mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

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Dhammarakkhito
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mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

William Frank Parker, a double murderer with a nasty habit of slugging corrections officers, was doing time in solitary confinement one day when he asked a prison guard, somewhat impolitely, for a Bible to read.

The guard, his sense of humor stimulated by Parker's insolence, opened the cell door, tossed in a copy of a Buddhist tract known as the Dhammapada, and slammed the door shut. Parker, with little else to do, began to read.

In his final words, Parker, 42, invoked his Buddist beliefs: "I seek refuge in the Buddha. I seek refuge in the Dharma. I seek refuge in the Sangha."

Si-Fu William Frank Parker was executed by injection in Arkansas on Thursday night for killing his ex-wife's parents in 1984 because he felt they broke up his marriage.

After he took office from former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker last month, Gov. Mike Huckabee advanced the execution date of Parker by six weeks, saying the victims' family had suffered long enough.

In his final words, Parker invoked his Buddhist beliefs: "I seek refuge in the Buddha. I seek refuge in the Dharma. I seek refuge in the Sangha.''
http://murderpedia.org/male.P/p1/parker-frank.htm
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

Parker said that he was remorseful, but that he had not written Ms. Bratcher because any apology would be inadequate. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Say, 'Sorry I killed your Mom and Dad?' "

But he also mocks Ms. Bratcher's devotion to his demise. "My death is her life," he said, "and when I die, she's going to be lost."

..."My friends on death row used to say, 'If you think those Buddhists are going to get you off death row, forget it. Those Buddhists love death,' " he said. "I don't want to die. But I'm ready. In fact, I'm sort of looking forward to the journey. I've studied it for so long."
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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dylanj
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by dylanj »

still need to find cheap bulk dhammapadas
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

the buddharakkhita version english only is 19 pages
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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dylanj
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by dylanj »

where
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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Sam Vara
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Sam Vara »

In the UK, there is a prison chaplaincy service called Angulimala.

https://angulimala.org.uk/

It distributes literature, offers advice, visits and meditation sessions, etc. for prisoners with an interest in Buddhism. Friends of mine are involved as voluntary prison visitors.
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

sādhu 3
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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LG2V
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by LG2V »

It's a brilliant idea. Hopefully, the prisons (slave plantations) will allow inmates to read them.
Here are some excellent sites for giving free Dana (Click-Based Donation):
http://freerice.comhttp://greatergood.com/www.ripple.orgwww.thenonprofits.com
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Nicolas
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by Nicolas »

dylanj wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 5:47 amwhere
Here, you can find the Ven. Buddharkkhita's translation of the Dhammapada in a printable PDF format.
The booklet format is only 22 pages to print.
Once printed, all you need to do is to carefully staple it twice to bind it.
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dylanj
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by dylanj »

Nicolas wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 1:21 pm
dylanj wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 5:47 amwhere
Here, you can find the Ven. Buddharkkhita's translation of the Dhammapada in a printable PDF format.
The booklet format is only 22 pages to print.
Once printed, all you need to do is to carefully staple it twice to bind it.
\m/ :anjali:
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
BKh
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by BKh »

Should be noted that the coppyright release on Ven Buddharakkhita's edition stipulates that not more than 50 copies be printed without their permission. To buy coppies directly from BPS would not actually be that expensive if someone was coming back from Sri Lanka. They might even give a discount.

Also should be mentioned that the one available for download from that site (which was created from Accesstoinsight) is an older edition than the one that is available for sale. The 22 sheet version also does not include the foot notes or Bhante Bodhi's excellent introduction (You can also download it from the link above as a seperate booklet.) His introduction serves really as an introduction to Buddhism and would make the text itself many times more valuable to a beginner than an edition without.
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dylanj
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by dylanj »

picking up 10 dhammapadas from officedepot tomorrow, spent under $35...
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
User avatar
dylanj
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Location: San Francisco
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Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by dylanj »

mailed one so far, not to a prisoner though
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
LuisR
Posts: 132
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:22 pm

Re: mail dhammapadas to prisoners or prison libraries

Post by LuisR »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 2:04 am William Frank Parker, a double murderer with a nasty habit of slugging corrections officers, was doing time in solitary confinement one day when he asked a prison guard, somewhat impolitely, for a Bible to read.

The guard, his sense of humor stimulated by Parker's insolence, opened the cell door, tossed in a copy of a Buddhist tract known as the Dhammapada, and slammed the door shut. Parker, with little else to do, began to read.

In his final words, Parker, 42, invoked his Buddist beliefs: "I seek refuge in the Buddha. I seek refuge in the Dharma. I seek refuge in the Sangha."

Si-Fu William Frank Parker was executed by injection in Arkansas on Thursday night for killing his ex-wife's parents in 1984 because he felt they broke up his marriage.

After he took office from former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker last month, Gov. Mike Huckabee advanced the execution date of Parker by six weeks, saying the victims' family had suffered long enough.

In his final words, Parker invoked his Buddhist beliefs: "I seek refuge in the Buddha. I seek refuge in the Dharma. I seek refuge in the Sangha.''
http://murderpedia.org/male.P/p1/parker-frank.htm
It is shame the way his life turned out but this story was actually very inspiring. It touched me. Thanks for sharing.
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