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INSIDE DHARMA The Buddhist Newsletter Serving the Inmate and Ex-offender Sangha "If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is tied up with mine, then let us work together." -- Lilla Watson, Aboriginal activist Volume X , Issue VI Accepting Change By Steven Wilkinson SCI Cresson, PA. NOV-DEC 2012 do anything. I count to ten and think of the positive outlooks and how it will benefit others, or the suffering I may cause. I guess you could say that I’m getting love and compassion in my heart because I’ve lost a lot of materialistic things. I lost my family members, relatives and friends, but I’ve gained my health back, faith (in others, religion and myself) and I will always have my meditation and the Sangha. I hope this letter finds everyone in this world who is suffering filled with peace of mind and compassion for all. May love fill your heart, mind and soul. Thank you and may you all be blessed with enlightenment. I have or use to be a very hostile, angry and aggressive individual. I have harmed and hurt everyone and everybody who ever crossed me including my family, loved ones, relatives and enemies. I have been or use to be evil and have done a lot of evil in my life. I was selfish, non-caring and self-centered. I was full of much hatred and anger at society, authority figures, family and life in general. I had the biggest chip on my shoulders with so much prejudice, ignorance, misunderstanding, with no values and anything negative or evil I was for. Response to Steven Relationships were to use and Dom Lupo Inside Dharma abuse because of my lack of Editor love and compassion for them. I My motto now is a healthy was my own worst enemy. I body leads to a positive mind Dear Steven, overdosed three times on drugs I don’t usually respond to and alcohol. I’ve been sent to and ways. I wish I would have submissions but your letter I psych wards and numerous found very impactful. I wanted learned this many years ago. drug treatment programs on the to let you know that the journey streets and in prison. I Before I was trying to be you are on is a great journey demanded “respect” because I that others have taken but something and someone I felt I earned it or had put in my different for each person who time. I was self-destructive, a wasn’t. Now I’m trying to takes it. Sharing your story can time bomb who was on a path to demonstrate to others that it’s change my life and be a prison, death and hell! When I never too late to take the fell on my sentence this time in positive person with positive journey of self-discovery. Zen is 1991 I received close to 27 all about self-discovery, and the years. Being 56 years old, now thought and emotions. self-discovery in Zen leads to a with almost 35 years in prison, I practice, the practice of said enough is enough. There meditation, the practice of compassion, the practice of had to be a better way of life than this revolving door loving-kindness, and the practice of mindfulness. You to prison, drugs and these self-destructive ways. I’m a start where you are, no matter where that is, and Native American and Buddhist and practice yoga and meditate, then meditate some more. The more you meditation. I work out with weights, cardio, running meditate, the more you see how your mind works, and and take part in sports. My motto now is a healthy the more you see how your mind works the more body leads to a positive mind and ways. I wish I would mindful you can be, the more mindful you can be the have learned this many years ago. Before I was trying more compassionate you can be, and the more to be something and someone I wasn’t. Now I’m trying compassionate you can be the more you act with to change my life and be a positive person with loving-kindness. Zen is definitely a journey not a positive thought and emotions. Sometimes its hard destination, but a journey that can lead you to some and I slip-up but a lot of people have seen a drastic amazing moments along the way. Good luck with your change in my thoughts, emotions and my general way practice. of thinking, But I really can’t hardly believe what they see. I try to weigh all the pros and cons before I say or Spooks By Dr. Chezeray M. Moore SCC Joliet IL. Spooky things go “bump” in the night So you shun the darkness in search of the light Your pulse races as you prepare to fight Then you realize you’re a coward, so you take flight You run and run with your eyes opened wide Searching and searching for a place to hide From the fiercely raging, roaring tide Of the One whose voice you hear deep inside The voice that condemns you While trying to befriend you The voice that pretends to Love and defend you But whose voice is it that you have heard Who obscures reality with mysterious words Have you ever thought you’re being absurd That your mind is cloudy and your vision blurred I tell you now, because I care No matter how long you search, there’s no one there So take this opportunity, which is very rare To relax yourself and become aware There are no spooks of any kind Who haunt anything beyond your mind So turn your attention inward, and leave behind All the spooky delusions, so you can experience the divine Religion vs. Philosophy By Joshua Katus USP Marion IL. Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? Some people call it one while some people call it the other. I've been told lime and again that it doesn't matter what you call it; what matters is how you practice it. Still, call me a newbie, call me weak, call me a fool or whatever, but as an aspiring writer I still find myself awfully attached to words and which ones get used when. Inasmuch, l’ve decided to put my thoughts on this subject down on paper. A trip to the dictionary tells us that these two ideas are indeed separate. Philosophy is defined in the 11th edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as, “all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts; the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine," law, and theology.” By definition, this exclusion of theology separates philosophy from religion. However, a further definition from the same source says philosophy is, the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitude of an individual or group. This definition does not blatantly exclude religious beliefs from basic beliefs and therefore allows the possibility of a combination of the two. Religion on the other hand is defined as, "a personal set or -institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; a cause, principal, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” Nothing in this definition precludes religion (any religion) from being thought of as philosophy. At the same time, the above definition has a certain depth to it that suggest that a religion is somehow more than just a simple philosophy. The question now becomes, which of these two terms should be applied to Buddhism? As is often the case, I feel that the answer to this question relies largely upon the perspective of the person answering it. I think many Westerners tend to consider Buddhism a philosophy simply because it is so different from any of the traditional religions they are used to. The lack of an omnipotent, omnipresent god; the lack of a creation story; and the idea that enlightenment/ "salvation" comes from within rather than from without all make it hard for the typical Westerner to fit Buddhism into their preconceived notion of religion. I feel that the other groups of people who tend to label Buddhism as a philosophy as opposed to a religion are those who simply want to use the teachings as a quick fix, self-help tool. They don't hold to the teachings with “ardor and faith" as described in the definition of religion. They use the fact that they are learning the Buddhist teachings as way to stroke and reinforce their ego rather than deconstruct it. While this may not have any immediately negative effects (it may even provide temporary happiness), it will not lead to enlightenment, but rather leave one stuck in the grasp of cyclic existence. So why could Buddhism be called a religion right along with the likes of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism? I think that this can clearly be seen if we shift the focus of our personal definitions of religion from the object of worship to the reason for worship. After all, what do we have if we take Jesus or Allah or Yahweh out of the equation for a second? We are left with a set of instructions on how to live our life now in order to prepare us for the best results when we die. Call the destination what you want (heaven, hell, or nirvana) the goal of religion seems to focus on what comes next. Even Buddhism teaches us to attain enlightenment and escape this cycle of suffering existence or to at least attain a higher rebirth so we can continue to practice and avoid the worst fates. Buddhism can definitely be seen as an “institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices“, that can be "held to with ardor and faith”. This does not mean that we have to follow the teachings with blind faith if we adopt them as our religion. We can still question them and toss out what we find to be untrue. At the same time, we need not discount a teaching just because we have not experienced it ourselves. After all, we look to our teachers because they are further along their paths than we and have experienced things we have not, and we have to trust them to give us proper guidance and not mislead us. So yes, ultimately, I agree that the use of the term religion or philosophy comes down to a question of semantics. For many though, I feel it can also be used as a mirror to reflect our motivation for, and commitment to our practice. So if you call yourself 2 a Buddhist, whether it’s your religion or just a philosophy you’ve adopted, take a look in your mirror. After all, our motivation can always stand to be monitored and adjusted to keep us on the path. Much Metta, to avoid (prolonged) suffering, which is the fundamental wish of all living beings." A wise man once said, "Death doesn't cause suffering, but resisting death causes suffering." Most of us fear death, but death is just another one of life's transitions - no different than birth. What is most important is to live this life well. We need to look at every situation as an opportunity to wake up and open our hearts by appreciating the moment we have now and to live in this world in a loving and compassion way. 3 Steps To Practice Acceptance & Have a Peaceful Life by Axel Gjertsen From tinybuddha.com “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” ~Unknown I was in a motorbike accident in 1987. Believe it or not, it was on September the 11th. The physician in the emergency room delivered the bad news and told me the right knee cap had cracked. That day changed my life forever. How could I accept that I wouldn’t ever be able to run again? The physical injury took years to heal, and a lot of time passed before I slowly started to accept my new situation. In the meantime, I got depressed. Monthly Buddhist Column Lama Chuck Stanford (Lama Changchup Konchok Dorje) Rime Buddhist Center Dear Dharma Friends: Below is a copy of my monthly Buddhist column. This column will appear in