— Worldly people, common people, believe that prison has a beginning and an end. But the real prison is being under the control of delusion and its action, karma. —

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Our Teachers

Will Manson

Writing to the students of Liberation Prison Project, has awakened in me the hope that some prisons in this country are at least willing to allow Buddhism to be practiced inside their walls.

In my other life, long before I began practicing Buddhism, I was an investigator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for 38 years. My job was to interview defendants who were usually in jail awaiting sentencing. I would gather background information then ask them about what happened, contact victims, police, family members and then prepare a probation and sentencing report with a recommendation for either probation or prison. The judges would use these reports when time came to determine the fate of the offenders.

With over three decades of experiencing this sick cycle of justice, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wondered how I could have withstood the loss of my freedom, let alone privacy, respect and dignity. How incredibly ironic it is that the students I’m writing to now are just like the thousands I interviewed. Even under the most oppressive of conditions my students appear appreciative, resilient and committed to learning. That is astonishing and I am in awe of them all and thank all those at Liberation Prison Project and Ven. Robina for this opportunity to learn from them and practice patience.

AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND

  • Andrew Jeffery

 

USA

EUROPE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

MEXICO

  • Oscar Acosta
  • Susie Anstey

  • Fer Barroso

  • Marisol Benejam
  • Martha Cabral
  • Cristhian Cambresy
  • Lourdes Castro
  • Ana Paula Cerda
  • Rebeca Cuan
  • Lilia Serrano Dorantes
  • Sebastián Benitez Escobar
  • Esther Garibay
  • Nestor Manuel Grimaldo
  • Sergio Isidro Grimaldo
  • Margarita Aguilera Ibarra
  • Ángeles López
  • Fernando López
  • Mónica López
  • Victor Medina López
  • Paula Guerrero Mackense
  • Gandhi Maga
  • Nayeli Maillefert
  • Moya Mendez
  • Rosa Lydia Mendoza
  • Francisco Navarro
  • Jose Olvera
  • Soledad de Olvera
  • Katia Ornelas
  • Juan Pablo Pacheco
  • Paty Peña
  • Lourdes Vela Picones
  • Mariano E. Ramirez
  • Lorena Rojas
  • Leslie Serna
  • Silvia Sevilla
  • Ruth Da Silvera
  • Ven. Lobsang Tonden
  • Abel Vera
  • Victor Villaseñor

ASIA

CANADA

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA