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— Develop the mind, transform the situation into happiness, then it becomes a beautiful island, pure land, heaven. —

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 

Rashel Adragna

Rashel is working with Liberation Prison Project's Executive Director Ven. Robina Courtin, on a new venture to raise money for the prison project - Bodhichitta Realty.

Rashel came to work for the prison project in 2007 after going on the 2006 Chasing Buddha Pilgrimage to Tibet led by Ven. Robina.

"Five years ago I was working as a correctional officer for the Santa Cruz County Jail system and my friend Megan loaned me The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Immediately I felt that book held the key to a happier life.

"Then I found out about a teaching series at Land of Medicine Buddha in Santa Cruz by Karuna Cayton called Becoming Your Own Therapist.

"A couple weeks into this lecture series Karuna brought up Ven. Robina and Liberation Prison Project. A trigger went off. I had gotten into law enforcement because I wanted to help the community I grew up in, but being a CO wasn’t allowing me to do that. Helping prisoners through LPP felt like my answer.

"Karuna and I talked and he lent me Chasing Buddha (a film about Ven. Robina and the beginnings of the prison project). Then I sought out a couple of her classes.

"In the meantime, I quit working as a CO and started volunteering at Land of Medicine Buddha. Then I started a three-year car business career during which I would read Buddhist books and attend teachings.

"In 2006 I quit my job as finance director at Acura in Daly City and the first weekend I was free attended a teaching by Ven. Robina in Marin. It was a Friday night and after the teaching I went up and talked to her.

"Right away she invited me on pilgrimage. But they were leaving in two weeks! The next day I attended another one of her teachings and just knew going to Tibet and Nepal was the right thing to do.

"I had eight days to get everything together. I put my fears aside and took one giant leap into Ven. Robina’s suggested path.

"The trip was incredible! I took Buddhist Refuge on the last day of the pilgrimage at Boudanath (a suburb of Kathmandu and home to one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world.).

"After we got back I would volunteer for LPP and eventually decided to leave the car business. I wanted to travel and go back to school.

"The same week I left my job at the dealership Ven. Robina asked how my job was going. When I told her I'd quit, she said, 'You're coming to work for me.'

"I've never been happier in my entire life!!!!"