the Kansas City Star newspaper on Saturday, Question: "My mother has suffered a long time and wants us sibling to let her die, so should we?" Answer: I am so sorry to hear about your mother's declining health. Watching a parent slowly go downhill, physically, is especially difficult. From the Buddhist perspective great sanctity is placed upon all life and we can do nothing to facilitate a person's death. Suffering that is experienced at death is viewed as part of our karma. It is sometime said that karma is like a broom that is sweeping away our negative karma. The well-known 20th century Tibetan Lama, Kalu Rinpoche, said, "The person who decides that they have had enough suffering and wish to be allowed to die (naturally) is in a situation that we cannot call virtuous or non-virtuous. We certainly cannot blame someone who for making that decision. It is not karmically a negative act. It is simply the wish Life Can Be Beautiful That might seem like an ironic heading coming after the preceding line, but hear me out. Life is beautiful every time you’re able to accept something that has gone wrong. When you can feel good on the whole even though things aren’t going your way you know emotional freedom. What more could you ask for? The opposite would be the guy who shouts in despair, “Not again, for God’s sake!” when his sports car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or needs thousands of dollars of work on that car. Neither is a fun situation to be in. But what about people that don’t even have food to eat? It’s all about perspective, isn’t it? Are you looking at life through Ray Bans or from a refugee camp? We must learn to see and appreciate what we have and shift our attention from what we’ve lost. So, let me point out three steps that can make your life truly beautiful. While it’s true that people who have experienced trauma are often more likely to see things differently, you don’t need to go through some lifeshattering experience to become more accepting and peaceful. You can start out from where you’re at now. 1. Find Solutions Instead of Complaining It is completely meaningless to complain about things. Negative people drain everyone around them—and complaining won’t change your situation for the better either. You may think it makes you feel better, but it actually just keeps you down—and it’s fruitless. Don’t waste your energy complaining. Use it more wisely. You could complain for a lifetime about the leaking roof on your house but as long as you don’t do anything about it, you’re stuck in the situation. Instead, 3 ask yourself, “What can I do to solve the problem?” And if you can’t solve it, where can you focus your energy more productively? What things can you control? 2. Practice Letting Go How can you accept a devastating loss or change, for example that you won’t ever be able to run again? From my way of looking at it, you have two choices. One is to hold on to the way things were. Personally, I loved jogging which made it harder to accept the physical impairment. But if you can’t accept life the way it is, you have a big problem–because we cannot change what already has happened. Resisting the flow of life will only make you unhappy. The other choice is to bite the bullet and accept life the way it is. That takes courage but the process will empower you enormously. The ability to let go of things in everyday life makes for happiness and ease. You can even laugh when you miss a bus that’s departed five minutes early. Start out by accepting small things, such as stepping on a chewing gum or losing some change. You’ll be surprised–bit by bit you’ll be able to let go of most mishaps that come your way. 3. Let Beauty In When you’re focused on everything that’s lacking, it’s hard to fully notice, appreciate and enjoy what’s there. Look around you, there’s beauty all around—what an amazing planet! Beaches and mountains, colorful fish in the ocean, birds flying across the sky, music and culture, blueberry ice cream, kissing in the sunset and lifelong friendships. There is so much to live for; this could potentially be paradise. Learn to see and appreciate what you have as opposed to giving too much attention to what you’ve lost. Open up to what is truly beautiful and important in life. For example, look at a flower and enjoy its fragile beauty; take your mom on a surprise picnic or give yourself a day to relax. Most of us keep the blinds shut, closing off to life. Some of us even repeat the mantra, “Been there, done that.” The truth is every experience is new, and it’s up to you how complete or lacking it seems. Take on the curiosity of a child. Open up and explore life as if it were your first day here, regardless of what you’ve had or lost. You can choose to focus on either. What’s your choice? Shit Nose Rev. Kalen McAllister, Founder and Spiritual Director of Shinzo Sangha & Co-founder of Inside Dharma I was recently re-watching “How To Cook Your Life” which is a movie where Zen Chef Edward Espe Brown discusses cooking while giving lessons on life. I was struck by one of his teachings where he says “If you have shit on your nose, no matter where you go, everything smells like shit.” I laughed for a long time about this but then I thought, “Well, if you have honey on your nose, then everything smells like honey.” In either case, neither reflects reality – both are just our reflections on life. While I’d rather smell honey than shit, I would also prefer to see and smell life just as it is. Sometimes it is rather ugly and sometimes it is so beautiful that it is hard to bear. The Buddha says to walk the middle path, neither being caught up by