Support For Vegetarian Prisoner

[Ven. D. Dharani]

Dear Friends,

This Buddhist inmate needs your letters of support! He is being denied vegetarian meals by the prison he is in. Please help by writing to:

Mr Yskari Yero Douglas
DOC# H-64600
Pelican Bay State Prison
SHU Program C-2-207L
PO Box 7500
Crescent City, CA
95531

Also to:

Chaplain Bleisner
Box 7500

Tel: 707-465-1000


Thank you for your compassionate support!

Peace!

Ven. D. Dharani Sensei
Hongaku Jodo of America
The Buddha Inside

[soraya]

the letters will be sent tonight! I'm a veggie myself, and I know Darrell told me, if you don't eat mean in prison, all they give you is beans. I hope the letters will make a difference

correct me if I'm wrong, but this vegetarian lifestyle is part of his buddhist 'religion'/way of life, right? so you could say it's discrimination and denial of his religious rights?

[Kristin]

Dear Ven. D. Dharani Sensei
I will send the letters today and I will spread the word around.
I will also send a Chenrezig-postcard to Mr. Yskari Yero Douglas.

OM MANI PEME HUNG

Kristin

[Ven. D. Dharani]

Hi Kirsten & Soraya,

Thanks for your great support and compassion! Yes, if you visited the website you can see the pop up altar I've designed. Very simple. Chenrezig is one of my favorites too. Can I have a postcard too please? :0)

As for myself, I've been practing Buddhism for 15 years and was ordained as a Sensei with Hongaku Jodo Pure Land Association of America, whose members have primarily prison ministries. I totally respect the Tibetan tradition, with Lama Yeshe being an inspirational teacher for me.

The trouble for inmates is the cost of stamps to post overseas. Also, some prisons do not allow inmates to mail abroad. If you are serious about study, I will accept being the go between and pass all correspondence to you and your student using the Buddha Inside address. I'll pay all postage.

I have dozens of inmates names that I MUST post to the website, but I've not had time since starting a new job. I'll do my best to get them all posted before the month is out though.

Needless to say, I'm happy to meet you both and hope that in the future we can all do great good together.

Metta & Peace!

D. Dharani Sensei

[soraya]

that's a great offer. If you need my address, email or pm me, ok?

[Ven. D. Dharani]

Soraya,

My website is http://www.buddhainside.com and there you can learn a lot more about what I'm doing. My address is:

The Buddha Inside
PO Box 3910
Brandon, FL
33509-3910
USA

Just follow the instructions on the website for studying with an inmate and you may use my PO box to do it with. From here on we can mail each other off list so we don't get too off topic and clutter the board!

Metta & Peace,

D. Dharani

[Kristin]

Dear Ven. D. Dharani Sensei

I cant find your email adress on your webpage?

I am serious about this studying. In fact it was the reason why I began to write with prisoners. To give them a spiritual support. I work as a religionteacher (and artteacher etc) and Im very open to all religion as I can only see them as different paths to develop compasion. And that is what it is all about, right?

I have praticed Buddhism for 6-7 years, but must admit it is hard to keep the focus on the study sometimes. I would very much like to try a be a dharma teacher for prisoners and like the idea of you being the "link." I think it would be good for my study too :-)

You can tell the prisoners that what I dont know myself I will find out for them. So I hope they will put me into some work.
I dont mind if the teaching jump a little around. Like the 4 noble truths or Shambala ect. But maybe the program is fixed?

I wish I had your email adress - then I could have enclosed a very pretty picture of a Thanka for you :-)

Please mail me through PTO

Stay in peace
Kristin

[Ven. D. Dharani]

Hi Kirsten,

You can get me at dharma.dai@verizon.net and we can chat more with out cluttering up the PTO board, okay? It all sounds good to me!

DD

[Kristin]

Hi Everyone,
its been awhile since I posted here - for several reasons - but Im glad to see this site is just growing and growing.

Its also good to see the suport this site gives really matters.

Allow me to forward this mail...






Yskari Yesro Douglas

Dear Friends,

I received a letter this week from Yskari saying he has finally been
given the vegetarian diest that he's been requsting.

I just want to thank everyone here and any other supporters for the
letters written to Yskari's chaplain on his behalf. It seems the
external support was what forced his chaplain to put his signature on
the approval. Imagine, your food being dependent on one person's whim
and fancy.

Deep bows and Gassho to all,

D.Dharani

[Ven. D. Dharani]

Hi All,

Again I ask for your support for another Buddhist inmate being refused a vegetarian diet by the prison.

His contact information is:

Mr. Mark Dunn
DOC# 98896
PO Box 1000
Crowly, Colorado
81034 USA

I'm sorry I don't have his chaplain and warden's name or contact info now. If you would like to write to Mark offering support I'm sure he'd be glad to hear from you and send you that info.

Thanks again for your compassion on behalf of Mark.


In Peace & Harmony,

Ven. D. Dharani Sensei
Hongaku Jodo of America
The Buddha Inside

[Kristin]

Well I cant find the chaplains name but here are some other useful names.

Please send your request to the Ward and let him hand over the mails to the chaplain. Dont let the inmate use a lot of stamps - just because we cant find the right name :-)

Warden..............................Rick Soares
Associate Wardens..............Tom Lopez
..........................................Rod Cozzetto
Address: 12750 Highway 96, Lane 13
P.O. Box 1000
Crowley, CO 81034

Kristin

[Kristin]

Great!! Thank you all!

I've recieved a letter from Mark Dunn today and he is now allowed to receive vegetarian food!!

Kristin