Nonprofit
Rebuild with Mindfulness
Details
Description
Our Mission
Lighting a path to freedom by sharing mindfulness, ethics & compassion practices with people impacted by incarceration.
OUR Vision
May we live in a just and equitable world where all beings are free.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
People affected by incarceration are underserved and they equally benefit from the practices and tools that have changed our lives and the lives of so many practitioners. Every person, even those who are locked in cages, are a part of the broader human sangha. We aim to reconnect these people with community and to remind the outside world that we are all tied to one another.
WHAT WE DO
We continue to expand and develop our offerings of Buddhist services and mindfulness programs both for our sanghas inside prison and in support of returning citizens. We share meditation, mindfulness and movement practices, encourage healing and creativity, co-create safe and inclusive communities (sanghas), advocate for decarceration, and support artists, Buddhists, change agents, dharma practitioners, meditators, teachers, and movement facilitators interested in working in the prison system!
Location
Associated Location
Various Prisons in California
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Volunteers are at the heart of Boundless Freedom Project, and we’re so grateful for the work they do to provide powerful, life-changing programming for participants across California prisons.
Volunteering in Prisons & Jails
Volunteering inside carceral environments is a challenging and very rewarding experience.
Inside Volunteers are a Lifeline
In the 1970’s, prisons moved away from a rehabilitation model and towards a strictly punitive system. Today, although some rehabilitative services exist, they are almost never paid for by the Department of Corrections. So, almost all current programs are run by nonprofits. Volunteers who go inside, have a profound impact on quality of life for incarcerated people.
Acknowledging Trauma
Prisons perpetuate trauma. Do no harm is an integral part of Buddhist ethics, and as volunteers we aim to always create safe, non-threatening program spaces. Boundless Freedom Project volunteers are trauma-informed and we incorporate this into our groups.
The first step towards creating those safe and sacred spaces is to recognize and appreciate the humanity of our participants. We always respect personal space, welcome all types of practices and lineages, and allow for different levels of participation. Within our groups, we establish clear norms, expectations, and boundaries.