beauty nor ugliness. This sounds so very easy but it is one of the hardest things to do. Our emotions are strong and we are often thrown from one side to another because of the way we want things to be. We can’t see the beauty in shit (that it will ultimately feed the plants which produce the sweet apples that we all love). Or that the beautiful plants in the vase will in just a few days fade and the resulting decaying flowers can smell even worse than shit. So how do we deal with all this? My teacher, Shoken, says that we just need to face life just as it is, moment by moment, and do the best we can with what we have at that moment. This takes a lot of pressure off of it for me. All I have to do is face the next moment and do the best with just that moment that I can do. If I can take it minute by minute, I can somehow deal with it. I don’t project expectations into the next moment – my wishes or my fears. I just deal with now. My mother is in the state of dying soon. If I sit and watch her and think about how much I’m going to miss her, it becomes almost unbearable. If I just pay attention to her at this time and do whatever I can to make her more comfortable, I am able to be totally present for her – not lost in my own feelings of loss or fear. We are all cooking our lives each moment. The heat may be higher at times and more comfortable at others. Sometimes we have shit on our nose and sometimes honey. We all play many roles. But the important thing to realize is that we just have this moment and what we do with it will effect the next moment. All I have to do is face the next moment and do the best with just that moment that I can do. If I can take it minute by minute, I can somehow deal with it. I don’t project expectations into the next moment – my wishes or my fears. I just deal with now. 4 What you are is What you have been What you will be is What you do now ~ BUDDHA ~ understand the beauty of sunset as he cannot see it. But you can enjoy the sunset as you can see it. Similarly, if you want to enjoy the present moment then your attention has to be there in the present moment and meditation is the art of being conscious or present in the each passing moment. Meditation means mind is not there and we are fully conscious in the present moment. Meditation is the art of living life moment to moment, living life as it comes, without planning, without worrying about it. Meditation is the way to live life and Mind is the way to miss life. Meditation is the art of living life in the present moment From meditationquotes.com Most of the time we are either thinking about the past or making plans for the future. It’s very rare that we are fully conscious in the present moment. When we are fully conscious or living in the present moment then we do not have any thought in the mind or one can say in the present moment mind is no longer working and you are without any thought. This is a very rare phenomenon in the life of most people. It’s very rare that our mind is no longer working and we have no thoughts in our consciousness. Most of the time our mind is continuously working, thinking and thinking. Meditation is the only way to give rest to this ever working mind. Whenever we put the mind to rest, it recharges the mind and mind becomes more sharp and useful instrument. Mind is always living in the past or in the future. But life is always in the present moment. We miss life because of our mind which is either in the past or in the future. In fact, Mind can only exist in the past or in the future but never in the present moment. Whenever we are in the present moment then mind is no longer there. In the present moment, mind is at rest which means there is no thought in our consciousness. When we do not use mind then we live life moment to moment with awareness or being fully present in each passing moment. This is the only way to live life - that is living moment to moment with awareness. Whenever we are living in past or future then we miss the present life. Life is always in this present moment. The past is already gone and the future has not come. We only have this present moment and life will always come to us moment by moment. So to live life we have to be present or conscious in this present moment. If our mind is active in the moment then we can never be in the present moment as mind means past or future. The moment mind becomes active, our attention moves to past or future and we miss this present moment. To enjoy this present moment we have to be alive in this present moment. Suppose there is a sunset and you are enjoying watching the sunset and you call your friend on phone and tell him about the beautiful sunset. But still if he won't be able to Getting to the Point By Will Holcomb Shinzo Zen Meditation Center St. Louis, Mo. The title of Zen Master Dōgen’s Genjō Kōan can be translated “Actualizing the Fundamental Point” – getting to the point, the point of practice, the point of our lives. A section of this work we recently discussed starts like this: A fish swims in the ocean, and no matter how far it swims there is no end to the water. A bird flies in the sky, and no matter how far it flies there is no end to the air. However, the fish and the bird have never left their elements. When their activity is large their field is large. When their need is small their field is small. Thus, each of them totally covers its full range, and each of them totally experiences its realm. Among other things, this passage is about limitlessness and about limits. A catfish can’t fly from branch to branch. A sparrow can’t cruise the river bottom for food. But within its element