When Suvarnaprabha started teaching prisoners to meditate, she found that they were often very open to change. There are specific procedures involved when entering prisons, mostly for security reasons, but they begin to feel like rituals. Each time you face a door, you have to push a button, face away from the door, wait for the buzz, and then go in. This routine continues even within the prison.
In 1998, Suvarnaprabha spent four months co-teaching a creative writing class at a medium-security prison. She would drive to the hot Central Valley in her small Honda, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation each time. The initial experience of walking through a series of remotely-controlled gates was daunting; every gate buzzed as they approached, monitored by someone watching them on a screen. Just before the last gate, the Director of Arts in Corrections explained that the prison does not negotiate with terrorists. This was a legal requirement to inform visitors.
Once inside, it felt like entering a different world, characterized by cameras, the threat of violence, and a sense of being watched. The environment seemed harsh and isolating, surrounded by electric razor wire and driven by its own rules and language.
In the US, nearly two million people are incarcerated, and the system often exacerbates violent tendencies. The current Sheriff of San Francisco, once a prisoner’s rights attorney, has worked towards transforming jails into places that prepare inmates to reintegrate into society, assist victims, and engage communities in rehabilitation. This approach is called restorative justice, and San Francisco has one of the most progressive jails in the country.
Thanks to the Prison Meditation Network, Suvarnaprabha visits the jail with a yoga teacher. Together, they conduct sessions involving yoga, meditation, and discussions with about 15 inmates dressed in orange. These inmates voluntarily participate, coming from either a drug-related offense program or a violence-prevention program. The aim is to provide tools for understanding their behavior and working more effectively with their anger and conditioning.
Suvarnaprabha’s decision to volunteer in prisons was partly a desire to step outside her usual environment, which was largely middle-class and white. She wanted to engage with people whose necessity for meditation was more profound, often stemming from difficult life circumstances. She found that, despite their past actions, the inmates were kind and receptive during the sessions, and she grew to care for them deeply.
During one of her prison visits, Suvarnaprabha experienced a moment of doubt when leading a chanting session. She instructed the inmates to chant “om mahnee padmay hung,” a mantra symbolizing compassion. Initially, some participants laughed, making her worry about the session’s success. However, as they continued, a profound stillness and unity overtook the group, transforming the atmosphere.
After the chant and subsequent meditation, the mood had shifted to one of kindness and calmness. Even those who were initially resistant, including the laughing inmate, expressed their respect and gratitude. One participant reflected on how the meditation had begun to change his interactions with others, highlighting the painful yet transformative journey of self-awareness and change.
The meditation allowed Suvarnaprabha to recall her own experiences with confronting the darker aspects of her mind during retreats. It reminded her of the difficult but ultimately rewarding path to self-understanding and compassion.
Despite the challenges, Suvarnaprabha found immense beauty and humanity in the inmates. She acknowledged that not all would achieve lasting transformation upon release, but she believed the peaceful moments they shared in class were invaluable. Whether the meditation was about peace and acceptance, it touched something rare and powerful.
As she and her colleague Devi left the prison, Suvarnaprabha felt a deep sense of happiness. They decided not to repeat the mantra chanting immediately, feeling it might not be entirely fitting for the prison environment. Nevertheless, the experience had left a positive imprint, illustrating the potential for change and kindness within even the most challenging settings.