Be Careful What You Wish For

 

 

 

I know you support the Dhamma Bros. and Vipassana Meditation

Meditation in Prison (We are all prisoners--...)

There are two well-know documentaries about meditation in prison - one in India is called Doing Time, Doing Vipassana, while the other is about an Alabama Prison called The Dhamma Brothers.... The man responsible for both of these is S. N. Goenka, who passed last year at 88 years old. Here is an interview with him in an article in National Geographic in 2005.
"We are all prisoners--of our minds," says Satya Narayan Goenka, an 80 year-old Burmese businessman turned meditation teacher who has spearheaded the vipassana resurgence in India.

 

 

Ra Divakar Yes, this is what Real Freedom is...!

 

R. T. haha. it's funny, I would almost prefer the lifestyle -- at least I would then have time for unending practice! Maybe having to go hold down jobs and earn a bunch of money and engage in a big messy distracting material world full of cravings is the bigger prison... ; )

 

Ron Alexander Hey R. T., I know of a place for you - where you have your own meditating cell and you are waited on hand and foot and it is free. The catch is that you have to stay silent for ten days and learn to meditate for hours per day! www.dhamma.org

Website Thiền Vipassana

www.dhamma.org

Homepage of the organization which offers Vipassana Meditation courses as taught by S.N. Goenka

 

Ron Alexander These ashrams are all over the world now thanks to S.N. Goenka and there is one in Jesup, Ga., I am sure there is one not far from Boulder. There are ones in California, Mass. - all over - there is list on the website. I have been to Jesup three times and looking for fourth time soon. I have even considered volunteering there and living there a few months? R. T.!

R. T. That's awesome to hear, they are springing up all over, and as a result of his films and work.
I am waiting on a response right now to actually be able to stay at my Sangha... I believe in having a teacher/Lama (finally),  as well as doing the incredibly powerful mantras, along with the insight and breath meditation. But all this is good! This progression gives me more hope in the world than anything else. thanks.

Rowan Tate And do you mean Jesup, Georgia? I used to live in Atlanta for a dozen years

Ron Alexander Yes, R. T. , I remember and that is why I brought up Jesup first - not a tourist destination, the Teachers there do not want distractions, although the building are nice with good heat/air conditioning thankfully. This is a perfect place to let go of ego and go within

Ron Alexander 15 or so members here at Charleston Unity have gone including the Minister and 87 year old Senior Minister. We meditate at the church for an hour at a time for several times per week, and had our first Sangha last evening!

 

Ra Divakar Hey R. T.  and Brother Ron - nice dialogue thank you! Rowan, an Ashram or Monastery is many times better than prison, be careful what you wish for! On the other hand, one of my teachers was just busted for marijuana, and even "medical" pot does not hack it here in S. C., so he may be headed there, and I have to say he has a lot of equanimity about it!