Contact Me
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Finding Freedom
I recently read Jarvis Jay Masters' book, Finding Freedom. I picked it up when I read that Pema Chodron considers it one of her favorites. I figured that was a good enough recommendation for me.
As one reviewer said, "Most of us live in a prison of one kind or another, often of our own making." Masters has found freedom while living in a world I would consider hell.
Jarvis Jay Masters is on death row, accused of taking part in the murder of a prison guard. He was accused of sharpening the weapon that was used to kill the guard. The person who murdered the man and the person accused of masterminding the killing both got life. Interesting how "justice" plays out.
Masters was introduced to Buddhism in 1990 while incarcerated in San Quentin prison and has been meditating and living the Buddhist path since then. The stories in the book demonstrate Jarvis' mastery of prison survival combined with a deep sense of wisdom, peace and compassion.
As one reviewer said, "Most of us live in a prison of one kind or another, often of our own making." Masters has found freedom while living in a world I would consider hell.
Jarvis Jay Masters is on death row, accused of taking part in the murder of a prison guard. He was accused of sharpening the weapon that was used to kill the guard. The person who murdered the man and the person accused of masterminding the killing both got life. Interesting how "justice" plays out.
Masters was introduced to Buddhism in 1990 while incarcerated in San Quentin prison and has been meditating and living the Buddhist path since then. The stories in the book demonstrate Jarvis' mastery of prison survival combined with a deep sense of wisdom, peace and compassion.
I now begin every day with the practice of meditation, seated on the cold morning floor, cushioned only by my neatly folded blanket. Welcoming the morning light, I realize, like seeing through clouds, that home is wherever the heart can be found [emphasis mine]. - From Finding Freedom by Jarvis Jay MastersRead about Jarvis and the work that is being done to free him at freejarvis.org
"Jarvis is an easy man to respect and an easy man to love. What I learn from him all the time is what it really means to keep one's vows of not harming and of helping other people in whatever ways one can. I always think, 'If Jarvis can do it in those most challenging and difficult situations, I can do it too.' It is a continual aspiration from my heart that Jarvis Masters not be killed and that I have the pleasure of knowing him as a free man; a free man who I know will benefit all the people he encounters." - Pema Chodron
For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists.
- ALBERT CAMUS, Resistance, Rebellion and Death
- ALBERT CAMUS, Resistance, Rebellion and Death
Labels: death penalty, Finding Freedom, Jarvis Jay Masters, Pema Chodron
posted by Carol at 8:44 PM
4 Comments:
Indigo Incarnates
I was pretty ambivalent about the death penalty back when I was a Christian. As a Wiccan, I'm dead-set against the death penalty. It just seems like a punsihment that only ever gets applied to the poor. Also, I keep wondering how many people have been executed who did not, in fact, commit the crime. Thanks to DNA testing, people get released from jail all the time. But once you execute someone, it cannot be undone.
Agreed!
And it seems kind of crazy to kill someone for killing someone...
Thank you, Carol, for introducing me to the book and providing the site link.
You're welcome!
Post a Comment
<< Home