Commentary by Sally Bassett
After two years of corresponding about yoga with an inmate in a northern Indiana prison, I recently made the two-and-a-half hour drive to meet him in person. It was a special experience in that even though we were meeting for the first time, I felt I already knew John through an incredible exchange of yoga philosophy and applying that to everyday life. My student now teaches yoga and meditation classes to his fellow inmates in prison and is making a huge impact.
Below are three major lessons he has shared during our correspondence and our visit.
#1 – Non-violence
“Ahimsa, or non-violence, is one word that reminds me to control my anger and destructive ability. This principle is kind of like the blinders on a horse’s bridle. It keeps us in our lane. I’ve learned about how a thought arises, endures and then passes.”
This lesson isn’t just about physical violence. Every thought, word and deed is a seed we plant in the world.
#2 – Contentment
After John began his yoga journey of daily practice and meditation, it gave him another reason to want “his time” to go fast. Bo Lozoff’s book’s title says it all: “We’re All Doing Time.” Whether it is hurrying through our days to get to the next step or being bound by some type of addiction, we are all behind our own invisible bars.
John has found contentment in prison. He is using his time wisely knowing that the next couple of years can be invaluable for reading, meditating and teaching. Close your eyes for just a moment and see if you can conjure up the feeling of contentment. It is something we should all pursue.
#3 – Mindfulness
The world can take on a whole new meaning when we truly are present, even in prison. Here is what John experienced recently while eating dinner with his fellow inmates. “Instead of shoveling down my food like I usually do, I felt totally present. I started looking up and down the table, 33 people on each side, 120+ total. Black, Mexican, white, mixed, brown, blonde, afro, crew, braids, dreadlocks, clean–shaven, beard, etc. I saw it all! A sense of all is one!”
May we all learn from these three simple lessons. Until next time …
Namaste!