DhammaKuta Vipassana Meditation Centre

prison in Colombo, the Welikada jail too, brought no positive feed back. Bogambara prisons in Kandy was visited by Sri Ramsingh Ji in March 2001.Prevailing conditions there were found to be so appalling, that conducting a prison course there seemed a near impossibility.

The period 2001-2003 saw a change in prison administration in the Bogambara Prison.Under a new Superintendent of Prisons, conditions were transformed. A meditation hall was built and programmes for meditation and dhamma discussions were conducted on Uposatha days regularly , for male and female prisoners. Flowering trees and shoots tended by prisoners,transformed the stark drab atmosphere of the prison compound. A great sense of harmony and good will percolated from the top rung to all levels in the prison. There was a very positive response, to Dhammakuta's request to grant leave to prison officers to follow a 10day Vipassana course. One female and six male officials followed a 10 day course in Dhammakuta.They benefitted tremendously. There was new positive response, and a request came to conduct a 10day Vipassana Meditation course.

Dhammakuta teachers visited Bogambara Prisons and found a great transformation there.The meditation hall,refectory and accommodation all seemed conductive.However a major barrier arose.It seemed imperative for a break through of a successful initial prison course , that the male teaching cadre of Dhammakuta , should have the strong backing and support of the female teaching cadre too. Bogambara prison was an all male prison with female prisoners from a nearby location coming only on Uposatha days, to meditate and listen to Dhamma.

Dhammakuta requested that we be permitted to conduct a Vipassana Meditation Course for both male and female meditators on the lines conducted at Dhammakuta.We requested that segregation facilities be provided in terms of resident accommodation and dining area. The request was taken up positively.For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan prisons,sanction was obtained from the Commissioner of Prisons, to house female prisoners for the 10 day course in an all male prison.Strict conditions of segregation and security were provided, under the supervision of a female warden who had followed a course.No problem arose. The course was a success, due greatly to the dynamism and fullest cooperation of the Superintendent of Prisons Bogambara.

   The Group

38 male meditators participated. Except for 2 who were 60 years,all were in the age group of 27-49 yrs. 26 of this group were charged with murder, of whom 18 were commited for life imprisonment with the rest serving commuted terms in Prison. The others were imprisoned for sundry charges of embezzlement , theft, rape plunder and possesion of bombs.

Of the 10 female participants, 2 were charged with murder and the rest were on remand for prostitution ,theft and child abduction.

All participated voluntarily.The male group were out standing and remarkable in medition in their motivation.They showed unflagging effort from day 0 sitting generally for 1 hour from the inception of Ana pana with strong determination. Of the male participant 33 voluntarily observed 8percepts .All took the Vipassana Kammatthana with no problems.

2 female meditators on remand for prostitution ,who became restive were sent away from the course on day 7. All other participants sat the entire course successfully.

Food and meals.

Segregation prevailed at meal times with separate dining areas.Diet schdule was given to the prison officials earlier.

Meals for medditators were cooked in a separate kitchen,For the 1st time for a continuos period of ten days, the whole prison of 2250 prisnors consumed no flesh or meats.All meals were vegetarian.

Conclusion of course: Metta day.

There were special requests from participants to inform families from whom they had been alienated since being in prison.Letters were sent to all.The response was good.At the end of the metta meditation,which was a moment of emotional impact to all, meditators greeted colleagues and welcomed the family members who had arrived.Dhammakuta funded the metta day lunch.Lunch was served to all visitors.One young meditator commented with great joy,"I ate a morsel of rice fed to me by mother's hand today after so long".Many requested a follow up of one day courses.A set of 10day discourse tapes was donated to the Prison, for the use after group sittings.Meditators were given the opportunity to talk of the impact of their experience to the gathering,among whom were a former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and a former Commissioner of Prisons.

The atmosphere of cordiality and harmony which filled the prison premises was felt by all,on the conclusion of a successful 10 day course.

Conducting teacher was Mrs.D.Ratwatte assisted by Mr.Geevaka Soyza,Teacher were helped by Ven.sister Vajira SAT,Mr.Chandrasena AT, Ms.Komi Mendis SAT and Mr.Anura Piyatissa AT,helped to cordinate and liason with prison officials, who extended total cooperation and great cordiality at all times.

