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| The Monk, The Prisoner, The Buddha
During this writer’s two recent thirty - day stays of volunteer work in Cambodia, he has had the interesting opportunity to teach English to Cambodian Monks immediately followed by a trip to the local provincial prison to teach Yoga and Buddhism to groups of inmates there.
The contrast has been made more interesting as I have come to think of the prisoners as being monks more then the monks themselves.
Of course, Buddhist teachings as put forth in the Dhammapada remind us again and again that just because a man wears a yellow, orange or red robe, it does not make him a monk.
A monk is defined as someone who is making a constant, mindful and diligent effort to develop his mind through an understanding and practice of the Buddhist teachings and disciplines.
This can be done by a prisoner, a man in a robe, a housewife or househusband, a policemen, a prison guard or anyone anywhere.
In many respects, the prison environment is ideal for developing the mind if the men and women in that prison are given adequate food, medical care, shelter and rest, and a routine of behavior that brings stability.
This is unfortunately far from being the case in Cambodian prisons.
On the other hand, the Buddhist temple may not offer the environment that is necessary for a man or woman to develop his or her mind, whether they wear a robe or not, as how it is managed may not be based on Buddhist teachings or disciplines but may instead be something that caters to the cultural needs and interests of the culture and environment that it finds itself in.
Also, different temples may allow or disallow various actions, activities and behaviors on the part of the monks who stay there, which may also serve as hindrances to a monk’s understanding and practice of Buddhism and the progress that they make in developing their minds.
In fact, if monks are put on a pedestal, as they are in many countries, there may be problems that are allowed to develop or monks may not be held accountable for their actions or continually held to the course of Buddhist disciplines that they have taken a vow to learn, follow and practice.
What this writer has seen is that prisoners have the same mind and defiling impulses as monks do and to differentiate between the two because of culture and their perceived status is a mistake.
It is not where one stays or lives, what one wears or how one cuts their hair that leads to mind development.
It is the understanding and practice of the teachings and disciplines of Buddhism and this can be done by anyone at anytime and in anyplace.
We all can be monks and boddhisattvas through getting started with the work and practice that is involved in Buddhism and continuing onward with that work and practice.
©2007 John C. Kimbrough
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| Reflections on teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia – Working with prisoners
Gaining the trust and respect of other people is something that all of us have to do at one time or another in our life. Hopefully we can do it in a sincere and unstressful manner and environment. The reality seems to be that many of us do not always care what other people think and feel, or are more apt to condemn or criticize them then look at them as being the same as us or reaching out to them.
When there is a cross – cultural aspect to this, things can be more complex.
In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, patience is required. For some this patience come naturally and is not a problem, while for others it can involve resentment and anger to implement. Certainly the person who is engaged in the former will be less effective in achieving his or her objectives.
In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, compassion is also required. Too many times our attitude to prisoners can be that they did something that requires them to be in prison and that whatever punishment they have received is one that they deserve.
Of course, if we look closely at the history of the law and the legal system, we find that more then once the wrong man has been incarcerated or even executed or given an excessive sentence for a crime.
In developing countries, the circumstances that get a man in prison can be more complex, with many times him or her being nothing more then an individual who had to fight against a person or system that was trying to exploit them unfairly.
Regardless of the country, social environment or status of development in a country, in working with prisoners we are dealing with people, people who can change, people who can admit to their mistakes, people who regret, suffer for and come to realize that they have not lived their life in the best, wisest or healthiest way.
This writer has, as we all have or will, experienced an evolution in his life in many ways. One among many evolutions, was coming from being a prisoner for a short period of time in a state penitentiary in the United States to working with prisoners in a provincial prison in Cambodia. One of the things that I learned and saw from my own prison experience was that men in prison have that mixture of states of mind and behavior that we all have. They can be sincere and helpful or fearful and angry.
The Buddhist teachings are very clear about how we can be as human beings. We can either be unwise, unhealthy and unwholesome or the opposite, that being wise, healthy and wholesome.
We can for the most part gain the respect of any man in any situation if they know that we are sincere. For the men that this writer works with in a provincial prison in Cambodia, part of that respect was brought about when they learned that I do this work for free, and that I do not receive any kind of salary or benefits in doing it or that I do not work for any kind of organization.
For my part, I have begun to see most of the prisoners there as friends and as being children to me. This is partly because of my age (I am 55) and also because of what Buddhism teaches us and the evolution that it brings about in us through its practice.
The understanding and application of loving kindness and compassion are two of the major practices of Buddhism, and when we habitually and naturally see others in this light, we will act towards them in a manner which fosters understanding and a respectful connection.
In fact, this writer has learned that humility and sincerity in any action is something that is appreciated by others and that kindness will eventually be appreciated.
