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| Buddha or bust |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 03/26/2007 |
In the late 1990s the practice of Buddhism started migrating into prisons and jails largely through the efforts of organizations like the Liberation Prison Project, a Tibetan Buddhist non-profit group providing Buddhist literature, classes and advice to offenders.
“The essence of Buddhism is this: we all possess the innate potential to develop our positive qualities and to decrease our unhappy states of minds, and on the basis of this to be of benefit to others,” explains LPP founder Venerable Robina Courtin, who is the Buddhist equivalent of a reverend. “Buddha has this nice analogy; a bird needs two wings: wisdom and compassion. By working on ourselves, becoming less neurotic and angry and depressed and fearful, we become more wise and content, and then we can develop empathy and compassion for others.” Courtin began the LPP seven years ago when she received a letter from an offender expressing interest in Buddhism. Since then, thousands of offenders have written to her, who estimates that 10,000 books have been sent to inmates, prison libraries, and facility chaplains who want to better understand the religion. The organization is funded by private donations and fundraisers and although the LPP does not solicit inmates or attempt to convert them Courtin says offenders are especially interested in Buddhism's aspects of compassion and forgiveness. “Lots of inmates have heard about [the focus on] meditation and mission to find inner peace,” Courtin explains. “We've gathered that prisoners often don't have families or they feel they've been given up on. Most of the time, they are happy to have just one human being offering them some kind of kindness.” Finding internal happiness is another tenant that speaks to the inmates. Rather than relying on outside sources for pleasure, Buddhists search for contentment within using mediation and prayer. Also, they do not worship a traditional god or deity, but instead focus on the health of the mind. One letter to LPP is all it takes for an inmate to begin this path to enlightenment. LPP replies to all letters with personal responses as well as books. Offenders also have the option of taking classes through the mail via audio or video tapes, or with a visiting LPP staffer. “Once an inmate has reviewed the literature and taken classes, we offer another program over the phone,” explains Courtin. “They can take refuge over the phone, which is the equivalent of becoming a formal Buddhist.” According to Courtin, offenders are finding Buddhism to be just the thing to fill spiritual voids. "Thank you for the advice you sent to me about depression and the letter,” wrote one anonymous offender. “It was very good. I am amazed how open and giving the people of the Buddhist way are. I also want to thank you for being kind enough to write me. I guess I just need a spiritual friend who can help me out on the path." “Sometimes we will have an inmate write once and we won't hear from them again,” Courtin says. “The people who are trying to find their way are the ones who write. But they don't always find what they are looking for, and we are fine with that.” Since transfer and release processes can disrupt many offenders' lives, Courtin says one-on-one contact is important. “Physical presence is incredibly important too, but there's so much movement in prisons. We have about eight [LPP staffers] who visit in Virginia and North Carolina. They interact with many, many inmates. But a month later you can find that all of the guys have been moved.” Challenges aside, Courtin and her staff continue to offer guidance to those who want it, and she is encouraged by those so committed to learning to work with their minds. Understanding how fear, anger and jealousy affect life choices is an important step toward rehabilitation. Thanks to Courtin and her Buddhist ideas, inmates no longer have to reconciles those issues or pursue a path to personal enlightenment on their own. Related Resources: The Website of the Dali Lama Guide to Buddhism BuddhaNet |
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