Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
User avatar
pink_trike
Posts: 1130
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:29 am
Contact:

Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by pink_trike »

Vipassana for prisoners...









Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

---

Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
User avatar
BlackBird
Posts: 2069
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:07 pm

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by BlackBird »

I loved this documentary, it's great to see such forward thinking officials. I long for the day that they teach Vipassana here in NZ, where our prison problem is starting to par up with the States.
"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Ben »

hi Jack
As far as I am aware, there is a prison program in NZ.
I've heard about the program but I don't know where the program is/was running and I haven't seen any studies on its effects.
If you're interested, contact Ross Reynolds, area teacher for NZ, at VMC Kaukapakapa:
http://www.medini.dhamma.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For your interest, here's a list of studies on vipassana in prisons:
http://www.vridhamma.org/Research-Index.aspx#Jails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19943
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by mikenz66 »

BlackBird wrote:I loved this documentary, it's great to see such forward thinking officials. I long for the day that they teach Vipassana here in NZ, where our prison problem is starting to par up with the States.
Various Buddhisst individuals, monastic and lay, do teach in various prisons. I know a few personally.

Metta
Mike
User avatar
BlackBird
Posts: 2069
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:07 pm

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by BlackBird »

Hi Ben, Mike

That's great news :thumbsup:
Thanks for the links :)

Metta
Jack
"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
User avatar
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 4646
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Ajan Khemadhammo has been visiting prisoners for decades. He was awarded an OBE for his work in setting up the Angulimala Organisation, which now has a nationwide network of prison chaplains.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
User avatar
Cittasanto
Posts: 6646
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:31 pm
Location: Ellan Vannin
Contact:

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Cittasanto »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:Ajan Khemadhammo has been visiting prisoners for decades. He was awarded an OBE for his work in setting up the Angulimala Organisation, which now has a nationwide network of prison chaplains.
Hi Bhante,
this network is only in England at the moment propperly, although there is a Scottish "branch" starting up soon, if not already started.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
being5
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:58 am

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by being5 »

I first came to Vipassana -> practice -> Bhuddism when a long-time Goenka student gave a public showing of "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana". I am very, very grateful that she did. I was drawn to it like a magnet. As soon as the final credits rolled I scooted back to my computer and applied for my first 10 day course.

Two other films have been made since then which show Vipassana (in the traditon taught by S.N.Goenka) in US prisons.
"Changing from Inside"
"Dhamma Brothers"

If you are interested in getting copies try:
http://www.pariyatti.org/Bookstore/show ... ullCat=134


being5
User avatar
nomad
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 12:59 am
Location: Dayton, OH

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by nomad »

Has anyone ever seen the Dhamma Brothers movie? I was thinking about buying the DVD, but I don’t know much about it besides what I saw in the trailer and read from a couple of professional critic reviews. Some critics panned it for cheesy reenactments, but praised it for its message. Any thoughts or suggestions?

~nomad

:sage:
"I am because we are." -Xhosa Tribal Saying
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Ben »

Hi Nomad
I haven't seen it yet, though plan to do so.
There's an interview with Jenny Philips, the director, on the Buddhism Geeks website.
The accompanying book by the same name, is available from Pariyatti.com and includes copies of letters written by the inmates where they recount their experiences and the effect of the ten-day vipassana course has had on their lives.
My advice is to take any review with a pinch of salt.
Cheers

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17191
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by DNS »

nomad wrote:Has anyone ever seen the Dhamma Brothers movie? I was thinking about buying the DVD, but I don’t know much about it besides what I saw in the trailer and read from a couple of professional critic reviews. Some critics panned it for cheesy reenactments, but praised it for its message. Any thoughts or suggestions?
See also this thread:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2133" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
nomad
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 12:59 am
Location: Dayton, OH

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by nomad »

TheDhamma wrote:
nomad wrote:Has anyone ever seen the Dhamma Brothers movie? I was thinking about buying the DVD, but I don’t know much about it besides what I saw in the trailer and read from a couple of professional critic reviews. Some critics panned it for cheesy reenactments, but praised it for its message. Any thoughts or suggestions?
See also this thread:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2133" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cool. Thanks! :)

~nomad

:sage:
"I am because we are." -Xhosa Tribal Saying
User avatar
Just Dave
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:54 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Just Dave »

Wonderful!

I had thought Youtube had removed Doing Time, Doing Vipassana due to some copyright issues.

Happy to have found this thread.
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Dhammakid »

Dhamma Brothers is a great doc. I didn't find it cheesy at all. I actually found it to be quite sincere.

I'll definitely watch this one as soon as I get the chance and let you know what I think. Thanks for posting the vids!

Anjali,
Dhammakid
Rob427W
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:32 pm

Re: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana

Post by Rob427W »

So, what's the word on this?

Are the copyright laws okay on this?

I don't like the idea of watching a video that's on the web illegally.


Lots of love!

:clap:
Post Reply