Dear Sangha,
Our prisoner letter writing group is a small group. Some of us have been corresponding with their penpals for several years and some of us are new. I believe that what we have come to share together is a deep dedication to this form of connecting with those in prison who are reaching out through Solitary Watch. It is similar to greeting a stranger with an open mind and bearing witness. Writing a letter is an almost lost way of communication today, but in this circumstance it is cherished, and moves through barriers. Sharing our lives with an incarcerated friend opens a door for their expression, which we will hear. Listening and learning about my penpal has shifted my previous held beliefs completely. I ask myself how I can bear witness without judgement. This is just one area of practice that letter writing has revealed. If you might be interested and have about an hour every other month to write a letter to a penpal, we would love to have you join us on Sept. 21 at 1:30! If you have any questions before that time and can’t make the meeting but would like to write, please feel free to reach out.
If you have questions, concerns or topics for discussion, contact Seishin.