Resources for those on a Contemplative Path Inside Jails and Prisons Prison Ashram Project
Human Kindness Foundation
P.O. Box 61619
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 304-2220 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST
Web: www.humankindness.org Will send books and tapes free to inmates, including We’re All Doing Time, A Guide for Getting Free, by Bo Lozoff. This book has become “the convicts’ Bible” in institutions around the world. Centering Prayer — Prison Program
Contemplative Outreach: General Info
10 Park Place, 2nd fl. Suite B
Butler, NJ 07405
Phone: (973) 838-3384
Web: www.contemplativeoutreach.org - Resource materials and booklets free to prisoners
- Books and tapes by Fr. Thomas Keating, including Open Mind. Open Heart.
- Materials and volunteers to assist those interested in establishing a centering prayer program.
- Some materials available in Spanish.
Prison Dharma Network
P.O. Box 4623
Boulder, CO 80306-4623
Email: pdn@indra.com
Web: www.prisondharmanetwork.org Nonsectarian interfaith support network for prisoners, prison staff, and volunteers engaged in contemplative spirituality and meditation practices. - International support network.
- Publishes books and resources materials.
- Provides training to prison staff and volunteers.
- Organizes prison and jail meditation groups.
- Sends books and resource materials to prisoners including: Sitting Inside: Buddhist Practice in America's Prisons, by Kobai Scott Whitney and Dharma in Hell: Prison Writings of Fleet Maull.
Siddha Yoga Meditation Prison Project
P.O. Box 99140
Emeryville, CA 94662
Email: Prisonproject@oaklandsyda.org
Phone: (510) 898 2771 - Provides a self study course in the wisdom and practice of Siddha Yoga meditation. Twelve years long with free monthly lessons to prison inmates in English and Spanish, newsletter included. Letter writers respond to inmates’ inquiries about the teachings.
- Donates books, tapes & videos to prison libraries.
- Trained volunteers bring meditation programs and spiritual support into prisons.
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Prison Project Coordinator
P.O. Box 3470
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: (510) 655-6169, ext. 307
Email: prisons@bpf.org
Web: www.bpf.org (excellent list of links) (BPF has 73 national & international chapters) - Teaching meditation, yoga, and Nonviolent Communication classes in prisons, jails, drug rehab programs, and alternative sentencing.
- Sent upon request: information to set up a meditation group inside, and Buddhist books & materials.
- Training for meditation volunteers.
- Setting up pen-pal relationships between prisoners interested in Buddhism and dharma practitioners.
Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
1050 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (877) 926-8287; (651) 644-5851
Web: www.avpusa.org
Email: avp@avpusa.org Provides volunteers for a 22-hour intensive program of exercises and discussions designed to develop self-esteem and self-confidence, teaches principles of cooperation, skills in listening, speaking, and observing—and explores ways of finding nonviolent solutions that are possible in almost every conflict when approached with a caring attitude toward others. Developed from the real life experiences of prisoners and others, and building on a spiritual base, AVP encourages every person’s innate power to positively transform themselves and the world. San Francisco Zen Center
300 Page St.
San Francisco, CA 94102-5649
Phone: (415) 863-3761
Web: www.sfzc.org
Email: sfzcoutreach@yahoo.com - Teaching meditation and yoga in jails, prisons, & drug rehabilitation programs.
- Pen-pals for inmates interested in regular correspondence about Buddhist practice.
- Free Buddhist literature.
Vipassana Meditation Courses
Vipassana Prison Trust
Web: www.prison.dhamma.org
P.O. Box 192
Petersburg, IL 62675-0192
Email: vptcontact@hotmail.com Any prison or jail facility personnel or other person involved in corrections activities is invited to contact this organization for additional information. - Documentary information and a videotape presentation describing the North American prison courses.
- Activism to end the death penalty and change the current criminal justice system.
Centering Meditation
P.O. Box 499
Pasadena, CA 91102-0499
Phone (626) 792-2013
Email:genewekall@aol.com Will send the book, The Next Step, to prisoners, family members and friends, at no cost. The Next Step was written for those incarcerated, and has no religious ties. We also have access to providers throughout California who will help inmates transition to civilian life. Tricycle Foundation Prison Project
92 Vandam St
New York, NY 10013
Web: http://www.tricycle.com
Email: info@tricycle.com The Tricycle Foundation distributes a free meditation kit to prisoners consisting of ten guided meditations that lead one towards increased mindfulness, tranquility, insight, and compassion. It also includes yoga session instructions with poster, and instructions for making a meditation cushion. Kits can be downloaded at http://www.tricycle.com/meditationkitproject/download.html. Where personal internet access is not available, we suggest providing your chaplain with the above web address so that materials can still be made available in your facility. Tricycle.com also provides free advertising and an online hub for organizations who run prison outreach programs. The National Emotional Literacy Project for Prisoners
c/o Lionheart Foundation
P.O. Box 194
Back Bay, Boston, MA 02117
Phone: (781) 444-6667
Web: www.lionheart.org
Email: questions@lionheart.org - Houses of Healing, A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom; books are available for inmates, and prison libraries. Facilitator’s manual and training video series available for volunteers and corrections professionals.
- Public outreach to (1) inform the public about the current state of corrections in the U.S.; (2) encourage a more rational and productive approach to violence prevention, sentencing, and incarceration; and (3) educate the public about the need to transform prisons into places for people to heal.
Gangaji Foundation
Hari Lubin, Prison Program Manager
The Gangaji Foundation
2245 Ashland Street
Ashland, OR 97520
Phone: 541-482-3100
Web: www.gangaji.org
Email: prisonprogram@gangaji.org - Bringing the teachings of Gangaji to those in prison so that they may find that true freedom and peace lies within and is untouched by circumstances and situations whether in prison or out in the world.
- Provides books, audio and video tapes without charge.
- Trained volunteers to facilitate groups to watch and study the Gangaji videos.
- Volunteers who correspond with inmates to deepen their understanding of Gangaji’s teachings.
Four Agreements Prison Outreach
1055 West College Ave. #197
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Prison Outreach Correspondence for inmates to deepen their practice of the Four Agreements by Toltec author Miguel Ruiz. Amber-Allen Publishing
P.O. Box 6657,
San Rafael, CA 94903-0657 A publishing house that focuses exclusively on personal growth, inspirational, spiritual, and health-related books, will, when able, upon request send books that have been returned from stores and might be blemished free of charge. - Free books authored by Miguel Ruiz
- Free books are also offered to staff within prisons, jails, and half-way houses for teaching tools.
Naljor Prison Dharma Service
www.naljorprisondharmaservice.org
Buddhist and interfaith prison resources. < Back to Home Page > 
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