Buddhist Prison Ministry Plus Sukhasiddhi Foundation's Community Dharma Leaders Equals the Paramita of Generosity!
In just one year, Susan Shannon’s Introduction to Buddhism Prison Ministry Course has spread into prisons in every state in the US! Participants have a choice to contemplate the integration questions included in each lesson or complete them and send them in for review and a certificate of completion.
Susan, surprised and overwhelmed by the number of students who are sending in their packets of responses, reached out to the members of Sukhasiddhi’s Community Dharma Leaders (CDL) for help. She explained, “This is one of the most valued ways of practicing the paramita of generosity, that of spreading the dharma!”
Suzanne Lucas, a CDL member, writes:
Being part of the Buddhist Prison Ministry Project has been deeply impactful. I’m perpetually humbled by the inmate’s knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, as well as other faith traditions. They have really revealed a lot of my blindspots in the BuddhaDharma (I often need to research sutras/terms they mention)!
But perhaps even more meaningful is how these individuals have turned their situation to the path. They are indeed Bodhisattvas, transforming their time in prison into retreat, devoting themselves to study and practice. I feel profoundly grateful for their inspiration and the gift of reading their insights.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please reach out to Susan at buddhistprisonministry@gmail.com.