Prison Dharma

People in prison and volunteers who work in prisons reflect on how to apply the Dharma in prison settings and beyond.

All Posts in Prison Dharma

Closeup of face of man contemplating.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

My prison education

If you can open yourself up to another person’s suffering, you are quickly motivated to…

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Looking through prison bars to blue sky outside.
On Overcoming Anger

I would normally have been upset

Even a small incident can give us a chance to practice compassion.

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Chain Link Fence with sunshine
On Meditation

Tears of compassion

A meditation on mindfulness brings strong feelings of compassion for others.

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Shiney Medication Capsules
On Addiction

The allure of drugs

An incarcerated person examines his relationship with drugs.

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Multi-colored candy in heart-shaped bowl
On Addiction

Addiction

The first steps toward recovery from drug addiction.

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Closeup of Buddha's face.
On Cultivating Wisdom

The sangha in us all

A person in prison uses his understanding of Buddhism to connect with all religions he…

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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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Inmates standing around a new pagoda on the prison ground.
By Prison Volunteers

Prison pagoda of loving kindness

Members of a prison Dharma group make their vision of a stupa a reality.

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Prison wire against blue sky.
Prison Dharma

Prison volunteer workshop

A discussion of techniques and practices to benefit incarcerated people. How to establish trust and…

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young man in forest meditating
Prison Dharma

The grief and resilience of a mother

A mother writes about taking refuge in the Dharma after her son's breakdown.

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