The dhamma brothers were forbidden to meet or meditate. Inmates serving long sentences in one of the countrys toughest state prisons experience the liberating effects of the vipassana meditation program. For those who are interested there is also now a book of letters from the dhamma brothers, some of which are quoted in the film. Meditation behind bars isbn 1928706312, a book based on followup letters with the inmates. The dhamma brothers is a film that chronicles what happens when two buddhist teachers enter alabamas tough william e. 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 correctional facility as they. It is filled with dazzling photos as well as interactive video and audio features. Letters from the dhamma brothers pdf ebook vipassana. The book depicts prison life and the journey many of the prisoners took to better understanding the teachings of buddha and achieving inner peace.
Through intimate letters, interviews, and stories, this narrative reveals the impact that a lifechanging retreat had on a group of inmates at the highest level maximumsecurity state prison in alabama. Journeys in film is now offering a new curriculum, based on the dhamma brothers film and book, letters from the dhamma brothers. Many have life sentences and most have been deeply acculturated during years of incarceration to the life of. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the dhamma brothers near you. Jenny phillips 1942 july 9, 2018 was an american documentary filmmaker. 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 new chapter in their lives. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. 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. A remarkable documentary about inmates at an alabama prison who do a 10day silent meditation retreat.
Listen to the dhamma brothers speak about their lives in prison and the fresh, new perspectives that they have gained from vipassana. The dhamma brothers is not just the story of a prison program, but also the human ability to accept responsibility for the most terrible of offenses. Letters from the dhamma brothers ebook now available in apples ibookstore. The dhamma brothers discussion guide influence film club. Goenka from the vipassana meditation tenday course. Mission statement to create a national conversation and a call to action about the need for effective prison treatment programs through a national public television broadcast, widespread theatrical, grassroots and educational screenings, and distribution to prisons of the dhamma brothers documentary film. Meditation behind bars, the dhamma brothers reminds us that for many people the worst prison of all is the prison of the mind. In the words of inmate benjamin oryang, whether someone is free or whether someone is incarcerated, such work. The houses of healing course comes from a book by robin casarjian, the director of the lionheart foundation in boston. Dear jenny, the hot dog days of southern summer are here upon us again. The dhamma brothers is a thinkinghead documentary about finding. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
The dhamma brothers dhamma books vipassana meditation. When the first tenday vipassana meditation course came to a close at alabamas donaldson prison in 2002, twenty men. Over the years of doing time in the south i have dreaded summer. The dhamma brothers is a documentary film directed by jenny philips. The ebook is filled with dazzling photos as well as interactive video and audio features.
In this update, find out how many prisoners have taken the vipassana program since the filming. Click download or read online button to get dhamma book now. 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. None of the dhamma brothers have actually read the book or the letters that they sent that were published.
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 correctional facility as they enter into this arduous and intensive program. The dhamma brothers points to an effective reentry program for even the most serious offenders in our society. 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. The book and the film describe the vipassana courses conducted at the prison. She collected more awards producing and directing her second film. Meditation behind bars jenny phillips, robert coles on. The e book is filled with dazzling photos as well as interactive video and audio features.
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. 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. This film, with the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars also, in the words of sister helen prejean dead man walking. Plus, former inmate charles ice shares how meditation has given him a. Donaldson correctional facility, situated in the alabama countryside southwest of birmingham is considered the states most dangerous prison, yet here many prisoners practice vipassana meditation. Meditation behind bars is a collection of letters and interviews from inmates who took part in the meditation course. The dhamma brothers curriculum guide journeys in film. Opening the way for the vipassana meditation retreat and the filming of dhamma brothers within the alabama department of corrections. 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. This longrequested book is formatted so that one can readily find the translation for each days morning chanting, group sittings, discourse, and the practice of metta.
Dhamma brothers the film in 2000, jenny phillips ph. When the first tenday vipassana meditation course came to a close at alabamas donaldson prison in 2002, twenty men were faced with the possibility. The dhamma brothers is a multiaward winning documentary film by jenny phillips, anne marie stein and andrew kukura. Cavanaugh after the graduation, people associated with traditional religions became threatened. In 2008 phillips released letters from the dhamma brothers. When the first tenday vipassana meditation course came to a close at alabamas donaldson prison, 20 maximum security prisoners had the possibility of a new chapter in their lives. A few years later, she edited a book of the prisoners writings, letters from the dhamma brothers.
The question deliberately hanging over the dhamma brothers made by filmmakers jenny phillips a psychotherapist involved with the program. Both film and companion book, letters from the dhamma brothers, open hearts. Dhamma brothers is the documentary film on a group of prison inmates who participate in a 10 day vipassana retreat. She directed many films, including the dhamma brothers and beyond the wall. 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. Listen to the dhamma brothers speak about their lives in prison and the. Letters from the dhamma brothers multimedia edition on. The revolutionary generation essay america was born and survived, its rough road into a nation, through a series of events, or moments in history. Teaching peace in a violent world the dhamma brothers. April 27, 2005 vipassana for me having done almost 23 1. The dhamma brothers is a powerful film depicting the true story of inmates in alabamas donaldson correctional facility. As a filmic expression of phillipss book letters from the dhamma brothers.
The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates who enter into this arduous and intensive program. This film shows the prisoners experience of vipassana meditation at donaldson correctional facility, which is located in alabama state. 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. The dhamma legacy of phra ajaan dune atulo, translated by. 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. 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 tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at. Letters from the dhamma brothers e book now available in apples ibookstore. Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that. Donaldson correctional facility to teach prisoners an ancient meditation technique called vipassana. Meditation behind bars phillips, jenny, coles, robert on. 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. So the commissioner calls the warden and says shut the program down.
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