Inmates listen to Fa Hsing giving a dharma talk.
Photos by: A prison inmate, who must remain unnamed.

Prisons are not generally known as islands of serenity, but a palpable aura of peace permeated the visiting room at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, Washington, on May 11. There 30 people, comprising inmates, family members, Buddhist volunteers and the prison chaplain, gathered for about five hours to celebrate the birth and  enlightenment of the Buddha.

Each religious group at the prison is allowed one occasion per year for a significant celebration, with a special meal, and participation of family members and guests from the outside community. For the Buddhist inmates the natural choice is Buddha Day, a commemoration widely celebrated as Vesak in many countries with significant Buddhist populations.

“This event lets us focus on Buddhism and what it means to us and our families,” said an inmate, who was involved in planning the event with Chaplain Shawn Carnahan. (All inmates are here quoted without proper names, for security reasons.)

Zen Buddhist monk Fa Hsing Jeff Miles opened the event with a dedication of the space, and he then coordinated the activities through the day. These activities included a recitation of the Heart Sutra led by Zen novice nun Yincheng Lily Connor, and a meditation led by Brother Yinxin, a novice monk affiliated with Mountain Way Zendo. Other offerings during the day were  a Tibetan purification practice led by volunteer Dennis McDermot, a hatha yoga session led by Peg Evans-Brown, and a dharma talk on the Buddha by Fa Hsing.

There was also a discussion, in which inmates and guests shared the impact meditation has had on their lives.

“When I first came here I was an emotional wreck,” one inmate said. “I’ve been here 18 years. The first year was very hard because there was nowhere to run. I started meditating and over time I was able to see a lot of glitches inside. I saw that they were in my mind and not reality. I was able to detach from them and obtain a place where they don’t decimate me. It has changed my whole life. Now I will never hurt anyone else in my life, due to the fruits of meditation.”

“All my life I’ve been running scared of something,” another inmate said. “I’d get into things and try to find a way out. I had no family support. I was on my own. I did a lot of bad things and hurt a lot of people. I have had to find peace with that. I know I’ve got to change my ways. Meditation helps.”

Asked what motivated him to work with prisoners, Fa Hsing responded, “The value I find in volunteering is bringing something to people inside (the prison), which they don’t otherwise have access to. They have reading materials, but the ability to interact with someone in their tradition, to have questions answered and take part in group activities, is only available to them though volunteers.”

Tibetan Buddhist McDermot added, “It’s rewarding to offer service to those who society has turned its back on.”

Buddha Day is one of several mindfulness-based activities available to inmates at the Washington Corrections Center. Volunteers lead a Buddhist meditation each Friday evening. Other volunteers offer a Path of Freedom class, an 11-week training in mindfulness-based emotional intelligence.

Recent special speakers have included Ajahn Nisabho, abbot of the recently founded Clear Mountain Monastery in Seattle; and Phra Ratsamee, abbot and founder of Temple Buddhangkura in Olympia.

Some of the inmate attendees were raised Buddhist by their families, said an inmate involved in organizing the event. Others discovered Buddhism in prison, while a third group was raised Buddhist, then lost their way and finally returned to the dharma in prison. The inmate said he belongs to the third category.

“Since I’ve been here the Buddhist group has gone from one person to about a dozen and from one community sponsor (volunteer) to five,” he added. “The Path of Freedom is one of the best classes, because it teaches you about yourself and how you relate to yourself, your family, and your community.”