each has limitless possibilities for movement. A white crane may migrate thousands of miles. A sparrow may live 5 out its life within a quarter mile radius. No matter…each totally experiences its realm. So we too are limited by biology, and by our past experiences and choices. I can’t bear a child or lift two hundred pounds or play Mozart on the piano. Yet my options in any situation, at any time, are countless – not just one, or two. So practice is not magic. It’s not turning a fish into a bird, or a bird into a fish. It’s a fish thoroughly experiencing its realm, wholeheartedly being fish. Dōgen continues: Now if a bird or a fish tries to reach the end of its element before moving in it, this bird or this fish will not find its way or its place. When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point. When you find your place at this moment, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point; for the place, the way is neither large nor small, neither yours nor others. So where will practice take me, what is it to be awakened? Dōgen cautions that these questions are paralyzing. They stop us. We just need to know where to start, which is right here, with this fallible, distracted, and deluded mind and body, just making an effort – an effort to avoid harming self and others, to be of benefit when possible, and to face reality square on. Maybe this effort involves action, maybe inaction and patience, or maybe just acceptance of not knowing. But in wholeheartedly making this effort practice/awakening occurs. Whether it leads to a large place or a small place is of no consequence, for, as Master Dōgen reminds us, “the way is neither large nor small, neither yours nor others.” So we keep asking ourselves, how can I be of benefit in this situation, right here, right now? This is our continual practice. (translations by Robert Aitken and Kazuaki Tanahashi) To Be A Buddhist By Tom Blankenship TSPHU Huntsville Texas A friend laid a copy of the Sept-Oct 2012 Inside Dharma Newsletter on my bunk. In it on page 3 is a short article titled “I Just Didn’t Get It”. The article states: “to be a Buddhist, is to never claim to be a Buddhist”. Hmmm… I have a copy of the Dhammapada on the table of the cubicle in the dorm I’m housed in. A Christian pointed at it the other day and asked me “is that what you believe in”? I thought about that for a second, in Christianity belief is a requirement for salvation. So I answered: “yes, it is what I believe, but more than belief – it is what I realize through experience. I’m a Buddhist”. He then asked “Do Buddhist believe in God”? There it was, the question. My answer would determine in this man’s mind whether Buddhism is good or bad. I replied “Buddhism does not reject anything that is wholesome and non-harming, and practices what is good”. I asked him “do you believe in God”? He said “of course I do, I’m a Christian”. I replied “Then that is what is important, what you believe in your mind because what you believe in your mind is real to you, and Buddhism has a deep respect and love for you, the power of the mind and for Jesus Christ, to avoid all evil, to cultivate good and cleanse one’s mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha (Dph 183). We have that deep teaching in common as well as many others”. He said “That’s good, I’m glad to know that”. The Buddha refused to give answers that didn’t lead to the end of suffering. He also refused to give answers that would cause further confusion (ie. The story of Vacchagatta the Wanderer). We live and interact in conventional reality where names and titles identify. If you claim to be Christian, Muslim, a doctor, lawyer or a Buddhist, these titles are necessary in conventional reality. In Buddhism we practice non-attachment. I’m a Buddhist, but I’m not attached to the title, concept or teaching. The teachings are simply guide-lines to follow that lead to the other shore, the shore of enlightenment, where names and titles fall away. The teachings are a finger pointing at the moon, they are not the moon. The teachings are the raft that carries us to the other shore, the shore of absolute reality. There we no longer need the teachings, we are the teachings. There we no longer need the Buddha, we are the Buddha. The raft is set aside as we stand on the shore of the deathless. Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svahdl. Editor’s Notes New Way To Get The Newsletter Dom Lupo Dear Friends, Happy upcoming holidays to you all. Another year winds down and hopefully we have all learned a little something along the way to lessen our suffering and the suffering of others. I would like to remind everyone that we are revamping our web site, insidedharma.net, and we are going to start offering an electronic version of the newsletter to our subscribers saving Inside Dharma printing and postage costs. This is a completely voluntary opportunity; if you would like to start receiving your newsletter electronically contact [email protected] and request this service by supplying your name, address and the email you would like it sent to. If you don’t want any change, do nothing and you’ll continue to receive the printed form. Our newsletter is available to anyone, but if you are not an incarcerated person there is a $12.00 a year subscription rate. It is always free to the incarcerated and the newly released. At this time I would like to thank everyone for all the positive feedback we’re getting on the newsletter. But I want to thank all the readers that continue to contribute to the understanding of practice with their submissions to this Sangha. If it weren’t for the articles and