The documentary The Dhamma Brothers deals with a group of prisoners in an Alabama who partake in an intensive Vipassana meditation retreat, their experience illustrates that even those serving life sentences for crimes are not beyond personal growth and rehabilitation. In the documentary, the Birmingham Maximum Security Prison in Alabama participated in an intensive meditation program based off the Vipassana principles. Prisoners that volunteered were to remain in total silence and meditate for 10 days as part of the program. It viewed the lives of four prisoners convicted of murder before, during the intensive and arduous meditation process and the after effects of the program. Through the Vipassana program, it emphasizes even inmates that …show more content…
Inmate Edward Johnson’s mother saw change in him after the meditation program. After the 10 day meditation, Edward’s mother said “I’m just excited to see my son, he was all smile” (Dhamma). She noticed the change in him after the meditation since it was also stated that he had tension build up after his daughter passed away, but never faced the issue. The rehabilitation aided Edward coupe with his past and move on to a healthier and positive lifestyle through meditation. Another positive change was in Benjamin Oryang (nickname, OB) through inmate Rick Smith’s interview,as he mentioned, “What I noticed about OB is that he seemed more calm, more at peace with himself, he seemed to have that sense of purpose” (Dhamma). The program helped Benjamin Oryang with his emotions and accept his situation and continue to live within the prison with a sense of purpose. Rick Smith showed his positive change after the meditation through Denise Brickie, Drug Treatment Counselor, she comments, “ Rick handles things far more better...he’s way ahead of me and I better catch up when it comes to handling certain situations”(Dhamma). It shows the positive change in Rick Smith that after the meditation he can manage situations better than before and in some instances better than Denise …show more content…
Perspectives before and after the meditation shows positive changes in the person. Views of rehabilitation can seen from an outside perspective like family or officials. The progressive adjustments of the inmates during the meditation program showed conclusive evidence of change. Lastly, the definite after effects of the program and the positive outtakes of the Vipassana meditation retreat. It represents the change in people even after traumatic events could still occur within if they express their inner thoughts with meditation and acceptance of their
typically spend over a decade waiting for a execution. During the meantime, prisoners are isolated from other prisoners, excluded from prison educational and employment programs, and sharply restricted in terms of visitation and exercise, spending as much as 23 hours a day alone in their cells. This raises the question of whether death row prisoners are receiving two distinct punishments: the death sentence itself, and the years of living in conditions tantamount to solitary confinement. Moreover, unlike general-population prisoners, even in solitary confinement, inmates live of constant uncertainty over when they will be executed. For some death row inmates, this isolation and anxiety results in a sharp deterioration in their mental
Many changes are made inside the justice system, but very few have damaged the integrity of the system and the futures of citizens and prisoners. Although the story seems to focus more on lockdown, Hopkins clearly identifies the damaging change from rehabilitation in prisons to a strategy of locking up and containing the prisoners. To the writer, and furthermore the reader, the adjustment represented a failure to value lives. “More than 600,000- about 3 times what it was when I entered prison, sixteen years ago. In the resulting expansion of the nation’s prison systems, authorities have tended to dispense with much of the rehabilitative programming once prevalent in America’s penal institutions” (Hopkins 157). The new blueprint to lock every offender in prison for extended sentencing leads to an influx in incarcerated people. With each new person
Prison contemplative programs are also of great help to both prison inmates and staff. These contemplative programs include yoga, meditation and prayers for contemplation. Through such programs, both prison staff and inmates benefit a lot especially when it comes to relieving stress. In most countries and especially America, majority of the prisoners are dealers of illicit drugs. It is logical that most drug addicts engage in criminal activities. Therefore, drug treatment programs in jails and prisons are a useful tool for rehabilitation and reformation of inmates into better people who can be productive once their jail term ends. However studies show that currently in America, only a small proportion of inmates requesting for drug treatment actually receive it (Listverse,
The 1970s in the United States was a time of incredible change, doubt, as well as reform. The many issues happening throughout the country helped to lead to the discomfort in many prisoners that eventually lead to their e...
