison cell with the words 'Prison poetry II" superimposed over it.
Prison Poetry

Prison poetry II

Poems written by people associated with the prison Dharma outreach program.

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Plastic pink flamingos by a house.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Pink flamingos

When we reflect on family life with our parents, we need to see with eyes…

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Prison Poetry

A path of understanding

Reflections on the true nature of existence. All we are and all we have is…

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Sterling silver compassion acorn necklace.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

The lone Buddhist

A person in prison describes an experience of compassion that he was able to invoke…

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