There are two programs currently available through AZC for dharma outreach to those who are incarcerated:
The Prison Pen Pal Program is open to anyone who would like to spend an hour a month writing to someone behind bars.
The Prison Teaching Program is for those with a well-established practice who would like to go behind bars, meet with prisoners and guide their practice in meditation, Buddhism, Buddhist psychology, yoga, or other dharma-related practices.
Susan Moon, May 19, 2012, Zen Koans About Women
Next-Step is for people who have attended a meditation instruction and who are interested in bringing what they have learned to the zendo. This is an hour and a half class where we will go over the forms and ceremonies in Soto Zen and will touch on things like how to move around in the zendo, bowing, chanting and service.
Dogen said, “Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.”
Members of JustThis’s response group reacted to Dogen’s instruction by listening inside and giving us art and thought. Inspire your own voice within by following this link to their creations in JustThis: The Voice Within: http://justthis.austinzencenter.org/, the blog journal of the Austin Zen Center.
