Insight Meditation Modesto will be offering a daylong with Jacques Verduin and Diane Wilde on Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at Doctors Medical Center, 1441 Florida Ave., Conference Center, room 1, Modesto, CA (the Conference Center is the building between the parking structure and the emergency department) on:

The Dharma in Prison

What does it mean to ‘leave prison before you get out’? What are the greater implications of teaching the experience of freedom not just as the other side of the gate but rather as a state of mind?  This day-long training aims to share the experience of mindfulness practice in the prison system and shows that it is applicable even in our own daily lives – freedom is possible inside and outside of prison. There will be a sharing of practices conducive to teaching mindfulness meditation in prison, examples of exercises and how they are helpful for prisoners and ourselves to become free.  There will be opportunity to discuss how the dharma informs violence prevention, skillful communication and conflict resolution.

Appropriate for beginning as well as more experienced practitioners.

Jacques Verduin, MA Somatic Psych., is a father, community organizer and a teacher.  Currently, Jacques is leading a new initiative called ‘Insight-Out’ wherein former prisoners trained inside San Quentin act as change agents in the community, working with youth to prevent violence and incarceration and teaching their brothers and sisters that are still locked up. The project also serves as a catalyst for state-wide prison reform in California. Jacques is the founding director of the Insight Prison Project, a non-profit that since 1997 pioneers innovative in-prison rehabilitation programs in San Quentin State Prison.

Diane Wilde is one of the founding members of Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM) and served on SIM’s first Board of Directors. Since 2003, she has been a volunteer Buddhist prison chaplain and coordinates 20 volunteers who offer meditation services at Folsom State Prison-Folsom, California State Prison-Sacramento & Mule Creek State Prison-Ione. In 2010, she founded the religious nonprofit, “Folsom Pathways Sangha” which coordinates meditation practice and mindful movement in these prisons. She is currently enrolled in the Community Dharma Leadership Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Gil Fronsdal and John Travis are her senior teachers.

This daylong is offered freely.  Donations are gratefully accepted for Jacques and Diane and their respective organizations: Insight Prison Project and Folsom Pathways Sangha.  Please bring a vegetarian dish to share for a pot-luck lunch.  Dress in loose and comfortable clothing.  For the sake of those who may have sensitivities or allergies, please do not wear scented or perfumed products.  If you wish to sit on the floor and have a zabuton and/or meditation cushion, please bring it.   Chairs will be available.  Suitable for beginning and all-levels of practitioners.