Dhamma brothers is the documentary film on a group of prison inmates who participate in a 10 day vipassana retreat. Listen to the dhamma brothers speak about their lives in prison and the fresh, new perspectives that they have gained from vipassana. Sep 01, 2008 none of the dhamma brothers have actually read the book or the letters that they sent that were published. I came to realize how important they were as powerful expressions of personal and spiritual wisdom obtained under the most dire and difficult circumstances. The dhamma brothers is one of the most sensitive expressions of hope, capacity for change, and potential vehicles for institutional health that i have seen in my career in criminal justice. Letters from the dhamma brothers, an accompanying book of the letters the inmates sent to ms. The teachings of the buddha infiltrate a maximumsecurity prison in the dhamma brothers, a thinkinghead documentary about finding answers within for those who cant get out. Sep, 2007 letters from the dhamma brothers, an accompanying book of the letters the inmates sent to ms. The documentary film, the dhamma brothers, tells a dramatic tale of human potential and courage as it closely follows a group of prisoners in an endofthel. The dhamma brothers discussion guide influence film club. The question deliberately hanging over the dhamma brothers made by filmmakers jenny phillips a psychotherapist involved with the program. In some ways, i feel torn between sympathy for the tibetans and suspicion that they are being manipulated by washington. The film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars. Letters from the dhamma brothers e book now available in apples ibookstore.
Jenny phillips film prison meditation alabama the new. In the words of inmate benjamin oryang, whether someone is free or whether someone is incarcerated, such work should be done if one wants to grow personally. Behind high security towers and a double row of barbed wire and electrical fence live over 1,500 prisoners, many of whom will never again know life in. Letters from the dhamma brothers ebook now available in apples ibookstore. Social applications of the dhamma archives dhamma books. Also shown are some of the numerous lists and mathematical equations which are discussed in this book. It is made out of wood, with bodhi leaf and dhamma wheel designs and is able to be attached to a key ring.
None of the dhamma brothers have actually read the book or the letters that they sent that were published. While the book talks about the transformative and redemptive power of vipassana meditation within a prison, the reality is that the men who shared their life stories and personal letters have not been trusted with access to the book. Letters from the dhamma brothers multimedia edition on. This book was saved for last to be converted because of its extensive crossreferencing to many other essays and books on this site.
The dhamma brothers is a documentary film released in 2007 about a prison meditation program at donaldson correctional facility near bessemer, alabama. Mar 19, 2008 the dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter. Letters from the dhamma brothers has won the pass award from the national council on crime and delinquency nccd and it was a finalist, for the book of the year award from foreword magazine when the first tenday vipassana meditation course came to a close at alabamas donaldson prison in 2002, twenty men were faced with the possibility of a. All books written by luangpor pramote are in thai, published and distributed as free gifts of dhamma, with the intention of preserving the teachings of the lord buddha for generations to come. The ebook is filled with dazzling photos as well as interactive video and audio features. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it documents the stories of prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter this arduous program. Dhamma brothers reminds us that for many people the worst prison of all is the prison of the mind.
Four years after the shutdown of the program at donaldson, dr. This film, which dismantles stereotypes about men behind prison bars, gives you hope for the human race in the words of sister helen prejean dead man walking. The e book is filled with dazzling photos as well as interactive video and audio features. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at. The dhamma brothers, a documentary film about the program at donaldson, was released in april 2008 and shown at numerous theaters and film festivals in the united states. An overcrowded, violent maximumsecurity prison, the end of the line in alabama s prison system, is dramatically changed by the influence of an ancient meditation program. With grady bankhead, ron cavanaugh, jonathan crowley, edward johnson. Dhamma books vipassana meditation online bookshop dhamma. Apr 11, 2008 directed by andrew kukura, jenny phillips, anne marie stein. The film features four inmates, all convicted of murder, and includes interviews with guards, prison officials, local residents and other inmates, and reenactments of their crimes. Inmates serving long sentences in one of the countrys toughest state prisons experience the liberating effects of the vipassana. The film aired on many public television stations in the u. Letters from the dhamma brothers by jenny phillips. The dhamma legacy of phra ajaan dune atulo, translated by.
The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter. Apr 01, 2008 my interest in the documentary the dhamma brothers was heightened by the conflict in tibet, where buddhist monks have been charged by some leftists as functioning as cia agents. The notion that a maximum security prison in rural alabama ever allowed vipassana meditation to be taught within its walls, to some of its toughest offenders, is a miracle in itself. The dhamma brothers referring to the dharma, a term for the teachings of the buddha share their experiences of working with mindfulness and encountering their feelings of anger, stress, anxiety, guilt, and other volatile emotions.
Letters from the dhamma brothers pdf ebook vipassana. Listen to the dhamma brothers speak about their lives in prison, and the fresh new perspectives that they have gained from their practice of vipassana meditation. Jenny phillips the thoughts, struggles, dreams, and triumphs of inmates who took part in a voluntary meditation program at alabamas donaldson prison in 2002. Phillips and the vipassana teachers, is scheduled for publication in early 2008 by pariyatti press. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The dhamma brothers dhamma books vipassana meditation. The complete book of buddhas lists explained cover design. The documentary film, the dhamma brothers, tells a dramatic tale of human potential and courage as it closely follows a group of prisoners in an endof the l. This is an 8gb usb preloaded with discourse and chanting recordings. May 09, 2008 the question deliberately hanging over the dhamma brothers made by filmmakers jenny phillips a psychotherapist involved with the program, andrew kukura and anne marie stein is how. The dhamma brothers, east meets west in the deep south.
The dhamma brothers these letters had an enormous impact on me. These books are translated into english and other languages by different people with permission from luangpor pramote. The eightfold wheel is the symbol of the middle path. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter into this arduous and intensive program. The dhamma brothers is a multiaward winning documentary film by jenny phillips, anne marie stein and andrew kukura. Apr 11, 2008 the teachings of the buddha infiltrate a maximumsecurity prison in the dhamma brothers, a thinkinghead documentary about finding answers within for those who cant get out.
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