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:
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?
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.