Report On Vipassana Meditation Course Organized in the Bogambara Prisons, Kandy, Sri Lanka. First Prison Course in Sri Lanka.
Back Ground. A prison course was projected initially for female prisoners in the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura . However this did not materialize . Attempts to initiate interest in the major
prison in Colombo, the Welikada jail too, brought no positive feed back. Bogambara prisons in Kandy was visited by Sri Ramsingh Ji in March 2001.Prevailing conditions there were found to be so appalling, that conducting a prison course there seemed a near impossibility. The period 2001-2003 saw a change in prison administration in the Bogambara Prison.Under a new Superintendent of Prisons, conditions were transformed. A meditation hall was built and programmes for meditation and dhamma discussions were conducted on Uposatha days regularly , for male and female prisoners. Flowering trees and shoots tended by prisoners,transformed the stark drab atmosphere of the prison compound. A great sense of harmony and good will percolated from the top rung to all levels in the prison. There was a very positive response, to Dhammakuta's request to grant leave to prison officers to follow a 10day Vipassana course. One female and six male officials followed a 10 day course in Dhammakuta.They benefitted tremendously. There was new positive response, and a request came to conduct a 10day Vipassana Meditation course. Dhammakuta teachers visited Bogambara Prisons and found a great transformation there.The meditation hall,refectory and accommodation all seemed conductive.However a major barrier arose.It seemed imperative for a break through of a successful initial prison course , that the male teaching cadre of Dhammakuta , should have the strong backing and support of the female teaching cadre too. Bogambara prison was an all male prison with female prisoners from a nearby location coming only on Uposatha days, to meditate and listen to Dhamma. Dhammakuta requested that we be permitted to conduct a Vipassana Meditation Course for both male and female meditators on the lines conducted at Dhammakuta.We requested that segregation facilities be provided in terms of resident accommodation and dining area. The request was taken up positively.For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan prisons,sanction was obtained from the Commissioner of Prisons, to house female prisoners for the 10 day course in an all male prison.Strict conditions of segregation and security were provided, under the supervision of a female warden who had followed a course.No problem arose. The course was a success, due greatly to the dynamism and fullest cooperation of the Superintendent of Prisons Bogambara. The Group 38 male meditators participated. Except for 2 who were 60 years,all were in the age group of 27-49 yrs. 26 of this group were charged with murder, of whom 18 were commited for life imprisonment with the rest serving commuted terms in Prison. The others were imprisoned for sundry charges of embezzlement , theft, rape plunder and possesion of bombs. Of the 10 female participants, 2 were charged with murder and the rest were on remand for prostitution ,theft and child abduction. All participated voluntarily.The male group were out standing and remarkable in medition in their motivation.They showed unflagging effort from day 0 sitting generally for 1 hour from the inception of Ana pana with strong determination. Of the male participant 33 voluntarily observed 8percepts .All took the Vipassana Kammatthana with no problems. 2 female meditators on remand for prostitution ,who became restive were sent away from the course on day 7. All other participants sat the entire course successfully. Food and meals. Segregation prevailed at meal times with separate dining areas.Diet schdule was given to the prison officials earlier. Meals for medditators were cooked in a separate kitchen,For the 1st time for a continuos period of ten days, the whole prison of 2250 prisnors consumed no flesh or meats.All meals were vegetarian. Conclusion of course: Metta day. There were special requests from participants to inform families from whom they had been alienated since being in prison.Letters were sent to all.The response was good.At the end of the metta meditation,which was a moment of emotional impact to all, meditators greeted colleagues and welcomed the family members who had arrived.Dhammakuta funded the metta day lunch.Lunch was served to all visitors.One young meditator commented with great joy,"I ate a morsel of rice fed to me by mother's hand today after so long".Many requested a follow up of one day courses.A set of 10day discourse tapes was donated to the Prison, for the use after group sittings.Meditators were given the opportunity to talk of the impact of their experience to the gathering,among whom were a former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and a former Commissioner of Prisons. The atmosphere of cordiality and harmony which filled the prison premises was felt by all,on the conclusion of a successful 10 day course. Conducting teacher was Mrs.D.Ratwatte assisted by Mr.Geevaka Soyza,Teacher were helped by Ven.sister Vajira SAT,Mr.Chandrasena AT, Ms.Komi Mendis SAT and Mr.Anura Piyatissa AT,helped to cordinate and liason with prison officials, who extended total cooperation and great cordiality at all times.