Welcome to our “From Behind the Fence” page. Here we feature art & writings of our prison sangha members and general information about what we do inside.
Waking from the Dream
From somewhere in the distance, a slight push on my shoulder.The way my body moves under the force of it.
Just enough understanding to know some’s amiss, from the unconscious bliss I’m bathing in.
Persistently steady, the pressure increases, an urgency I cannot decipher. Pulling me closer & ever closer to the surface.
What draws me or who’s drawn, who lets go or what holds on – I don’t know.
A light I cannot see surrounds me, grows brighter, dispelling the nebulous darkness.
The horizon looks familiar – reminds me of wonderment. Gates open into the dawn of remembrance, illuminating what is already known.
My mind is clear… My heart content… A breeze touches my consciousness At one with acute awareness I sit purely amongst the chaos of gathering clouds. My mind is clear… My heart content… As the clouds darken and the rain Starts to pour, dampening my skin I sit, at one with all that is… Pure, […]
I bow, in reverence, to nothing special because it’s profound the depth of forever experienced right now a crooked smile an ocean of bliss nothing special (al -dee-dah) just this trusting the grace of invisible sunlight by embracing what is (an homage to a homely heaven) Author: Ryan L, but the words just fell out […]
Question and Answer I ask the Silent Self About myself The Answer Echoes back…. Everyone Else is Manifesting Everyone else… A simple answer From the Silent Self That knows and smiles…. I Am Love. Everything is Me without me Expressing itself As me… To be Everything and Nothing is to be the completeness that is…. […]
I received this letter a few days ago and I wanted to share it with our extended sangha. We just never know how our attempts to bring the dharma to incarcerated men and women will unfold, but I am convinced that our good intentions and consistent efforts do manifest in positive ways. Your continued support […]
Make a personal connection:
Become a prisoner pen pal. The cost is minimal ($.46) and the benefits are priceless!
Contact Southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com
Sew a Rakasu:
More of our prison sangha are asking to receive jukai. They cannot sew their own rakasus and need our assistance.
Contact Southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com if you can help with this work.
Volunteer to visit:
If you are interested, please contact Doshin Cantor Sensei (doshin@bellsouth.net) for more information.
Join us for a morning of celebration as our community welcomes our precepts recipients and witnesses their vows. The event ends with a delicious vegetarian lunch. Suggested donation is $25.00. Please RSVP to southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com[...]
Karen Maezen Miller is an author, zen priest and teacher, mother, and devoted gardener. She studied with Maezumi Roshi and now practices at Hazy Moon Zen Center in Los Angeles. You may[...]
Join us for a wonderful day of meditation, a dharma talk, the opportunity for dokusan with one of our teachers, and a delicious vegetarian lunch. Suggested donation is $25.00. Please RSVP to southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com[...]
Join us for a wonderful day of meditation, a dharma talk, the opportunity for dokusan with one of our teachers, and a delicious vegetarian lunch. Suggested donation is $25.00. Please RSVP to southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com by[...]
Join us for a wonderful day of meditation, a dharma talk, the opportunity for dokusan with one of our teachers, and a delicious vegetarian lunch. Suggested donation is $25.00. Please RSVP to southernpalmzengroup@gmail.com by[...]
