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— If one uses this time and experience of being in prison to practice meditation, to practice dharma, then being in prison, even though it is believed you are in prison by outside people, in reality it becomes a retreat for you. —

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 

Sarah Brooks - Prisoner Support Coordinator

Sarah started volunteering for Liberation Prison Project in 2004 after going on the Chasing Buddha Pilgrimage to India and Nepal with the prison project's Executive Director Ven. Robina Courtin. She came on as prisoner support in 2007.

As prisoner support, Sarah's responsibilities include:

• Responding to letters from new and potential prisoner students

• Sending (through our resources department) books and materials to new students.

• Organizing for students to take Buddhist vows over the phone or in person

• Helping prisoners with legal issues and parole and release plans including housing, employment and spiritual resources

"In 2000, when I was living in North Carolina, I read a book of short stories from India and went to the library to find a book about Hinduism so I’d understand more of the symbolism. There were only about three books in the Eastern religion section, and nothing about Hinduism. Another book, Awakening the Buddha Within, looked appealing so I took it home instead.

"I read the whole thing that afternoon, and was so inspired – I felt immediately that’s the way I had been thinking already, but had no idea that’s what 'Buddhism' was. I looked in the yellow pages to see if there were any centers in Raleigh. Kadampa Center was close by, and when I called the message said there was a drop-in introductory class that night. I went right over and kept going from there.

"Ven. Robina teaches every summer at Kadampa, so that’swhere I met her. In the Fall of 2004, I was teaching middle school and really unhappy, but had put a lot of effort into creating that career. I had switched schools and it was not working out at all, so I emailed her and said I was considering quitting. She emailed back and said 'Great! Glad you’ve quit. Now you can go on pilgrimage with me.' I served as the trip assistant and, like many before me, learned how little I knew.

"At the end of the pilgrimage, she suggested I volunteer for LPP, and eventually I ended up here in San Francisco working full-time for the Dharma thanks to her kindness.

"Working for LPP has really opened my heart. I am awed and humbled by the amazing practices of some of the prisoners we serve. Ven. Robina's compassion, wisdom and tireless effort are a constant inspiration, and I have been very lucky to receive so many teachings by working under her guidance.”