Vipassana in Prisons

(By Javed Raza, an inmate of Tihar Central Prison)

Initially when I came to Tihar Jail I thought it was going to be the worst experience of my life, but thanks to Vipassana, it has turned to be a transforming and blessed experience.

A very useful thing I have learned during the course of my practice is that one has to first destroy one's own peace and harmony, before destroying that of others. But because of the darkness inside one fails to detect the instant misery that arises with the arising of anger, fear, lust or any other defilement. And because of this inner darkness one keeps on defiling one's mind, remaining constantly agitated as a result, and sharing this misery with others all the time. I used to be very good at doing this.

It has been a wonderful discovery to learn at the level of experience that one becomes miserable only when the defilements arise inside, and peace returns the moment impurities clear away! Other people, things and situations are not really responsible for one's unhappiness, the defilements are, and if one can learn to deal with these enemies, as I and a lot of people have, thanks to Vipassana; then no sensory stimuli can make us lose our peace and happiness. This is the straight and narrow path that every religion has been preaching from time immemorial, but only Vipassana teaches how to actually put it into practice. Why isn't everyone else doing Vipassana?

Another thing that I appreciate about Vipassana is that it does not lay undue emphasis on Gurudom, scriptures and mindless rites and rituals. One is encouraged to learn from ones own experience and become ones own Guru. Guru and assistant teachers are there to show the way, but that is as far as it goes. One has to work out ones own salvation.

I have taken nine courses and offered about a year of Dhamma service over the last two and a half years that I have been here. The result of all this work is that now I can smile from the bottom of my heart and also feel compassion for others, something I was not able to do before. I feel like a born again and with a sense of direction and a purpose in life, for the first time.

I have realized that true welfare lies not in struggling to acquire material possessions in life, but in being happy and peaceful at the end of the day and throughout it, and also in sharing with others that happiness, and helping them find the path to achieve it. I am infinitely grateful to Goenkaji for reintroducing the Living-Dhamma to the Land of the Buddhas, and to all the teachers and Dhamma servers of the past and the present, including the greatest teacher, Gotama the Buddha.

May the Dhamma spread all over the world and remain pure, and may I continue developing on the Path and remain a humble servant of the Path till I attain Nibbana.

May all beings be happy!

(The following account was received from an American meditator who is a nurse and teacher)

During a visit to the Vipassana Centre in Jaipur, India in 1986, I had the opportunity to speak with a young man who had participated in the Vipassana course conducted by Goenkaji at the Jaipur Central Jail in 1975. I had been very interested in this experimental course, and so I appreciated the opportunity to hear a first-hand account of it.

He recounted (through an interpreter) that he was imprisoned in 1973, at the age of 22, for the murder of his motherin-law “in a moment of anger.” He was “very shorttempered and prone to much anger” in his life. He had also suffered, since the age of 12, from “an oppressive black spirit that felt like pressure on my throat,” which often prevented him from sleeping. He stated that he took mindaltering drugs from age 15 until his incarceration. After his crime, he was imprisoned in Poona and finally transferred to the Jaipur Central Jail in 1975. In September of that year, he attended the Vipassana course taught by Goenkaji at the Jail.

He recalled that the course made such a deep impression on him that “for three months afterward I was very calm and was doing Vipassana 24 hours a day.... My mind was inside.” Over the next three to four years he experienced a continual decrease of the pressure in his throat, and finally, after four years, this problem disappeared completely. His anger also decreased, improving his family relations and his social relations in general.

In prison, his duties consisted of making factory carpets and working with the prison doctor, looking after special diets for the patients. As the prison authorities saw the changes in his conduct

after the course, they gave him jobs with increased responsibility because of the honesty he displayed. As a prison laborer, he helped with the construction of the new Vipassana Centre outside of Jaipur, and was selected to be in charge of transporting ten to fifteen inmates (murderers), without a guard, to work on the construction crew. He said that other prisoners who took the Vipassana course also gained the trust and confidence of the prison authorities and were given more responsible jobs. Due to his good behavior and good work record, his prison sentence was commuted to 16 years, and later reduced to ten years by the Prison Advisory Board. He was released in 1984.