questions that are sent in we would have a very short newsletter. So what will we start the new year with. Many people always make a resolution for the new year but most 6 never follow through on their resolutions. So I was thinking, when we make a commitment to practice, how do we keep it? Do we set up a routine that we follow every day? Do we put up notes to remind us practice? So for our next issue let’s hear about how we keep our commitment to practice. The methods that you use just might be what someone else needs to read to help them deepen their commitment to their own practice. We will need your submissions by Dec 15, 2012 to eligible for the JAN-FEB 2013 issue. Please remember to let us know as soon as you can if your address changes to help us make sure you get your newsletter and to help us cut down and mailing costs. GOING HOME By Rob Becker DCC Danville, IL Here in the penitentiary when guys talk about "going home," they are referring to being released from prison and returning to some sort of residence in the outside world, but for now, in reality, my prison cell is my only home: all 62 square feet of cement splendor. Accounting for the steel bunk beds, wall-mounted shelving unit, and stainless steel toilet/sink combination, my cellmate and I are left to share an area of usable floor space about the size of a standard yoga mat around which we maneuver to conduct our daily exercise routines and hygiene rituals. Our cell is kept clean and organized. It smells good and we make sure it stays free of clutter and conflict as it contains all of our personal possessions and politics. This cell is where I lay my head each night and where I awake each day. It is where I meditate, defecate, cogitate, and communicate through letters to those on the other side of the concrete walls and razor wire. The reality of my situation is that, for now, my community consists of convicts and correctional officers; this prison cell is my home. When returning to their cell house from chow hall, gymnasium, or exercise yard, most inmates grumble and moan about being locked up in their dungeon or being caged like a dog in a kennel. However, appreciating the power of perspective, I choose to regard returning to my cell as returning to my familiar living quarters: to be "going home." After all, everything I have is here in my cell. Everything I create and value is here in my cell. Nearly everything I do will be mindfully done here in my office, den, lounge, library, parlor, pantry, kitchen, dining room, rest room, bed room .... Thus I have come to consider returning to “lock-back-up" in my cell as "going home" -home to my concrete chrysalis of contemplation, my cement sanctum of serenity, my embassy of equanimity, my world headquarters - for now. New Resources FREE Correspondence Course Administered by the Buddhist Association of the US (BAUS) A comprehensive series of reading assignments that covers Buddhist concepts, theory and practice, as well as the major schools of Buddhism and practice methods. Each student will be assigned a faculty mentor. A Certificate of Buddhist Studies will be awarded upon successful completion of the course. TO ENROLL, WRITE TO: Buddhist Association of the U. S. Rev. Richard Baksa Correspondence Course 2020 Route 301 Carmel, NY 10512 BUDDHAS BEHIND BARS A New Book from the Milwaukee Zen In their own words three incarcerated members of the Milwaukee Zen Center prison sangha describe how their lives went wrong and how the teachings of the Buddha and the Tao are transforming their experiences into positive and beneficial actions inside. Edited by Soto Zen priest, Rev. Tonen O’Connor. The book may be purchased online at Amazon.com PRISONER EXPRESS NEWSLETTER The bridge between prisoners and the outside world Sponsored by Cornell University, each issue offers information, education, and the opportunity for creative selfexpression in a public forum. Here you’ll find essays, journals, artwork and poetry by inmates across the country, as well as other programs offered by the university. TO SUBSCRIBE, WRITE TO: CTA/Durland Alternatives Library 127 Anabel Taylor Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-1001 www.PrisonerExpress.org As always we encourage your question, comments and contributions! SEND your letters to: Letters to the Editor Inside Dharma P.O. Box 220721 Kirkwood, Mo. 63122 7 Inside Dharma P.O. Box 220721 Kirkwood, Missouri 63122 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ST. LOUIS MO PERMIT NO. 1129 Return Service Requested This issue is dedicated to Bill, with his great compassion and musical ability Inside Dharma is a bi-monthly Buddhist newsletter published by Inside Dharma, a not-for-profit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri. We publish Buddhist articles, stories, humor, and other writing submitted by current and former residents of correctional facilities, as well as friends, supporters, and spiritual teachers. Inside Dharma is dedicated to the free giving of the Dharma (Buddhist teachings). There is no charge to offenders or ex-offenders for subscriptions. However, donations are always appreciated. If you are interested in distributing this newsletter, please write to the editor or just send us the addresses to be added to the mailing list. This newsletter may be reproduced, whole or in part, for free distribution. Prior permission from the editor is required for any use for which a charge is applied. All submissions are subject to editing and Inside Dharma has the right to publish submissions, in whatever format and by whatever means it deems appropriate in its own or other Buddhist publications. 8