Prisons and correctional facilities in the United States have changed from rehabilitating people to housing inmates and creating breeding grounds for more violence. Many local, state, and federal prisons and correctional facilities are becoming more and more overcrowded each year. If the Department of Corrections (DOC) wants to stop having repeat offenders and decrease the volume of inmates entering the criminal justice system, current regulations and programs need to undergo alteration. Actions pushed by attorneys and judges, in conjunction current prison life (including solitary confinement), have intertwined to result in mass incarceration. However, prisoner reentry programs haven’t fully impacted positively to help the inmate assimilate back into society. These alterations can help save the Department of Corrections (DOC) money, decrease the inmate population, and most of all, help rehabilitate them. After inmates are charged with a crime, they go through the judicial system (Due Process) and meet with the prosecutor to discuss sentencing.
Although, some prisons do have some rehabilitation programs for the inmates that need it, the therapy sometimes does not help. More than half of prisoners reoffend within at least three years of leaving prisons. Those who reoffend tend to have more severe and more aggressive offenses than previously. A man by the name of Brandy Lee has shown that by having a very strict program in prisons with violent offenders in San Francisco jails reduced the amount of violence in jails. The program also helped to reduce the rate of violent re-offences after leaving the jail by over 50
...ple. Before this experience, I do not think I could have ever said I respected a convicted burglar or any criminal. These were humans who made incredibly bad decisions, but that does not mean they do not deserve a second chance if they are willing to change, some aren’t, but I emphasized for the prisoners who were. Prison is a lot of their second chances. “I am lucky to still be alive, if I were not here (in prison), I most likely wouldn’t be alive,” exclaimed one prisoner. This experience allowed me to be thankful for the life I was given, the home I grew up in, and how my parents raised me. I cannot say I would not walk into a prison frightened and with preconceived thoughts again because I would be lying. I have been taught by society to be scared of these people, but I am thankful I can say I did meet kind, remorseful prisoners waiting for their second chance.
05 May 2014. Barbor, Cary. " The Science of Meditation.
In the movie Brothers, I saw relational turbulence between the wife and husband. Relational turbulence is when people react to an interpersonal situation that ordinarily would not be significant; due to difficult times in the relationship, changes in behavior are more noticeable (Katz, 2015). One of the main components in relational uncertainty. One of the scenes where this is seen was during dinner, the husband got up and left the dinner table when the kids mentioned the uncle. When the wife went to check on him, she wanted to know about what happened to him while he was away, but the only thing he could focus on was if she slept with his brother. Even though he had asked his brother if he slept with the wife and he answered, the husband was
Buddhism is able to inform its followers on the constant changes of life and how one may take advantage of those changes for the better without telling them how to live their lives. Through the practice of meditation and other basic principles Buddhism allows its followers to take a step back from reality. Meditation allows is users to work on the mind during that drop from reality. One of the main focuses of Buddhism is the promotion of developing the mind into a more positive one. Buddhism often teaches the characteristics of calmness, and awareness of ones surroundings. Furthermore, Buddh...
Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects.
Something not very common in prisons is that some prisoners could, through reflecting on their own actions and correcting their own faults, fixing themselves emotionally they would leave prison better humans. Prison can be a place where criminals reflect on their actions and see who they are through other prisoners, and using this a sort of ‘therapy’ where they would better themselves. Yet even though this isn’...
..., was able to transform evil men without using force (Fink, “Buddhism, Punishment, And Reconciliation”). The inmates learned how to meditate, to watch their mind and come to terms with themselves notably showcasing how the Buddhist teaching of compassion can improve the lives of those that may have caused or are currently experiencing samsara. This also shows how powerful compassion can be as it has the ability to change people and open them up to more compassionate and kind behaviour.
Many people idealized the relevancy of living in a civilized world, where those who break the law are reprimanded in a less traditional sense of punishment in today’s standard. Instead of just doing hard time, programs and services could and should be provided to reform and rehabilitate prisoner. Despite standard beliefs, many individuals in prison are not harden criminals and violent offenders, many of these people suffer mental illness and substance abuse Hoke
Story, Francis. "Buddhist Meditation." Access to Insight: Readings in Theravada Buddhism. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.