ISSUE NO. 5
November 2024
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Letters

What I Learnt About Buddhism

By
George

George writes from a Victorian prison.

Mattia Faloretti

I stumbled across Buddhist meditation in 2017 where I met Hojun, the Buddhist chaplain/monk who led the meditation and spiritual discussion. Since then, thanks to Hojun, I feel I have changed mentally and spiritually in nearly every way.

Some of the important changes I reflect upon are things like the acceptance of chance, and that everything is in a state of flux. This means we all change, with the difference being that I am now aware of the change, so I can manifest this in skilful ways.

Some other more challenging concepts include: I am not the story that I tell myself; I am not my possessions, friends, crimes, name, age or sex. I am not my past, or my future; and we are all here witnessing consciousness though our human senses. It is through this understanding I can truly begin to see life and how it truly is, letting go of the concepts I have of myself and therefore the judgements I have of others, allowing me to free myself from how I think others should act.

Being spiritual means to go beyond; which for me means to go beyond the beliefs I hold on to, the strongest of which make me suffer most. Some would say the goal is enlightenment, but there really is no goal; the path or the journey to non-self, freedom, liberation or enlightenment is where the work is. This work means letting go, practicing compassion, confronting my beliefs, and being rewarded for it.

Thank you, Hojun, for your inspiration, guidance, patience and your time.Thank you for guiding me through the changes I needed in my life, and by throwing the web of connection I know you have changed the lives of many in the most positive ways.

Kindest regards,

George … AKA Shin Zen

I stumbled across Buddhist meditation in 2017 where I met Hojun, the Buddhist chaplain/monk who led the meditation and spiritual discussion. Since then, thanks to Hojun, I feel I have changed mentally and spiritually in nearly every way.

Some of the important changes I reflect upon are things like the acceptance of chance, and that everything is in a state of flux. This means we all change, with the difference being that I am now aware of the change, so I can manifest this in skilful ways.

Some other more challenging concepts include: I am not the story that I tell myself; I am not my possessions, friends, crimes, name, age or sex. I am not my past, or my future; and we are all here witnessing consciousness though our human senses. It is through this understanding I can truly begin to see life and how it truly is, letting go of the concepts I have of myself and therefore the judgements I have of others, allowing me to free myself from how I think others should act.

Being spiritual means to go beyond; which for me means to go beyond the beliefs I hold on to, the strongest of which make me suffer most. Some would say the goal is enlightenment, but there really is no goal; the path or the journey to non-self, freedom, liberation or enlightenment is where the work is. This work means letting go, practicing compassion, confronting my beliefs, and being rewarded for it.

Thank you, Hojun, for your inspiration, guidance, patience and your time.Thank you for guiding me through the changes I needed in my life, and by throwing the web of connection I know you have changed the lives of many in the most positive ways.

Kindest regards,

George … AKA Shin Zen

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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