We seem to live in an at times unkind world, and we are not always mindful about how our own attitudes and actions may be adding to this state.
We are taught by various forces to pursue this and that, or that happiness, peace and contentment come through various things, without having the mindfulness to see that a joyful and productive life is one that stems from mindfulness, discipline and balance.
Achieving such things in life is what the teachings and disciplines of Yoga and Buddhism have as their objective and nothing else. We do not have to look upon them with a distrustful or wary eye.
If we can teach them to prisoners in any country of the world in a clear and committed manner, we will help men and women experience a change in their life that will make them more focused and balanced, so that they have a greater ability to find their way in life. |
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| Some Common Sense Guidelines and Reminders for
Teaching Yoga to Prisoners
When we teach Yoga in a place or environment that is
not under our individual control or ownership, we need
to abide by the rules of the owner or controlling
individual or party.
This is true whether we teach in an ashram, temple,
health club, someone’s home or apartment, a school, a
vocational center or a prison.
But in teaching Yoga to men and women in prison there
most likely will be more serious and important factors
and rules to be mindful about, not just in the
requirements and rules of the prison and prison
system, but also regarding how we relate to the men
and women who come to our classes.
Some of these are given below.
• Before going to teach in a local jail, prison or
prison system make sure that you are very clear about
what you will be teaching them and what your
availability will be on a daily and long - term basis.
If you start a program of teaching Yoga to men and
women who are incarcerated and then suddenly have to
stop it, you may generate bad or resentful feelings.
• Before going to teach in a local jail, prison or
prison system make sure that you make an appointment
to meet with the relevant authorities, most
importantly of course being the system director,
prison warden or director, or those that are his or
her representatives. At such a meeting try to look
professional and be able to present your points
regarding teaching and any material that you will give
to the learners. This is because some things, such as
perhaps a laminated card that shows the Yoga postures
and practices may be considered to be prison
contraband or be thought of as having the potential to
use as a weapon that may cause harm to oneself or
others.
• Anytime that you wish to change your schedule or
make some changes in your program or teaching, inform
the authorities in charge. Many times this will not
necessitate a meeting with a higher up but only a
meting with the person who is in charge of your
program or class.
• Inform both your class and those who are in charge
of your class if you will not be able to teach on a
certain day or for a certain period of time.
• If possible, always arrive early for your class and
greet the men or women who come to it in a polite and
respectful manner.
• Do not show favorites in teaching a class to
prisoners. This is extremely important as it could
breed resentment and problems, in addition to causing
problems with the prison authorities and perhaps your
class and program as a whole.
• It may be most suitable to have men teach male
prisoners while women teach female prisoners, if this
is possible.
• There should be a prison guard or guards on duty and
with the class while it is going on. This standard
practice in most jails and prisons.
• Do not get involved with any prisoners as far as
their case or personal life and problems. Your job is
to teach Yoga and teach Yoga only. Be compassionate to
your students but also be mindful as regards the
limits to how you can and should act on that
compassion.
• Do not look at the prisoners and those who are in
charge of them as being a “them and us” thing or think
of people as being good or bad guys. The people who
are in the prison environment with you, bot prisoners
and guards are there for a reason, and as Yoga
teachers and practitioners, we are open, understanding
and compassionate to all, not just some.
• Do not use your class as a forum to air your views
on the prison system, prisoner rights, human rights or
any other subject outside the teachings of Yoga.
• Be supportive, understanding and encouraging of the
learners as you would in any Yoga class.
Men and women need and benefit from the things that
Yoga can offer them and if you are a Yoga teacher, it
is highly recommended that you look into starting up a
Yoga class or program at the local city jail, county
jail or prison in your area.
Yoga is currently be taught at various jails and
prisons in the United Kingdom, India, The United
States, Singapore and Cambodia, among others.
Prison authorities and directors are for the most part
sincerely interested in assisting the men and women
who are under their care in dealing with their
incarceration and their life in a manner that is
positive or constructive. If they are presented with a
program that is well thought out and they perceive the
teacher as being professional and competent, they will
most likely approve such a program.
Some of the men and women who are in jail and prison
are not there because they are criminals or have
committed crimes but because they are lost as to how
to think, feel, speak and act. In this respect, we are
talking about people who have been incarcerated
because of a drug or drinking problem.
By teaching Yoga to men and women in prison, you may
be providing them with a way to better understand and
change their life for the better, both while they are
in prison and upon their release.
?2006 John C. Kimbrough
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Some Common Sense Guidelines and Reminders for Teaching Yoga to Disabled People.
