Meditation classes help Tihar inmates IANS, Dec 15, 2006 New Delhi, India --
After a troubled past, inmates of Tihar Jail here have decided to reform
themselves as well as change other jailbirds' lives through Vipassana, Buddhist
way of meditation.
"We have around 500 inmates going through 10 different meditation courses of
Vipassana in the jail," said Sunil Gupta, law officer Tihar Jail, who was
speaking at a seminar organised by the Bureau of Police Research and
Development.
With a capacity to hold 6,000 inmates, the Tihar Jail - the country's biggest
prison - is home to over 13,000 prisoners.
"When the course started in 1993, meditation teachers used to hold classes but
these days reformed inmates actively take part and help their teachers to train
others," said Gupta, adding that over 10,000 inmates have been trained in
mediation in the past 13 years.
"We found it difficult to make them understand initially about the good
effects of mediation, so we used to force them to take up the course. But now
more and more inmates come forward to take up the course," said Gupta.
Taking note of the reform in the jail, a group of psychology students of Delhi
University (DU) conducted a survey in October to find out the impact of
meditation on the inmates.
"We took interviews of 42 inmates. We found that that the inmates had more
self-esteem, better social relationships and emotional stability," said Divya
Patalia, a third-year student of Vivekanand College, DU.
"We were surprised to know that the inmates had not only realised their crime
but also managed to accept it in front of the judges," she said.
J u n a i d i
Tibetan Language & Buddhist Philosophy
Library of Tibetan Works & Archives
Centre for Tibetan Studies & Researches
Gangchen Kyishong Dharamsala - 176215
Himachal Pradesh - I n d i a
"May I become at all times, both now and forever; a protector for those without
protection; a guide for those who have lost their way; a ship for those with
oceans to cross; a bridge for those with rivers to cross; a sanctuary for those
in danger; a lamp for those without light; a place of refuge for those who lack
of shelter; and a servant to all in need"-- H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin
Gyatso -- Bodhicharyavatara [Tib.
J'ang.chub.sem.pa'i.c'od.pa.nyid.jug.pa.zhug.so; Ing. Guide to the
Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Chapter III, Verse 18-19]~ Shantideva
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