Practicing while incarcerated

This just in from David L. Michael:

I have been practicing meditation with the Shambhala group at Oregon State Penitentiary for about five years.  I attend the Tuesday evening services each week and the all day retreats monthly (Shambhala every other month). I have been meditating and studying Buddhism and eastern metaphysics since 1965.

The practical in the world approach of Shambhala is very appealing to me and very helpful in the prison environment. I have found the discussions during both the Tuesday evening meetings and the retreats to be stimulating and inspiring.  Meditation in any group format is usually more powerful than sitting alone and the guidance of the Shambahla tradition helps to both keep the participant on task and direct the experience to the most meaningful result. The skill of synchronizing mind and body and facing the world with openness and fearlessness is precisely what is needed to maintain equanimity in prison.

The transition to productive life after prison will no doubt be easier for all of the truly participating inmates in the Shambhala events here at OSP. Thank you all for support and participation in this effort.

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