Since his first course, he has sat several courses and has given service at Jaipur and at Dhammagiri. He said that some of the benefits of Vipassana in his life have included a better understanding of people and improved social relations; the elimination of anger toward his family; enjoyment of his work and the ability to perform it with enthusiasm, no matter what the task; and an ability to face life in general, more calmly and happily.

As a former psychiatric nurse, I was deeply impressed by the psychological changes that had occurred in this man. As a fellow meditator, I was inspired at meeting a person whose life had changed from such extreme misery. Through the help of the Dhamma he has become a productive and happy member of society.

(Goenkaji conducted two courses at the Jaipur Central Jail in 1975 and 1976, attended by 114 and 143 inmates respectively. These experiments were unique in the history of the Indian penal system, and the courses were studied by government and sociological researchers. Results of the study appeared in the August/October 1977 issue of the Maha Bodhi Journal, an abridged version of which appeared in the Vipassana Journal. Following is an excerpt, slightly adapted, from the article “Jails, Criminals and Vipassana” from the Vipassana Journal.)

Concessions granted to prisoners taking part in the ten-day meditation camp included: freshly laundered linens; pure, simple food; open barracks—no locks, no guards; exemption from hard labor; and ten women prisoners participating among the male majority. The jail superintendent had apprehensions about the first four concessions. His fear was that the remaining 1000 or so non-participating prisoners would feel jealous, and might create a row. As for the last concession, the very rules and regulations of the jail demanded that women prisoners always be kept separate from the males, in order to avoid untoward consequences arising from prolonged involuntary celibacy. For this reason, the jail superintendent was particularly hesitant about this proposal.

After long discussion, it was agreed that at least one camp of this meditation be set up precisely according to the principles of the technique. Thus the path for the experiment was cleared.

But before it actually came into being, Shri Ramsingh, Home Commissioner and Secretary, proposed a further dimension to the experiment. He suggested that the 900-1000 non-participating prisoners of the jail should also be present at the discourses given each evening of the course by the Teacher, S.N. Goenka.

Once again, the jail superintendent was taken aback by this proposal. How could he abrogate the clearly stated rules of the jail by allowing a thousand prisoners to congregate in the open, without armed sentries around?

Particularly, how to permit this when several high government authorities and their families would also be attending these discourses? Was it not against the traditions and rules of the jail, which required that any visiting high official be cordoned off by armed guards? Still a further apprehension of the superintendent was that the presence of about a hundred women prisoners in the audience could trigger off disturbances.

Why, in spite of the jail superintendent’s serious apprehensions, was Shri Ramsingh eager to hold at least one meditation camp in the jail? The reason was that the Home Commissioner himself had participated in a Vipassana meditation camp some months before and was much impressed by the results. He felt sure that despite the unprecedented concessions, no untoward incident would occur in the jail during the period of the camp. His confidence proved justified.

After its termination, the jail superintendent reported that there had not been a single disturbance during all the ten days of the camp, neither during the discourse hour, when a thousand prisoners assembled, nor during the rest of the daily routine. This record contrasted sharply with past experiences in the jail, when some 15 - 20 disturbances were reported daily. One can easily appreciate why the 114 prisoners participating in the Vipassana course became peaceful. But what is surprising is that even those thousand prisoners who did not actively perform the practice, merely attending the discourses, also underwent a change, a development in the direction of peace of mind. This change may perhaps be attributed to the inspiration they received from observing the transformation in the meditator-prisoners.

From the state of Haryana, Gurmel Singh entered the world of crime in 1983. He joined the terrorist group of Bhindranawale, and was arrested in Gujarat in 1984, two months prior to the famous operation Blue Star at Amritsar. He was implicated in the largest criminal case in the state, for murder, bank robbery and possession of weapons, and he served a ten-year jail sentence. After serving time in four jails in Haryana and Maharashtra from 1984 to 1992, he had the good fortune to enter Baroda Jail in June '92, and within six months of his entry into the jail he sat his first Vipassana course.

