Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia
– The Prison is the Temple

Existence in a provincial prison in Cambodia can be a
dismal affair, but after having taught Yoga and
Buddhism in one on a part - time and volunteer basis
over the last year, one can not help but be impressed
by the spirit of the men and women who serve time in
one.
This writer has also found that the men and women
there do appreciate the efforts of others to assist
them in anyway possible.
During this writer’s most recent experience of
teaching Yoga and Buddhism there, I was told more then
once “thankyou” for things that had been taught and
shared with the men and women, or some of the things
such as hats, clothing, books, magazines and food that
I had been able to give to them.
Perhaps that is because they recognize the commitment
and effort of this writer or more fully understand and
appreciate the need and benefits of the Yoga and
Buddhist teachings and practices.
Anyone who has practiced Yoga and meditation
extensively or taught them has experienced and knows
the mental and physical benefits that is can bring an
individual and there is no reason there to think that
men and women in prison can not experience such a
thing also.
One of the things that we have tried to make the men
and women in prison more mindful about is that it is
where we are at the moment, be it a prison, our home,
a club or restaurant, or in a bus, plane or train is
our temple and that we need to serve in it and act in
a way that reflects that understanding.
In many respects, a prison is the highest
manifestation of a temple, providing that the men and
women in it are provided with clean clothing, a safe,
secure and clean living and sleeping environment,
healthy and adequate food and an opportunity to both
work and educate themselves. Sadly, these things are
lacking and not being worked to being provided in
Cambodian prisons and it is more through the effort of
individuals and private organizations to bring about
such a thing.
But a prison does provide one with the discipline and
opportunity to live a regulated lifestyle with there
being regular times for bathing, sleeping and eating,
and through that, a positive evolution of one’s mind
and consciousness can occur.
This is what we want to happen when we practice Yoga
and Buddhism and what many of us have sought out and
committed ourselves to over the years, be it a weekend
or month - long retreat in upstate New York or
Massachusetts, or a trip to and stay in a temple in
Thailand or Sri Lanka.
We have been taught or learned to recognize that a
sparse and simple environment and a disciplined
approach to daily life and living bring about
benefits.
Perhaps if instead of wanting more and more and not
being satisfied unless we have those things to indulge
in or confuse and overwhelm us, we worked to
simplicity and contentment, we could make our own
house, home and our community and the world as a whole
a temple.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough

John,
Welcome to PTO! I am so glad that you found us.

I would like to thank you for this informative piece of writing. Certainly some things to think about.
It would be great if you could share any of your knowledge about the Cambodian system, as there is so little information to be found.
Please feel free to share as much or as little as you wish.
I know that there are many prisoners who have found peace in Buddhisam and therefore a better understanding of their situation.

Thanks for you input!

Rachel xx

John C. Kimbrough
Sereisophan, Cambodia

Teaching Yoga in a Cambodian prison – Part 1

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much: it is whether we provide enough for those who have little” – Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States

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When we look at the words of President Roosevelt, we once again see that an individual does not have to be a Christian, Moslem, Buddhist, or Yoga practitioner to exercise great wisdom and understanding of the human experience or show compassion for others.

Perhaps it is not a matter of whether one learns and practices these religions and spiritual disciplines or not, but whether or not they have a degree of balance in their own mind and mind.

What Yoga and Buddhism promise those who learn and practice them is that through them they can achieve greater balance in both their mind and life.

We often wonder if we really need such a thing, or if it can be achieved. We often see our lives, our views and our desires as being the reality of life, and seldom reflect on the idea of being more balanced.

Certainly those individuals who through their own ignorance, conditioning and circumstances have become lost or unbalanced need our compassion and assistance. Perhaps that is what President Roosevelt was reminding of us when he made the statement above.

Yoga is widely acknowledged as being a path, practice and discipline which can assist those in need of direction and greater mental and physical health in their life.

Those individuals who are serving time in prison or are who undergoing some kind of rehabilitation or detention because of their activities as regards the use of drugs can benefit from the mental and physical focus and direction that Yoga offers them.

