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:
當網路上的義工
諸位法友，
阿彌陀佛！由於科技發達，網路盛行，讓許多的上班族不必出門就可以在家裡上班；這樣的福報我們當心存感激，也應該善用這樣的資源。
美國菩薩寺致力於各州監獄近行弘法活動並且成立佛教圖書館。截至目前為止，我們一共發展到11所監獄近行弘法教化，同時成立了25個佛教圖書館；因此，我們需要更多的義工朋友一起加入我們的行列，引領更多的獄友可以有因緣接觸佛法。如果您願意的話，美國菩薩寺希望找到更多願意發心成為網路義工的大德。您只需要在自己的家裡上網，就可以和我們一起成就在美國的監獄佈教活動。如果您願意發心加入我們的義工行列，請跟我們聯絡。
以下是我們需要協助的工作內容，請參酌哪個部分是您可以認養的工作事項：
1. 翻譯受刑人信件 （英翻中）
2. 文章撰寫， (由常住提供內容）
3 .宣傳監獄弘法訊息。
4. 活動海報設計
5. 協助搜尋英文佛教書籍 （監獄佛教圖書館藏書）
6. 繕打受刑人信件
7. 資料整理
8. 推廣每月$10的活動
9. 找印經護持者
10. 幫忙拍照
以上是目前需要協助的相關工作事項，也歡迎您提供更多的意見，讓這一切更為圓滿。
Be Our Volunteer Through Internet
Dear Dharma Friends,
Amituofo!! The era of Internet brought us lots of convenience. Nowadays many people don’t even need to go to their office to work but working at home. With advanced technology, we should have sense of gratitude towards all benefits it brought us. We also have to make good use of all resources available.
International Bodhisattva Sangha in the US mainly focuses on propagating Buddhism and setup Buddhist libraries in the California State Prisons. There are only a few people volunteering on this program. Among total 36 prisons in California, we have already successfully approached 15 prisons and set up 40 Buddhist libraries. While the more the prisons we are serving, the more difficult for our limited manpower to catch up with increasing workload. Therefore, we are now recruiting more volunteers who can help us through Internet. If anyone would like to offer your time and effort to be our volunteer via Internet, please feel free to contact us.
You can volunteer any of the following:
1. Help typing brothers Letter (In word file)
2. Translate letters from English to Chinese
3. Design flyer for events
4. Design Postcard with Venerable Dharma Veres
5.Design pamphlet brochure about IBS Prison Program
6. Help to write articles for monthly newsletters.
7. Search for Buddhist organizations in your area who donates books for Buddhist libraries in prisons.
8. Help writing articles for our website (We will provide the information)
9. Photo-shop design (Refuge and five percepts certificate of brothers)
10. Promote $10/month program.
11. Ask for the sutra printing supporter.
12. Create blog to spread the word.
13. Help Venerable design power point presentation.
Importance of IBS Prison Program
The IBS Prison Program is very important for our society as well as for those incarcerated. The inmates will one day be released and again be part of society — there are already many examples among our students. Right now, there is a wonderful opportunity to educate inmates about the correct way to live, the causes of suffering, and the law of Karma. We try our best to offer enough information and teach techniques to practice the Dharma and become ready for a second chance. They really need our help. If we don’t help them, who will?
Many people say it is dangerous to go into prisons and teach inmates. We have been doing this for 19 years and haven’t experienced any danger. If one has bad Karma, there is no place free from danger. Some people have said, “It is a little bit late to be teaching them; we should educate them before they begin to walk on the wrong path.” Fortunately, there are many organizations that are working on just that, in schools, colleges, and universities. But I also think we need organizations taking care of those people who are doing time.
It is difficult for many organizations to drive the 4-5 hours necessary to reach the prisons. I understand there are many challenges, but someone has to volunteer for this kind of service. We wish there were more organizations able to do this kind of program. I am very proud of other religious organizations; they are visiting almost every week.
Although we can’t reach all the California state prisons, there are 12 that IBS visits on a regular basis. Many brothers are waiting for us every month, so it is very important for us to continue. We try our best to give them a second chance to walk the right path in the institutions as well as upon their release. We are delivering Dharma; we are giving hope. The Buddha Dharma is also very important in the prison world too. Amituofo !!!!
Xianzhong Shi 10/6/2013