Prison Mindfulness Institute
The Prison Mindfulness Institute (previously the Prison Dharma Network) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 with the mission of supporting prisoners and prison volunteers in transformation through meditation and contemplative spirituality in prisons. The organization provides books and resources through their "Books Behind Bars" program, publishes books on prison dharma through their Prison Dharma Press, organizes a pen pal program between prisoners and meditation volunteers, and offers an apprenticeship program for prison volunteers called "Path of Freedom". The organization supports prisoners in the study and practice of contemplative traditions as well as mindfulness awareness practices.[1][2] It is an affiliate of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as well as the Peacemaker Community USA.
Philosophically, the organization claims to encourage restorative justice and transformative justice models over retributive justice.[1]
History
The organization was founded by Fleet Maull in 1989 when he was serving a 14-year sentence for drug trafficking.[3][4] He had spent significant time studying and practicing meditation in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.[5] He also completed a master's degree in Psychology at Naropa University before his conviction[1] and then incarceration in 1985.[2] While in prison he completed his ngöndro by cleaning out a small prison closet to do prostrations, received Vajrayogini initiation from Thrangu Rinpoche who visited the prison.
He also pursued a Ph.D. in Psychology and began a prison hospice program for prisoners with AIDS.[6] The program formally incorporated in 1991 as the National Prison Hospice Association[7] and became an authorized training program for hospice. While conducting the hospice program, he served time at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri, the hospital for federal prisoners.[2] He was released in May 1999.[7] He was also ordained as a priest and Zen teacher in the Zen Peacemakers Sangha of Bernie Glassman.[4]
Prison Dharma Network has been run since 1999 by Executive Director Kate Crisp.
See also
Further reading
- Maull, Fleet (2005). Dharma in Hell: Prison Writings of Fleet Maull. ISBN 978-0971814318.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Organization's web site
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Queen, Christopher (2000). Engaged Buddhism in the West. p. 359. ISBN 0-86171-159-9.
- ↑ Hayward, Jeremy (2008). Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chogyam Trungpa. pp. 307–208. ISBN 0-86171-546-2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rodgers, Ann (2013-06-19). "Former drug runner, transformed by Buddhism, to teach leadership in Pittsburgh". Post-Gazette.com Staff Blogs. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ↑ Fleet Maull: Faith Stories Archived 2012-08-31 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Maull, Fleet. (1996) Dying in Prison: Sociocultural and Psychosocial Dynamics paper reprinted within 'AIDS and the Hospice Community' eds. Amenta, Madalon O and Tehan, Claire B. p.127 ISBN 1-56023-011-8
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 PDN history page
External links
YouTube videos
Search for videos:
- Search YouTube for: Fleet Maul Buddhism
Selected videos:
- Compassion is not a Luxury: Fleet Maull on Dharma and Prisons.
- Description: Waylon talks with senior Buddhist teacher Fleet Maull about prison reform, shadows, national karma, his amazing story, mindfulness and gated community spirituality.
Search for videos:
- Search YouTube for: Prison Mindfulness Institute Buddhism
Selected videos:
- Prison Monk - Path of Freedom - Mindfulness in Prison
- Description: The Prison Mindfulness Institute (previously the Prison Dharma Network) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 with the mission of supporting prisoners and prison volunteers in transformation through meditation and contemplative spirituality in prisons. The organization provides books and resources through their "Books Behind Bars" program, publishes books on prison dharma through their Prison Dharma Press, organizes a pen pal program between prisoners and meditation volunteers, and offers an apprenticeship program for prison volunteers called "Path of Freedom". The organization supports prisoners in the study and practice of contemplative traditions as well as mindfulness awareness practices. It is an affiliate of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as well as the Peacemaker Community USA. Philosophically, the organization claims to encourage restorative justice and transformative justice models over retributive justice.
The organization was founded by Fleet Maull in 1989 when he was serving a 14-year sentence for drug trafficking. He had spent significant time studying and practicing meditation in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He also completed a master's degree in Psychology at Naropa University before his conviction and then incarceration in 1985.
He also pursued a Ph.D. in Psychology and began a prison hospice program for prisoners with AIDS. The program formally incorporated in 1991 as the National Prison Hospice Association and became an authorized training program for hospice. While conducting the hospice program, he served time at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri, the hospital for federal prisoners. He was released in May 1999. He was also ordained as a priest and Zen teacher in the Zen Peacemakers Sangha of Bernie Glassman.
- Description: The Prison Mindfulness Institute (previously the Prison Dharma Network) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 with the mission of supporting prisoners and prison volunteers in transformation through meditation and contemplative spirituality in prisons. The organization provides books and resources through their "Books Behind Bars" program, publishes books on prison dharma through their Prison Dharma Press, organizes a pen pal program between prisoners and meditation volunteers, and offers an apprenticeship program for prison volunteers called "Path of Freedom". The organization supports prisoners in the study and practice of contemplative traditions as well as mindfulness awareness practices. It is an affiliate of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as well as the Peacemaker Community USA. Philosophically, the organization claims to encourage restorative justice and transformative justice models over retributive justice.
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