In his own words, "The first three to four days of the course were difficult, aches and pains, an agitated mind, but from the fifth day onwards the body started becoming lighter, and the mind was much better." He said a major transformation occurred in him. The main change he notices is in his thinking, his "wrong thinking", as he said. He gave an example, where this has changed completely -previously, if any officer in the jail said anything to him, his spontaneous thought would be: "Either that officer remains, or I will remain." Anger was always one of his major weaknesses, especially when he had to face views which were contrary to his own. Now he finds that his tolerance of other's views-however different they may be-has increased tremendously as a result of this course.

He said "I was living in hell, but after this course things have changed completely. Revenge was always at the fore in my mind. I used to feel that I would not be at peace until I had chopped off the head of the Nasik session judge who sentenced me. Now I thank the judge, because it was he who sent me to Baroda jail. Instead of being filled with revenge, I am now filled with an immense desire to serve the poor, to serve society, to serve humanity."

He continues his meditation practice daily, at least two to three hours a day , and gains a lot of peace of mind because of the equanimity which results from his daily practice. He called this technique of Vipassana a "sanjivani" herb. This word is very difficult to translate, but it is like a herb which gives life, or has very strong rejuvenative properties. He said "This technique of meditation is mandatory for every human being, not just prisoners. The government is spending lakhs of rupees and imposing all this punishment, but still can't produce any change in the inmates. But one Vipassana course can produce so much change. This may seem unbelievable, but my own case proves this point."

He requested Madam Bedi to send the police personnel who still continue to harass inmates after their release from the jail, to undergo this course. He also said that the administration and the authorities should try and look into the possibility of rehabilitation of the inmates once they have left the prisons., especially occupationally. "They promise, but their promises are not fulfilled."

He ended by saying: "Previously my life was useless, but now I have a new life thanks to Vipassana. I am filled with gratitude towards Baroda jail and I vow not to re-enter the world of crime."

-Written by Mr. Gurmel Singh (Translated from Hindi and summarized)

“When I came out of my course less than a year ago, I had no idea of what I had done. I had no idea of the impact that it would have on my life in the future. Every day I see changes in myselfin how I relate to people, in my own peace of mind, in how I handle situations. I admit I do not practice every day. I try to, and even if I cant sit for an hour, Ill sit a little while, and it helps!

While here at NRF, I was not happy and did not want to be here, obviously. But now I can look back on it with nothing but gratitude for the experience Ive had and for being here while the Vipassana course was offered. It has totally changed my life. I especially want to thank you and your wife for your great part in this, but also the NRF staff and the local Vipassana community. All I can say is, I’m full of gratitude today.”

In one letter, a student inmate quotes from the Dhammapada:

“Let it now be known that Dhamma warriors of Donaldson now offer this declaration: Blessed are we who live among those who hate, hating no one; amidst those who hate, let us dwell without hatred.”

“There has been a very definite impact, even with the correctional officers, and its something that certainly needs to be continued. I firmly believe the visit from Goenkaji had a profound effect on many people here and Im not talking about only inmates. Speaking from personal experience, I must say that Vipassana had the most profound effect I have ever witnessed on a group of inmates. The changes Ive noticed within myself have made a remarkable difference in the way I view things.equanimity. Im able to deal with situations more calmly than before because now I can see everything in a better perspective. I have given myself a substantial period of time to assure myself that everything I experienced during the Vipassana was real and not a passing fancy. Now I can testify that the experiences were indeed real. I continue to practice daily. It has brought about tremendous changes in my life.

I find such peace in sitting daily. Occasionally I sit for two hours in the morning and, as difficult as it may be to believe, the second hour is always better than the first. With this in mind, I have decided to sit through the night this Saturday and Sunday. I plan to begin at 10:00 PM and finish up at 6:00 AM. Vipassana can make such a difference in the collective minds of the men here, which in turn could let society as a whole acknowledge that people can and do change.”