In teaching Yoga to disabled people, be they handicapped by birth, from a car or other accident, or by a land mine explosion, we may have more fruitful and meaningful classes and interactions with them if we keep some things in mind. These include:
• Arrive early for the class and greet each learner with enthusiasm and respect.
• If possible, have those with similar injuries in the same class together. In other words, those who are missing the left leg learn together, those who are missing the right leg learn together, etc. This allows the teacher to better monitor the learners and assist them in doing the postures that are asked of them to learn and perform.
• If the learners use artificial limbs, allow them as individuals to decide whether to keep them on or detach them.
• Those who are missing limbs seem to be comfortable with doing postures on their back, such a leg raises, knee grasps or the bridge or on their stomach, such as the cobra posture, bow and half – locust. Of course, as we all know, everybody loves the corpse posture.
• Let the class be free to whatever extent possible. In other words, allow the learners the freedom to become comfortable with practicing and the postures. If they laugh or giggle at you or the practice, do not lose patience with them, get angry or discipline them. They will eventually work their way out of being such a way.
• If you are teaching people of a different country, culture and language then you, try to learn the vocabulary and structures necessary to teach them Yoga in their own language. If possible use a translator and be mindful about cultural taboos that may interfere with their ability to feel comfortable while doing the Yoga practice and class. This could include things such as mixing men and women together instead of keeping them separate or pointing one’s feet to each other when doing the sitting forward bend or corpse posture.
• Try to keep the class shorter then you would for your regular students as those with disabilities most likely will get tired faster then those who do not have disabilities. I try to make the classes no longer then fifty minutes long though frequently the class will be closer to 35 to 40 minutes long.
• Ask the learners frequently how they are doing and feeling about and while practicing the various postures and techniques. If you feel the need, make the class shorter then usual. You do not need to push or cajole the learners in any way. The fact that they are there shows that they want to learn and practice.
• When having the learners do standing postures, try to provide them with chairs that will make the performance of these postures more manageable. If learners want to try the postures using their crutch or without any support at all, allow them to do such a thing.
• Make the learners mindful about what the most important and doable postures are for them to learn and perform and when they practice them in class, have them do them at least three times. When doing these postures, give them a longer rest period between postures then you would your regular students.
• Teach and react to the learners with compassion while at the same time encouraging them and reminding them of the importance of the posture practice and what they are capable of doing.
• At the beginning of the session give them a brief introduction to inform or remind them of what Yoga is and why we learn and practice it. At the end of the session give them a longer lecture that gives them some inspiration about what they can do with their life and mind regardless of their physical condition and remind them of those things that they have to be thankful for.
• NEVER RIDICULE A LEARNER IN FRONT OF THE CLASS OR IN PUBLIC! If there is something about the behavior of one individual or the class as a whole that you feel is inappropriate, try to call attention to it in a relaxed and humorous way.
• If a learner wants to work out his or her own way of approaching and performing a posture, allow him or her to do so with little or no interference from you. After they have made their attempt, privately suggest ways that may be of help to them.
• Understand that there is much that you can learn from your students in these classes and take and make the time to talk with them, understand how they feel and answer their questions.
• Change the tempo of the class from time to time. This means that one class can be active and vigorous, while another class can be slower and involve the spending of more time explaining how each posture is bringing them benefits.
• The practice of meditation may be a challenging one to teach as learners may have to struggle with finding and performing a posture that they find to be steady and comfortable. Make them mindful of the various ways that a meditative posture can be performed and if possible provide them with blankets, pillows, etc. that assist them in holding the posture and make it less demanding of them.
• Allow the learners to spend at least ten minutes in the corpse posture at the end of the session. This time can be one of silence, while at other times it can be one where they are given easy breathing techniques to perform or are exposed to a brief lecture that summarizes the class, teachings of Yoga or makes them mindful about other aspects of life and their being.
Teaching Yoga to those who are disabled or have been disabled can be a very rewarding and humbling experience for the teacher of Yoga and give them greater mindfulness about their own practice and allow them to better appreciate the strength of the human spirit. It can be spiritually uplifting and insightful for them and bring about a healthier and stronger respect for all mankind.
In conclusion, if you are a new or experienced teacher of Yoga, take a look around your neighborhood, community and city and search out and find those who may benefit from learning Yoga from you. These people do not have to be wealthy and privileged people, but those who have a real need for Yoga and what it teaches, such as prisoners, abused and battered women, and those who are poorer and can learn in a community or neighborhood center.
Yoga is for all people to learn and grow with and from, not a tool to make us as teachers to feel special about ourselves or become well - known and famous through. |
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| Thank you for your insights.
Could you write about your personal experience on the Dhamma path ? your own practice and encounters with people/places which had helped/help along the path ? |
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Volunteer Work in Cambodia
