Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Our Prisoners
Personal Reports
TeAnn Bingham, Utah State Prison:
I would sincerely like to thank you for the book you sent me “The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind”. It was very though provoking to me in my inner quest for understanding and self-inquiry. It also lets me know I have a long way to go in my daily meditations as I seek to learn more about the world both without and within by being. I am still using this book to help me as I sit and ponder all life offers to us as we seek greater awareness.
I would like to request any other book think might be helpful as I am trying to get more into the spiritual understanding of Buddhism. I am a novice and here on maximum security I find I am the only one out of 33 females who is seeking spiritual knowledge and guidance outside of Christianity. It makes the practice harder in some ways because there is no outside support or meditation in here. However, my single cell status is almost like being in my own apartment in the city. I’ve started calling it my condo and just that change of thinking lifts me from the prison walls I’ve erected in my mind, and lets me begin to see prison as a stop on my journey in life. I sincerely appreciate all that you do.
Sincerely,
TeAnn Bingham
SUCCESS STORIES »
The Struggles
- Lorin Dowdy, Soledad, CA: "In my heart I didn’t want to hurt others, get hurt myself, or cause any more grief and suffering to people, friends, and family.Yet I was doing this on a regular basis! Why is all of this happening? "
- Timothy White, North Carolina USA: "I am a prisoner on death row in North Carolina and have been visiting regularly with Herb Cunningham for almost a year. ..."
- Robert McClelland, Pecos Texas: "to focus, above the loud noise of 47 other men in my ‘pod’ I use my walkman to block out the many distractions."
- Raymond, Australia: “Since I have been with LPP they have given me support and have always been there when I have a question.
- Doyle Putman, Carson City, NV: "I can’t tell you how happy your letter has made us...."
- Bruce Platt, Cannon City, Colorado: "I spent most all my life doing drugs and doing time. I want out of this self made prison I put myself in!"
- Joseph Chiles: "So I want to be kind hearted and always happy too. That’s why I want to study and learn."
- TeAnn Bingham: "However, my single cell status is almost like being in my own apartment in the city. I’ve started calling it my condo and just that change of thinking lifts me from the prison walls I’ve erected in my mind."
- John Connor, Ft. Stockton Texas: "I have been only studying Buddhism for a few weeks, and I feel I need expert guidance in the form of a live human being who has knowledge of this and a history of devotion to this way so that I can be sure of correctly understanding and practicing the right things.
- Joshua Jones: "I am an inmate at the state of California correctional system. I don’t know why they call it corrections when they do nothing to correct the inmates."