For years I have been asking myself, “Why am I suffering?” For years I have asked myself this very question. When I am drug-free, I suffer. In my childhood I suffered. When I take drugs, again I suffer. Why does this suffering happen to me? I didn’t know that it came from inside me. That is one of the main things I discovered . . . that I do not suffer because of the prison head, or the head of my ward, or a particular officer or anyone else. I suffer because of the anger within me, because of craving. All that caused me to suffer and not enjoy life. I always thought that drugs were one of the things I was addicted to. I am not addicted to drugs – I discovered that I am addicted to the sensations that drugs give me.

* * ** * ** * *

I understood that things around me are not that important. It’s what I think of myself, I am the center of myself. If I understand who I am, and what I am, it shouldn’t really bother me what other people think – what their actions are towards me. It’s not as if I discovered America. I found myself, after 45 years of being alive.

* * ** * ** * *

I began to sit on the cushion and do what I was told, which was simply to breathe in and out through the nose, and to concentrate just on the breath. And I’ll tell you, I don’t know how to describe what I experienced. I never imagined that it would be so hard. Just to look at the breath as it goes in, as it goes out. And in those moments that I tried, for one or two seconds I succeeded, and suddenly I found that I was in a completely different space. And again I remembered that I needed to do this exercise, the breathing, and again the mind took me somewhere else entirely. And I began to feel that actually I was struggling with someone who would not let me rest. And that drew me to think about my life – I never knew how to look at the here and now. I always looked either to the future, when I did not know what would happen, or to the past, which was already past. And that led me to understand that I need to focus on the here and now – what is happening to me now in this moment. And that brought to mind my life – what I had forfeited. Every time I had encountered a difficulty, I ran away.

I have so many things to say, but the emotion I feel makes it hard to recall them and hard to express them. . . . At the end of each evening’s talk Goenka would say, “May you be happy, may you be liberated. May all beings be happy.” And that truly is what I wish everyone.

I visited Navjyoti, a de-addiction center in New Delhi that runs residential programs for addicts mainly from a criminal background, hoping to get contacts of released prisoners.  I interviewed 3 people with a criminal background who had undergone the de-addiction program at Navjyoti and even done Vipassana courses.  I also got the opportunity to interview and talk to the staff members including the senior doctor and social worker who had been associated with the institution for more that 15 years to learn about their observations about effects of Vipassana on the recovered addicts.

All the 3 Vipassana meditators from Navjyoti had done Vipassana after being released from jail.  They believed that Vipassana had helped them leave their addiction.  One of them, who had been a hardened criminal having spent 10 years in jail at one time, and then repeated shorter stays, had a totally transformed personality.  About his transformation, he said “the difference between me now and then is like night and day”.  Vipassana has had a very powerful effect on him, and he had done 3 courses within 2 years.  Talking about his personality before he did Vipassana, he says

“I was such a person that I would never listen to anyone, would do exactly as I would please, and had a lot of anger, was very egoistic, did not have cordial relations with family, or anyone.”

But having done Vipassana he says his personality has undergone a transformation.  It has helped him get balance of mind; get more control over his mind.  There is no longer hypocrisy in him, and on the contrary he has become more empathetic about others’ thoughts and feelings.  His relationships with his family, have improved considerably, and now he feels he is able to live his life like a responsible person and tend to his duties.  The greatest benefit that he derived from Vipassana is

“That my entire body feels very light, I get extra energy inside myself, I get more active, no tension, I get very balanced.  I get a deep insight into my own nature.  I don’t let myself wander, if a person is able to control his mind, then he has won the entire universe, and Vipassana teaches you this.”

Even the staff at Navjyoti is surprised by the changes they see in him.  One staff member, who has worked with him says that he did not expect him to improve or reform to this extent.  After Vipassana he has seen a more determined change in him to correct himself and work on himself.

“(He) was a hardcore criminal a strong addict.  We had no hope that he would become alright because he had a very long background of theft and pick pocketing.  But today he is a changed person.  Although there is still scope for him to improve as at times he gets tempted to do wrong, but we notice that he realizes and says ‘no’.  This I feel is the effect of Vipassana.  This change has come only after Vipassana.”

