Bringing Buddha’s Teachings to South Carolina Prisons

“I feel that in here [prison] the Dharma is very important.  The Dharma changes lives and that is something as you can tell we all need.  Speaking for myself, Buddhism has helped me with kicking a drug problem and has taught me how to first love and respect myself and because of that I love and respect others.  If I hadn’t found the Dharma then I probably would have ended up dead.” — a note from a prisoner to Ganden Center

Our Resident Teacher, Kelsang Nyema, travels to a high security men’s prison twice per month to offer Dharma teachings.  On the weeks that she does not go, one of the inmates leads a guided meditation and facilitates the class.  Very recently (August 2011), Nyema received a request for Dharma teachings from an inmate at another state prison.

While the NKT-IKBU sponsors Dharma books for prisoners, Ganden Center pays the costs associated with sending Kelsang Nyema to and from the prison (which is about a two hour drive from the Center).  Unlike traveling to our other branch classes, this “branch class” doesn’t help pay the associated costs via the generous donations of its students!

Can you help sponsor Nyema’s travel to and from these prisons?