For most of us, our concept and understanding of prison has been brought about through movies such as “The Longest Yard”, “Lock Up” and “Papillon”. These movies show men bonding with each other and growing in some manner because of their prison experience or generally becoming depressed, and abusive to themselves and others.

The practice of penology in western countries is quite enlightened with men being housed in penitentiaries where they are provided with the opportunity to work, study, learn new skills, entertain themselves and be entertained, and in some cases even earn a small salary.

Such an approach to penology is not one that happens in developing countries though.

In Cambodian prisons, men have little or nothing to do all day. They sit in cramped “rooms” that house twelve to twenty men at a time. They eat two small meals a day. There are no opportunities for them to learn or improve themselves and facilities for their self - development are at a minimum.

It was for these reasons that a very decent and enlightened prison director of one prison in Cambodia has allowed this writer to start teaching Yoga at the prison that he is in charge of.

This teaching of Yoga is not solely focused on postures and breathing techniques. Instead it is focused on a complete Yoga education, meaning that men are taught about the moral and ethics of Yoga and how they lead to better living, and meditation.

Classes are held in a small prison courtyard on woven grass mats that can be bought in the local market. These mats cost about 1 dollar each.

The students are marched out into the yard and ordered to take their place on the mats. They wear blue pajamas that identify them as being prisoners. Many look depressed which is understandable, but they are interested in and enthusiastic about learning.

This writer’s teachings seem to make an impression on the men, showing a degree of understanding for them and their situation, while a the same time encouraging them that they can all cultivate their own being to something greater.

During their practice of the “easy posture”, he comments that he does not see 25 prisoners, but instead 25 Buddhas. When men are asked to relax but keep their spine straight in the meditation posture, the change in the in body is easily seen. This change in their posture also results in them being perceived in a different manner.

Our focus in having introductory classes for all of the 500 inmates and learners is to make them more mindful about the three great tools for living that we all possess, those being our mind, our breath and our body.

In doing this we also want the men to have some fun so it is a joy to see them smile and laugh when they are asked to do a posture that is difficult for them (the camel posture) or seems strange (the lion technique). But along the way, the men are becoming more mindful and healthy, thereby sharing the experience of Yoga that it provides for all individuals who come to its practice.

Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia: In The Prison


“The practice of religion involves as a first principle a loving, compassionate heart for all creatures” - Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king – Chapter 12



We sometimes unwisely think of men and women in prison as being dangerous, in there for a bonafide and legitimate reason, as being lifelong criminals or getting what they deserve, as not being able to change or rehabilitate themselves, or as being ignorant and stupid. Such assumptions show more ignorance on our part then anything else.

Men and women make mistakes, sometimes ones that are very stupid, but it does not mean that they are hardened criminals, lifelong threats to society and other people, or can not change.

The conditions that men and women must live in in a Cambodian prison are quite harsh and I am sure that anyone of them would gladly embrace the opportunity to spend time in an American or western prison with all of its amenities.

Having taught Yoga and Buddhism, and more infrequently English in a local provincial prison in Cambodia on a part - time and volunteer basis over the last year has allowed this writer to grow as a human being and as both a student and teacher of Yoga and Buddhism.

Much can be taken from such an experience and if seen with understanding, balance and clarity by others, used as a springboard for cultivating greater insight within themselves.

The point is assisting others in anyway is something that makes both ourselves better and more joyful people and along the way can also bring something worthwhile, meaningful and healthy into their lives also.

We can do it in easy ways each day of our life wherever we are, such as giving a friendly and sincere smile to others, showing a sincere interest in their health and well - being and that of their family, and offering ourselves as someone who will listen to their concerns regarding life and giving them insightful responses to assist in dealing with those concerns.

Its called compassion and some of us, in our anxiety and fear, lack of balance and focus, and tendency to ill – will and anger have lost sight of how to live in such a way.

It is not hard at all, though for some of us it may take some painful work and changes to get it back or make changes in our life that can bring it about.

We do not have to have all of the things in life that we may selfishly or unwisely think of as being necessary to enjoy and find satisfaction in it as a prerequisite for being compassionate.