In each of the addicts, Vipassana has not only brought about a behavioral change, but it has also helped them keep away from drugs.  One of the addicts admits to have tried various methods since a few years to give up his habits.  But after Vipassana, his resolve has become stronger, and he has been able to stay clean.  All of them feel that Vipassana is very important because it gives them an insight into their own nature.  This is one of the greatest benefits they have experienced.  They feel that it is very important for them to understand their own nature so that they can get better control over themselves.

It has given them the ability to introspect and realize that they themselves were attached to the craving for drugs or alcohol and cannot blame others or the environment for their situation.  Beginning to realize their mistakes, they are now more positive in their outlook.

(Credit: Research paper titled 'Role of Vipassana in Prison reform & reintegration of prisoners into society' by Dr Amulya Khurana and Prof. P. L. Dhar )

A convict named Babu Satyan Baiya is undergoing life imprisoment at Baroda Central Jail for murdering three male family members in broad daylight in a thickly populated city. After attending a Vipassana course in the prison, he had a complete change of heart. He humbled himself before the women whose son and husband he killed, and asked for their forgiveness. He further took upon himself the responsibility for the maintenance of the families who are suffering because of his crime. The women accepted him as their lifelong brother.

—R.L. Vora (Superintendent, Baroda Central Jail)

* * ** * ** * *

On the final day of the November course, a convict addressed the gathering of 2,000, including members of the press. He said that during his prison stay, he had prepared meticulous plans on paper to murder the judge who had wrongly convicted him. On the seventh day of the Vipassana course, however, he burned the plans, because he no longer felt any desire for revenge.

A 30-year old man served a sevenyear term in Baroda Central Jail for bank robberies. He had escaped once from the prison. He had been plotting to avenge the death of his father, who had been killed by terrorists. After taking a Vipassana course, he said: “It is good that I attended this course. Otherwise I would not have rested until I had my revenge. Now I feel pure, healthy and free of any thoughts of crime.” When he was released in 1992, he went to Dhammasindhu (in Gujarat) to take another course, before returning to his home in the Punjab.

* * ** * ** * *​

During the April cOn Day 10 of the January course, a release order came for one of the inmates attending the course. His relatives had arrived to take him home. According to prison rules, an inmate cannot stay in the jail once a release order has been issued. The young man insisted that he be allowed to stay until the end of the course. The jail authorities were insistent that he leave, but he refused. His family was astonished! Finally, he convinced his relatives to sign a declaration saying that they would not file a case against the prison. While the inmate sat for the evening discourse, his relatives were busy filling out various documents. He got his wish: he was allowed to stay overnight. After attending the closing session the following morning, he left the prisonourse, one of the jail officials was describing to an assistant teacher how the IG and jail staff had been searching for something to help the prisoners. They tried many different things, but did not get the “magic,” the results they were seeking. He said: “Vipassana turned out to be the magic we were looking for.” The assistant teacher laughingly replied, “A Vipassana course isn’t magic. It’s hard work for ten days!”

* * ** * ** * *​

A foreign inmate who took the April course publicly expressed his gratitude on the last day: “I was reluctant to take the course because I was afraid it might make me give up my religion. But now I know that Vipassana is not concerned with religion at all. It is something which will make anyone’s mind good. And for me, the mind is more important than anything else....

I can see changes in myself—I feel more peacefulness and more love, and I want to share this with all human beings all over the world. If I have done anything to harm anybody, I am truly sorry. I am a human being, and I may fail, but I will keep trying not to do anything bad in my life again.”

* * ** * ** * *​

A group of foreign inmates taking the April course, including many from countries in Africa, met with Goenkaji on Day 8. One young man asked: “Is there any branch of Vipassana in Africa?” Goenkaji responded: “You will be the branches! You will all be ambassadors of Dhamma for your countries!”

