Wondrous is the robe of liberation… wearing it, I will unfold the Buddha’s teaching…
At the Zen Center of Denver, our Prison Dharma group is committed to offering practice opportunities for inmates at the men’s Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood. We aim to extend this opportunity to other facilities, potentially including a women’s facility in the future.
Every Monday morning, a member of our group visits the prison as part of the chapel program to lead a meditation session. The session begins with light stretching exercises, followed by a time for participants to share how their week has been. We then conduct a brief morning service, including the Three Refuges, Master Hakuin’s “Song of Zazen,” and a Dedication. This is followed by one round of seated meditation—most participants use chairs—and five minutes of walking meditation (kinhin). The session continues with a shared dharma activity, such as discussing a reading, listening to a recorded talk, or exploring a book chapter. Currently, for example, we are working through the chapters of Pema Chödron’s When Things Fall Apart with the inmates. The session concludes with Great Vows and prostrations.
We typically have between two and seven participants each Monday. The men who join us deeply appreciate the opportunity, and their gratitude fuels our commitment to this practice.
Our group is entirely volunteer-based, and we warmly welcome new members. To join, you’ll need to complete some forms, undergo a background check conducted by the Bureau of Prisons, submit a letter of authorization from the Zen Center, provide two recommendations, and attend a training session provided by the prison.
If you’re interested in helping us grow this program and spread the dharma, please contact Bill Hamaker at wahamaker@gmail.com.