Chamgang Centre Jail 16 June, 2010 - The Chamgang centre jail looked different from a normal day, as the 400 inmates sat crosslegged under the hot sun, attending a spiritual discourse initiated by the Yangpai lopon, yesterday.
Inmates listened carefully as lopon Chimi talked about how greed for materialistic pleasures, desire and jealousy could spoil one’s life. The lopon also talked in detail how important controlling one’s mind is. “Murders, stabbing and theft occur when you fail to control your desires,” said the lopon. “Good deeds give you peace and bad, sufferings. Whenever you feel like harming someone, think about how you would feel if somebody harms you.”
The Yangpai lopon reminded inmates that the mind is categorised into very good, good and bad. We need to upgrade the mind with the practice of dharma. “Our mind is ruler and mouth and body are servants, who bow before mind,” he said. “One can overcome suffering only if someone can practice dharma with compassionate and a purified mind.”
The lopon told inmates to change the attitude that dharma is only for monk. “Like water and soap is used to remove stains from the cloth, dharma is to cleanse the ignorant mind. Even laymen can practice dharma.”
The royal Bhutan police, with support from the Bhutan narcotic control agency, organised the programme.
“The discourse was organised so that it can touch the spiritual core of the prisoners, besides they have nothing to do while serving their sentences,” police chief, Brig. Kipchu Namgyel said.
“It’s an opportunity to embrace a change in their behaviour, to bring a significant transformation in their lives. We also expect to improve the prison atmosphere, reduce recidivism and enhance community safety and well-being.”
Many inmates said they were listening to this kind of teachings after so many years and said it would help them reform themselves. A 29-year old prisoner, who has had served 11 years so far, said it was worth attending. “It was a very different day.”
Source: kuenselonline.com |
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