Prison Dharma Network

The Prison Dharma Network is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 with the stated goal of supporting prisoners and prison volunteers in meditation and contemplative spirituality in prisons. The organization provides reading materials, organizes a pen pal program between prisoners and meditation volunteers, and offers a training program for prison volunteering called "Transformative Justice Trainings". The organization does not represent a single tradition or lineage, but is more of a clearing house for a large number of organizations and individuals. It is described as interfaith though the emphasis is meditation as the main contemplative tool and it mostly supports Buddhist organizations. [http://www.prisondharmanetwork.org/ Organization's web site] ] Queen (2000) p.359] It has been supported by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as an affiliate.

Philosophically, the organization claims to encourage restorative justice and transformative justice models over retributive justice.

The organization lists as its spiritual advisors Robert Baker Aitken Roshi, Pema Chödrön, Rabbi David Cooper, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Roshi Joan Halifax, Father Thomas Keating, Jack Kornfield, Stephen Levine, John Daido Loori, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche, and Jon Kabat-Zinn.

History

The organization was founded by Fleet Maull when he was serving a 14-year sentence for drug trafficking.Hayward (2008) pp.307-308] He had spent significant time studying and practicing meditation in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He also completed a Masters degree in Buddhism before his conviction and then incarceration in 1985. While in prison he completed his ngöndro by cleaning out a small prison closet to do prostrations, received Vajrayogini initiation from Thrangu Rinpoche who visited the prison. He also pursued a Ph.D. in Sociology and began a prison hospice program for prisoners with AIDS. [Maull (1998) p.127] The program formally incorporated in 1991 as the National Prison Hospice Association [http://www.prisondharmanetwork.org/history.html PDN history page] ] and became an authorized training program for hospice. While conducting the hospice program, he served time at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri, the hospital for federal prisoners. He was released in May of 1999. He was also ordained as a priest and Zen teacher in the Zen Peacemaker Order of Bernie Glassman.

For the eight years leading up to Maull's release board member Dan Barrett organized prisoner services. Kate Crisp has served as the organization's Executive Director since 1999.

References

* Hayward, Jeremy (2008) ISBN "Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chogyam Trungpa" 0-86171-546-2
* Maull, Fleet. (1996) "Dying in Prison: Sociocultural and Psychosocial Dynamics" paper reprinted within 'AIDS and the Hospice Community' eds. Amenta, Madalon O and Tehan , Claire B. ISBN 1-56023-011-8
* Queen, Christopher S. (2000) "Engaged Buddhism in the West" ISBN 0-86171-159-9

External links

* [http://www.prisondharmanetwork.org/ Organization's web site]
* [http://prisondharmanetwork.ning.com/ Organization's social network]