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:
IBS Prison Program
Today I would like to introduce one of the former students of IBS Prison Sangha. His name is Christopher Wagner, one of the good Buddhist practitioners in the Iron Temple. After 17 years of his retreat in the Iron Temple, he is a free man again. He took three refuges and 5 precepts a long time ago and became a vegetarian. He visited the IBS Temple in San Diego to give his thanks for supporting him during his retreat in the Iron Temple. I think the credit goes to all our supporters and volunteers. Here he would like to share how he met IBS in prison and what kind of changes he had.
This is IBS Prison Program’s first video of interviewing a brother. I hope that you share it with your friends and those who have been part of this program. Also, don’t forget to drop a comment. IBS would like to share more videos and articles about how Buddhism really benefiting them during their incarceration. Again, thanks for being part of this meaningful program. Amituofo
協助受刑人修行
謝謝您們，相信一切眾生都具有佛性，並且一直的護持美國菩薩寺的監獄弘法，因為您們的慈悲，監獄化成了一座又一座清淨莊嚴的道場。因為您們的智慧，那些曾經在黑暗中迷失的心靈重新找回了光明。
也因為您們的護持，美國菩薩寺監獄弘法的活動才能夠持續向前邁進更多更廣。
乘著您們的慈悲與智慧願力，經過多年的努力，克服種種的困難，我們已經順利走入22所
監獄，受刑人因為親眼見法師的到來，親耳聽聞珍貴的佛法，不禁流下了感謝與感動的淚水。佛菩薩和諸位護法的慈悲有如黑暗中的火炬，溫暖了幽暗冰冷的心靈，也因為您們堅信他們仍有著佛的種子，為他們絕望的生命點燃了希望之火，讓他們獲得學習佛法和悔過自新的機會，並得以依循著佛法的指引，真誠地懺悔過失，改正自己，化火焰為紅蓮。
由於您們的發心護持，我們已經在監獄裡成立103間佛教圖書館，讓監獄的法友能夠隨時透過閱讀佛典及相關著作，從思想上建立正知正見；並協助法友們在獄中成立共修的僧團，教導他們如何在實修上精進，真正地在生活裡實踐佛法。而他們也瞭解到即使身處囹圄，仍然能夠把握珍貴的人身，精進修行，發起菩提心，將來回到社會中，不但能夠成為安定社會的力量，也願意學習菩薩的胸懷，利益一切眾生，以回報十方慈悲佈施的恩德。
感恩您們相信「一切眾生皆具如來智慧德相」，我們也確信，監獄弘法的志業將會不斷地持續下去，直到所有眾生成佛為止。
然而監獄的法友們並沒有收入，無法負擔監獄弘法的費用，因此美國菩薩寺監獄弘法的活動向來都只有支出，行走各個監獄的經費，包括路途上的旅費、路費和餐費等必要的開支僅僅是依靠諸位大德而得以維持，因此，懇請世界各地的護法居士們持續鼎力護持，為獄中的受刑人法友們燃燈引路，美國菩薩寺作為是諸位大德的「信差」，將諸位大德的「火炬之光」帶進監獄裡，為法友們燃起前路之光，向菩提之路邁進。
近期的監獄弘法活動即將展開，由聖地牙哥至山克拉門都，共計十二家監獄，我們禮請馬來西亞的開照比丘一同前往，行程如下：
7/20 Driving San Diego to Delano
7/21 SATF Corcoran and North Kern State Prison
7/22 Wasco State Prison
7/23Kern Valley State Prison
7/24 Avenal State Prison
7/25 Pleasant Valley State Prison
7/26 Mule Creek State Prison
7/27 California Health Care Facility
7/28 DVI State Prison
7/29 Salinas Valley State Prison
7/30 Valley State Prison
7/31 CCI Tehachapi State Prison
我們將會每天跟各位報告弘法活動的內容，諸位菩薩們的捐款每分每毫都會用到監獄佈教活動中。
滴水可成河，積沙可成塔，感恩您們願意化為一盞「無盡燈」，「燃百千燈，冥者皆明，明終不盡。」讓佛光持續照亮晦暗的鐵圍，也為這個世界帶來更多的光明與希望。不盡感恩！
衷心祈願～
佛光普照，願世界永遠遍滿光明與希望。
願所有眾生皆能離苦得樂，早成佛道。
護持監獄佈教捐款可以聯絡我們，或直接寄支票至以下
菩薩寺地址：9715 Carroll Centre Rd #105 San Diego CA 92126
支票抬頭：IBS
電話：619-450-3704
如用PayPal付款，请按下列网址: https://www.ibstemple.org/donate
感謝您的支持。如需要扣稅收據，請告知地址與姓名，感恩護持，阿彌陀佛?