* * ** * ** * *​

On April 17, 1994, Gurmail Singh spoke at a seminar on Vipassana at the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi. He had served a ten-year sentence for murder and robbery starting in 1983. Towards the end of his sentence, he was transferred to Baroda Central Jail where, within six months, he took a Vipassana course. The day after his release, he took his second course. He said that prior to practicing Vipassana, he had felt he would not be at peace until he cut off the head of the judge who sentenced him. Now, he said, he thanks him. He said Vipassana has helped him to reduce obsessive negative thoughts, including anger and revenge, and has instilled in him the desire to serve humanity. He said that the government is spending huge amounts on programs which produce little change, when Vipassana produces transformation in ten days. He said: “I vow not to reenter the world of crime.”

* * ** * ** * *​

At the invitation of the jail officials, Goenkaji gave two discourses in Hindi to a total of 2,900 prisoners unable to attend the large course. In his discourse on Day 9, he said: “It is more important to be released from inner bondage than to be released from this prison. External misery in life may change, or it may remain, but you can learn to remain peaceful in any situation, pleasant or unpleasant. Learn how to remain peaceful. Learn how to come out of your bondage.”

* * ** * ** * *​

Shri Ramsingh Prahladsingh Chauhan is an ex-military and ex-police officer who was convicted for killing his own subordinate. He shot the victim six times while in a drunken condition. He is undergoing a term of life imprisonment. He said: "Due to Vipassana, I have realized the value of life and have also learnt to control my anger..."

* * ** * ** * *​

Convict is Babu Satyan Baiya. He is undergoing life imprisonment. He is a well-known and notorious hard-core criminal who killed three members of one family in broad daylight, in the midst of the thickly populated city of Amhedabad. He also jumped his parole leave and has been charged with petty crimes. After the Vipassana camp, he changed completely. He bowed down before the ladies whose son and husband he had killed and asked for their forgiveness. He further took upon himself the responsibility for the maintenance of the families who were suffering because of his heinous act.

* * ** * ** * *​

Convict, Shri Manharbhai Patel, was an engineer. He was a hard-core terrorist of Punjab Majeendersingh and was convicted for the offense of bank robbery. He was sentenced to seven years. He was so deeply influenced by Vipassana that he gave up the idea of rejoining the group of terrorists to whom he was formerly attached. After his release, he attended a Vipassana camp at Bada, Kutch.

* * ** * ** * *​

An under-trial named Mr. Saveri is facing criminal charges for the offense of bank fraud involving crores of rupees (millions of dollars). He was asked about the effect of the Vipassana teachings on his concept of life. Having attended only one camp, he replied: "The more we learn, the more we know how little we know!" Mr. Saveri expressed sorrow, lamenting the fact that, had he been acquainted with Vipassana sooner, his life would have taken a different direction.

* * ** * ** * *​

Another person, Arvind Sanghavi, has had a record of various criminal activities for the past 30 years. He underwent a complete change after his Vipassana camp to the extent that after his release on 7 March 1994, he went straight away to the Jaipur Vipassana Centre to give his service there.

* * ** * ** * *​

Not only the inmates in the jail, but also the members of the staff also have gained benefit from the meditation practice. Shri Upendrasingh, a guard staff, learnt a new perspective from Vipassana which has changed his outlook towards the prisoners. Reforming the inmates has become the ultimate aim of his services to the Prison Department.

(Credit: research paper Jail Courses and Vipassana)

* * ** * ** * *​

Babu Bhaya, a hardened criminal, was convicted for killing three people in five minutes. After his Vipassana course in Baroda Jail, Babu Bhaya was so filled with remorse that he pleaded for forgiveness from his  victims' families. In 1992, on the day of 'Raksha Bandhan' (an Indian festival to strengthen bonds between a brother and sister), the wife and sister of a man he killed came to the Jail and tied the scared 'Rakhi' string around Bhaya's wrist. They had accepted him as their brother.

Says Babu Bhaya: "I only had hatred for people and  had  always had feelings of anger, of revenge. But after the Vipassana course, I have changed. Now all I feel is feelings of compassion, of sympathy for people."

