世界上沒有所謂的壞人，
但有一時的無明犯錯的人。
There are no any bad people in this world but there
are people who make mistake out of ignorance.
古語云: 人誰無過, 過而能改, 善莫大焉.
菩薩寺從1995年開始從事監獄佈教活動. 在2006年正式成立為州立政府核淮的非牟利慈善團體.宗旨是將佛陀珍貴的教法傳送到鐵圍內被人遺棄的法友們. 希望透過講授與聽聞佛法,讓他們能夠獲得身心的平靜與精神的安慰.
International Bodhisattva Sangha (IBS) started the Prison Program since 1995. IBS was formally established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in November 2006. One of our main goals is to educate inmates in the state prisons about Buddhism, meditation, and the right way of life. Through Dharma education, many inmates found their inner peace and spiritual comfort.
截至2017年年中, 菩薩寺前往加州，俄勒岡，華盛頓和安大略省（加拿大多倫多）佈教的監獄共有33所. 巳經成立的監獄圖書館共有21所. 我們計劃在2017年的其餘時間再設置20多個佛教圖書館。展望將來在各方熱心人士護持下,能夠在加州36所監獄內均成立佛教圖書館. 讓受刑人士有机會學習佛法.
As of mid-2017, IBS has been visiting 33 state prisons California, Oregon, Washington, and Ontario (Toronto, Canada). We are planning to setup 20 more dharma libraries for the rest of 2017. With the help of passionate supporters, IBS is planning to set up libraries in all 36 state prisons in California in the future.
菩薩寺是一個小團體, 一切經費來源自各方善心人士捐贈. 由於你的慷慨解囊, 讓我們有更多机會去幫助受刑人士來改過自新. 使他們有勇氣再面對社會.做一個有貢獻者.
IBS is a small organization, and all the funding comes from generous donations from our supporters. With your generous gift, we will have more opportunity to reach more inmates with our prison program, giving them strength and courage on their path in becoming a contributor to the community when they are released.
為了能夠順利推行監獄佈教各項活動, 菩薩寺成立一個每月$10捐贈運動. 有意參與者, 請按這裡.
IBS introduced a $10 Monthly Donation Program for anyone who would like to support the activities included in the Prison Program. If you would like to make a donation, please press here.
連絡地址 / Contact Information:
International Bodhisattva Sangha (IBS)
9715 Carroll Centre Road Suite #105
San Diego, CA 92126, USA
Shirley Tam (Secretary)
Telephone: +1 619 450 3699
FAX: +1 858 484 1889
E-mail: [email protected]
Articles:
DHARMA IN PRISON
Life is different for everyone. We may be sharing the same planet but living in different worlds. What causes us to have all these different varieties of lives, looks, and even different feelings, perceptions and views towards all phenomena? I guess it’s all because of different Karma we create in our day-to-day life. Where we live, what we do, how we feel, what we have, what we know, where we go, all these came from our karmic connection.
Doesn’t matter which corner of this world you are living in if you have karmic connections. You will keep in touch or work together with connected people in many ways. Benny and LieLy are a Buddhist couple who live in Indonesia, I am sure there is a very auspicious karmic connection with us. Around 5-6 years ago, during our fist meeting in Los Angeles, I introduced them to the IBS in USA, and the work in propagating Buddha Dharma in many state prisons in California. Since then this couple has been supporting IBS Prison Program in many ways. On behalf of Iron Temple Sangha, I would like to thank them for their support.
Early this year Benny again asked me to apply for prison gate clearance for his wife, his son and himself. I was so happy that they not only support our program but also wanted to visit the Buddhist brothers in prisons. I applied for three different institutions in California. We only got the clearance for one prison, which was Wasco State Prison. I would like to say thanks to Mrs. Sabrina Lynch, the Community Resource Manager (CRM) of Wasco State Prison, for her kind help with the gate clearances.
It was 9am in the morning when we got to the Wasco State Prison. We went to CRM office to meet Sabrina and she escorted us in to the Institution. Usually we meet in the chapel, but this time she arranged us to meet in the gym because there were more than 70 people signed in for the class. When we got in the prison, some of the brothers were already released from the program. We went into the gym and started to setup the altar for the service. At the same time many brothers came in and helped us arrange the chairs and PA system. Because it was right after the 4th of July, there was a shortage of officers in the yard. Therefore there was a delay to get every brother on time for the service.
After a Q&A session around 9:45am we started our service. First we introduced our guests Mr. and Mrs. Luhur to the Sangha. Brothers were so happy to know that they have been supporting the IBS Prison Program for a long time. I can tell their faces were full of happiness. I understand that why they have such a happy feeling because whatever they are learning and getting benefits, they are from these kind people. Meditation and the Buddhist education program are really helping them relieve stress and enhance their spiritual practice. During our service, we had a Dharma talk, meditation, and Q&A. At the end, Benny and LieLy presented them with gifts of book for all the brothers who participated in the program. Even though it was a little hot and noisy in the gym, we enjoyed the service with our guests and brothers.
This was not the first visit to prison for Benny, so he know what the prison looks like but it was first visit for LieLy to the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. I was so eager to hear from LieLy’s experience after visiting this prison. Right after we came out from the prison. I asked LieLy, “What did you experience visiting these brothers”? She said, “It is hard to tell that these people committed crimes, they look like normal people on the street. It was a completely different experience than what I expected.” I was happy to hear such positive feedback from LieLy. Yes, that is true that these brothers are normal people like us. But when negative karma dominates us, we act abnormal. Once I said, “THERE ARE NO BAD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKES OUT OF IGNORANCE.” When the condition is there, our karma compels us to act in certain way. May all sentient beings be free from suffering and causes of suffering.
Wasco Karuna Sangha
Twenty-two years ago, Master Hueiguang initiated the IBS Prison Program at Calipatria State Prison. Since that time, the program has continued without interruption. When conditions are right, things naturally go well. We offer our thanks to Shirley and Danny Tam for carrying out the program all these years. Without their hard work and dedication it would not still be continuing. I am delighted to share that IBS is now visiting 22 California prisons on a regular basis. Over the past few days, Master Hueiguang, Ven. Hueiyung from Malaysia, and I have been visiting several prisons in Northern California. All the brothers were so happy, it is hard to express in words how pleased they were to see Master and Venerable.
IBS would like to thank Sabrina Lynch-Aguiniga, the Community Resource Manager at Wasco State Prison, for arranging a photographer for the special Wasco visit. We hope these pictures illustrate what happens during our visits. We know that many of our supporters are curious to see what we do in the prisons.
This morning at Wasco State Prison, Ven Hueiyung first led the chanting in Chinese. After that, I introduced Master and Venerable to the prison Sangha. Then Master Hueigung gave a Dharma talk on basic Buddhism. Many brothers raised questions that Master answered one by one. They were filled with joy receiving the teaching from Master.
I would like to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers for supporting the IBS Prison Program. Each supporter is important for sustaining this meaningful program. Some are supporting with gifts of funding or materials, some are volunteering, and some are participating in the visits; all our helping the brothers, who have lost direction in their lives. Through this program we are restoring their hope and showing them the right way to live. With the blessing of Buddha Dharma, they will be responsible, compassionate people when they rejoin society. May Buddha bless everyone. Amituofo.