Prison Mindfulness

In this episode, Richard Shankman talks with Vita Pires about his experiences teaching meditation in California prisons in the 1970s and how that has influenced his work to date.

• Early days (1970s) of contemplative programs in California Prisons


• Working with Youth (mindful schools)


• Importance of humility and ‘not knowing’ mindset when working with others with completely different life conditions

RICHARD SHANKMAN Richard Shankman has been active in bringing mindfulness practice into prisons and jails since the 1970s, when he began teaching meditation in San Quentin State Prison, the Marin County jail and a San Francisco drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Richard was the Buddhist chaplain and started mindfulness meditation programs at the Salinas Valley State Prison and the Men’s Correctional Training Facility, both near Soledad, California. He has been a meditator since 1970 and teaches classes and meditation retreats at dharma centers and groups internationally. Richard is the guiding teacher of the Metta Dharma Foundation (www.mettadharma.org), and co-founder of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies (www.sati.org) and of Mindful Schools (www.mindfulschools.org). He has sat on many silent, intensive meditation retreats for periods up to eleven months long. Richard is the author of "The Art and Skill of Buddhist Meditation" and “The Experience of Samadhi”.

To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org