We also can not be wrapped up in or led astray by thoughts, feelings and emotions based on jealousy and envy.

The realities of life and the limitations of the body humble us all and teach us that others share the same loneliness and confusion at times that we do, and that we all share the same fate.

We should be thankful for the health, peace, work, opportunities and material and financial gifts that we have in our life instead of getting lost in those things within that create greater pain and disharmony for both ourselves and in our relationships with others.

Yoga and Buddhism both offer us a set of teachings and practices that make us more mindful about ourselves and others and allow us to act on that mindfulness in a compassionate manner.

Right Understanding, the first step and foundation for the practice of The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, is a set of teachings that we are all capable of learning and understanding whether we are in a prison in Cambodia or America or a shack in India or a penthouse in New York.

The Yoga and Buddhist teachings and disciplines are both universal in scope and application and will bring benefits to all who take some time to learn and apply them.

©2006 John C. Kimbrough oops! email address removed per PTO policies

Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia – Working With Prisoners

Gaining the trust and respect of other people is something that all of us have to do at one time or another in our life. Hopefully we can do it in a sincere and unstressful manner and environment. The reality seems to be that many of us do not always care what other people think and feel, or are more apt to condemn or criticize them then look at them as being the same as us or reaching out to them.

When there is a cross – cultural aspect to this, things can be more complex.

In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, patience is required. For some this patience come naturally and is not a problem, while for others it can involve resentment and anger to implement. Certainly the person who is engaged in the former will be less effective in achieving his or her objectives.

In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, compassion is also required. Too many times our attitude to prisoners can be that they did something that requires them to be in prison and that whatever punishment they have received is one that they deserve.

Of course, if we look closely at the history of the law and the legal system, we find that more then once the wrong man has been incarcerated or even executed or given an excessive sentence for a crime.

In developing countries, the circumstances that get a man in prison can be more complex, with many times him or her being nothing more then an individual who had to fight against a person or system that was trying to exploit them unfairly.

Regardless of the country, social environment or status of development in a country, in working with prisoners we are dealing with people, people who can change, people who can admit to their mistakes, people who regret, suffer for and come to realize that they have not lived their life in the best, wisest or healthiest way.

This writer has, as we all have or will, experienced an evolution in his life in many ways. One among many evolutions, was coming from being a prisoner for a short period of time in a state penitentiary in the United States to working with prisoners in a provincial prison in Cambodia. One of the things that I learned and saw from my own prison experience was that men in prison have that mixture of states of mind and behavior that we all have. They can be sincere and helpful or fearful and angry.

The Buddhist teachings are very clear about how we can be as human beings. We can either be unwise, unhealthy and unwholesome or the opposite, that being wise, healthy and wholesome.

We can for the most part gain the respect of any man in any situation if they know that we are sincere. For the men that this writer works with in a provincial prison in Cambodia, part of that respect was brought about when they learned that I do this work for free, and that I do not receive any kind of salary or benefits in doing it or that I do not work for any kind of organization.

For my part, I have begun to see most of the prisoners there as friends and as being children to me. This is partly because of my age (I am 55) and also because of what Buddhism teaches us and the evolution that it brings about in us through its practice.

The understanding and application of loving kindness and compassion are two of the major practices of Buddhism, and when we habitually and naturally see others in this light, we will act towards them in a manner which fosters understanding and a respectful connection.

In fact, this writer has learned that humility and sincerity in any action is something that is appreciated by others and that kindness will eventually be appreciated.

We seem to live in an at times unkind world, and we are not always mindful about how our own attitudes and actions may be adding to this state.

We are taught by various forces to pursue this and that, or that happiness, peace and contentment come through various things, without having the mindfulness to see that a joyful and productive life is one that stems from mindfulness, discipline and balance.

Achieving such things in life is what the teachings and disciplines of Yoga and Buddhism have as their objective and nothing else. We do not have to look upon them with a distrustful or wary eye.

If we can teach them to prisoners in any country of the world in a clear and committed manner, we will help men and women experience a change in their life that will make them more focused and balanced, so that they have a greater ability to find their way in life.

©2006 John C. Kimbrough