Mr. S. N. Goenka: Certainly. Vipassana is to purify the mind; the technique is to make people come out of their tensions and miseries. Those who have committed such serious crimes as murder or rape or arson are very miserable people; their minds are full of tension. And now Vipassana courses are being held in many prisons in India. In fact, Tihar Jail, in Delhi, one of the largest Dhamma Tihar.

Mr. S. N. Goenka: Because a great saint of India by the name of Vinoba Bhave challenged me, saying, "If Vipassana has any efficacy, give a trial with these hardened criminals. If they change then I will accept that, yes, this is a wonderful technique." A course was arranged with hardened criminals in the jail, and within ten days a big change started coming. So two or three courses were set up, and the government found that this is something scientific and non-sectarian.

(Excerpt from internview of Mr. Goenka on Jimmy Young on BBC national radio, courtsey: International Vipassana Newsletter, November 2004 issue)

Mr. S. N. Goenka: People who were full of anger, hatred-even in the jail they keep on thinking about taking revenge, saying to themselves, "When I go out I will kill so and so, I will take vengeance on so and so." By Vipassana they start realizing that when anyone has this kind of negative thought there is a sensation in the body, a very unpleasant sensation. The body starts heating up-a lot of heat, perspiration, throbbing, pulsing and tension. They recognize, "Im a miserable person. What am I doing? Im harming myself." When they start realizing this, the habit pattern begins changing.

(Excerpt from internview of Mr. Goenka on Jimmy Young on BBC national radio, courtsey: International Vipassana Newsletter, November 2004 issue)

Mr. S. N. Goenka: Naturally, because they get so much benefit from it. A large number of them keep on following the practice morning and evening, and they live a very good life. Of course they find some difficulty because society is reluctant to accept them-the blot of a criminal past is there-but still our students are helping them and they are getting jobs in some industries and business. Sometimes they come and serve in the Vipassana centres.

(Excerpt from internview of Mr. Goenka on Jimmy Young on BBC national radio, courtsey: International Vipassana Newsletter, November 2004 issue)

Mr. S. N. Goenka: I don’t persuade them. I just say, give a trial to this technique and just start observing. Following the technique, they start observing themselves. And as they observe they start realizing, "Look I’m so ignorant, ‘m harming myself. I want to harm others as a terrorist but actually first I harm myself and only then do I harm others." When you generate any negativity in the mind, you are the first victim of your negativity.

(Excerpt from internview of Mr. Goenka on Jimmy Young on BBC national radio, courtsey: International Vipassana Newsletter, November 2004 issue)

Mr. S. N. Goenka: No, it is only because of their own experience they find, "Whatever I did was wrong. And whatever negative thought I have now is so harmful to me, I have to change my habit pattern." Nobody wants to harm oneself. Ignorantly one keeps on generating negativity and keeps on harming oneself and becomes so miserable.

(Excerpt from internview of Mr. Goenka on Jimmy Young on BBC national radio, courtsey: International Vipassana Newsletter, November 2004 issue)

Mr. S. N. Goenka: What is the guarantee that even if you tell a lie, the judge will not sentence you to the same imprisonment based on some other evidence? Instead, if you gracefully and equanimously accept the sentence given to you, then you will see that your life starts to undergo a major transformation because you have spoken the truth.

Mr. S. N. Goenka: To live with and take care of some of the most anti-social elements of our society is a difficult task indeed. The life of police and prison officers is full of tension. You always need to be on the alert. You must all learn Vipassana. It will help you very much. From our experience in Burma, we saw how much Vipassana helped the government servants. Officials from different departments who attended Vipassana courses found that their capacity for work increased manyfold.

The more responsibilities one has, the more problems crop up. When the mind is confused, one is unable to find proper solutions. When the mind is calm, one makes quick decisions and correct decisions. Nobody can really be improved with the use of the rod. Teach the prisoners Vipassana instead of giving them the rod.

I would recommend that all of you develop in Vipassana. I feel that this work of Vipassana which you have begun here will spread not just in India, but also in the rest of the world.