Seeking Board Treasurer
Our current Board Treasurer is stepping down after seven years of service to BP3. We are seeking someone to fill this important position as soon as possible. They will sit on the Board, manage BP3’s annual budget of approximately $110k, administer fiscal matters...
COVID19 and Prison Program Closures: Mitigate the Risk to Incarcerated People
Due to the gravity of the current COVID19 situation, the Board of Buddhist Pathways Prison Project (BP3) recommends that all prison programs be temporarily suspended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. We recommend a two-week suspension of programs initially,...
Not Clinging to Outcome
When difficulties provide the lessons we need By Diane Wilde, BP3 Founder At California State Prison Sacramento, we have had two or three major shifts in our sanghas (communities) as our “elders” have transitioned to other prisons or been released. Creating a...
Job Title: Executive Director
Mission Statement Buddhist Pathways Prison Project is a California nonprofit corporation, comprised mostly of volunteers, whose mission is to bring the core teachings of the historical Buddha of non-harming, meditation, and wisdom into prisons and jails as well as...
One Mindful Breath: Notes from Ironwood
By Eddie [Note: Per the author’s request, this piece was slightly edited for publication.] Greetings, with the utmost love I send my love to all of you. Here is the story of how the Dharma has helped with my journey in life… Once again thank you so much for constantly...
Personal accounts of transformation often carry the weight of lived experience, and many participants describe how contemplative practice becomes a steady companion through the unpredictable terrain of incarceration and reentry. When someone first encounters a meditation cushion in a prison chapel or jail dayroom, the simple instruction to notice the breath can feel unexpectedly grounding. Over time, that small act of returning attention again and again reshapes how challenges internal and external are met, opening a path toward greater clarity, emotional steadiness, and a renewed sense of inner dignity that supports life after release.
Meditation and mindfulness programs in correctional settings are not about quick fixes or empty slogans. They invite practitioners to slow down, observe the body, and meet difficult emotions with curiosity instead of avoidance. In cells where noise and tension are constant, learning to anchor awareness in the breath can be a radical act of self-care. Volunteers and community partners help facilitate these sessions, offering guidance drawn from traditional teachings adapted to the realities of confinement, so that participants can cultivate insight, patience, and a quieter relationship with their own minds amid challenging conditions.
Mindful movement complements seated practice by bringing awareness into the body through gentle stretching, walking meditation, and simple qigong-inspired exercises. These accessible forms invite incarcerated individuals to notice tension, release it gradually, and reconnect with physical sensations that stress and hardship often obscure. Movement practice can be done in small spaces and adapted to different abilities, making it a practical companion to breath work. Together, they foster embodied presence, supporting emotional regulation and a deeper sense of well-being that participants can carry into daily routines and relationships.
Community support is the thread that holds these practices together, weaving volunteers, mentors, and returning citizens into a wider sangha of shared intention. Letters, weekly meetings, and post-release gatherings help bridge the gap between life inside and life beyond the gates. Such continuity reminds participants that their practice does not end at the institution door but continues as they reenter workplaces, schools, and families. The friendships and reflections exchanged through newsletters and correspondence nurture hope, accountability, and the ongoing discovery of a compassionate path forward.
New Trainings To Be Offered at BP3 Retreat in August
By Amanda DeHart and Walt Opie All BP3 volunteers are welcome to attend the upcoming Training and Community Retreat from August 9 - 11. Please note that if you have not registered yet, you will need to register no later than July 5 so we can give the Mercy Center an...
Volunteer Profile: Ven. De Hong
By Walt Opie A very dedicated volunteer and currently a Board member, Ven. De Hong visits seven prisons per month in California on behalf of both Buddhist Pathways Prison Project (BP3) and the organization he co-founded, The Engaged Buddhist Alliance (EBA), which is...
Eddie’s Story
by Rev. Diane Wilde, BP3 Founder I am a Buddhist prison chaplain. My sanghas are in prison, and the people I minister are primarily Maximum Security, Level 4 prisoners, located in Northern California. I have found it to be a prime place to practice Dharma, both for...
Practicing Forgiveness from a Buddhist Perspective
by Walt Opie, BP3 Executive Director Forgiveness was the main theme of our recent 2017 BP3 retreat, facilitated by Buddhist Chaplain Susan Shannon, who serves the men on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison. Forgiveness includes forgiving ourselves as well as...
BP3 receives Round 3 Innovative Grants
Last December, Buddhist Pathways Prison Project was awarded several Round Three Innovative Grants from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to bring our programs (including silent daylongs and monthly services) into three state prisons...
