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Practicing like your life depends on it

July 15, 2015

This inmate is in solitary confinement. He was sent to prison at 17 years old and is now 28. He’s been told by doctors that he’s likely dying, and probably has AIDS from a dirty needle. He is, nevertheless, now a serious dharma practitioner at this point facing what could be the end of his days.

“Thank you for your thoughts and guidance at this uncertain time for me. It is a breath of fresh air because honestly I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do. I’m scared but not of death itself, more so afraid of not realizing the deathless and being subjected to this terrible cycle over again. I have created so much bad karma in this very short time I’ve been here, and I’m afraid of what it may imply for the future lives I may have to live through.

I mean I look at this life and all the pain and suffering I’ve seen and had to go through. My karma was so bad I lasted 17 years in society, and those 17 years were not that great either. I came to prison a kid and immediately became the target for nightmarish kinds of thoughts and plots of really sick and overly violent adult men. Guys were intensely lusting and plotting to rape me, extort me, hurt me/kill me or take any advantage of me if they could. I was so scared I became really hardened; I had to become an apex predator my first 5 minutes in prison or I’d never survive what lay ahead.

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