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Vipassana meditation in prisons

Vipassana is one of the most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2,500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., as an Art of Living. Today, it can be understood as an instrument to change one’s life pattern towards a better direction.

For prison inmates, Vipassana provides a tool that helps reduce negative mental states such as anger and aggression, and gradually leads to inner peace. For prison officers, the Vipassana Prison programme can, over time, help make the prison environment less violent and easier to manage as more and more inmates incorporate meditation into their daily lives.

The non-sectarian approach of Vipassana meditation welcomes participants from any background, regardless of religion or creed. Research studies on the effects of Vipassana meditation on inmate recidivism, substance abuse and behaviour have shown promising results.

The Vipassana Prison Project offers prison staff a unique and effective approach that complements existing programmes for inmates.

History and facts

Vipassana meditation courses were first taught in prisons in India in 1975. From that time on they have spread throughout the world. Prison courses have been held in many parts of the world – the Americas, Europe, Asia, New Zealand. In North America, there have been over thirty ten-day residential courses for more than 250 participants at five correctional facilities. In Europe, courses have been held in Ireland (2015), Spain (2003), UK (1998) and Israel (2007).

In 1994, the biggest Vipassana course of modern times was conducted in Tihar Prison jail (India), with over 1,000 participants. In India, there are several permanent centres in prisons. With sixty to eighty courses in over fifteen prisons each year, the Indian government advises Vipassana meditation as a standard for social rehabilitation. Additionally, prison officials and executives take part in Vipassana courses to foster their professionalism and to reduce stress.

Further courses have been realised in Taiwan, Mongolia, Thailand and Mexico. In North America, a Trust has been founded, dedicated solely to bringing Vipassana meditation into prisons. To date, thousands of inmates around the world have successfully taken part in ten-day prison courses.
 

Consequences and benefits for prisoners

Prisoners are confronted with themselves. Due to the strict course schedule they practise continuously to understand their mental life and to observe the interaction of mind and body by direct experience. As a consequence they realise how they react out of ignorance and that this often results in anger, aggressive behaviour, criminal activities and drug abuse.

The experience of the mind-body interaction leads to the gradual insight that they cannot blame anyone except themselves for the harmful actions they performed in the past. This leads to a changed life pattern and to a positive mental attitude, because they also learn how to prevent themselves from further reactions out of ignorance. Instead, they learn to act in ways that are beneficial to themselves and others, and how to cope better with their emotional experiences.

A common consequence is a better compliance by inmates with prison rules and programmes as well as reduced recidivism rates.

Quotes from prisoners

“For the first time I actually learned how to observe my anger. I was able to sit there and observe it.”

“I made bad decisions, bad choices, but that’s not me at all. ‘Me’ is totally different. I've learned that from these ten days.”

“In this course I realised how much I hated myself and I dealt with it.”

“I made mistakes, and everyone can change. I can say I've changed.”

Quotes from prison staff

“I saw dramatic results in the inmates that participated . . . I saw honesty, I saw these inmates being honest about themselves. I saw them very open and not bothered by the rules . . . they were just okay with stuff.” – Dean McGuire, Head of Security, NRF Prison, Seattle

“By introducing the technique of Vipassana, you’re starting where cognitive and behavioural therapies leave off.” – Dr Ron Cavanaugh, Director of Treatment, Alabama Department of Corrections

Documentary movies

There are several documentary movies about the implementation of Vipassana into prisons. They’ve had successful screenings at international movie festivals.

The Dhamma Brothers demonstrates how Vipassana is brought to a maximum security prison in Alabama, USA, in 2002.

Changing From Inside shows the ongoing work of a regular prison programme, 1997–2002, in the NRF Prison in Seattle, USA.

Doing Time, Doing Vipassana is a record of the 1994 Tihar Prison course in India, with more than 1,000 participants.

Vipassana – the Path of Liberation documents a Vipassana course in a prison in Brazil, showing the positive results on inmates’ behaviour and their recuperation.

Vipassana in Mongolian Prisons reflects on the beneficial experience after inmates completed ten-day Vipassana courses in Maanit Maximum Prison in Mongolia.