Unconditional Love Warms the Hearts of Prison Inmates

By the Bangkok News Group

As wintry weather approached in November 2004, Bangkok initiates received news of the appalling conditions at the Klongphai General Jail and its special treatment facility in the Siku district, Nakorn Ratchasima Province. The sisters and brothers thus wrote to the heads of both facilities requesting permission to visit, provide vegetarian meals, arrange a video lecture, introduce meditation and distribute warm clothing and other daily necessities to the aging inmates.

After receiving approval from the officials, on November 28 the fellow initiates visited the Klongphai special treatment facility to provide aid and comfort to about a hundred elderly female prisoners, most of whom had no relatives. The activity began with a greeting and a recital of Master's aphorisms. Then packages of practical items were distributed, including warm clothing, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, instant cereal, greeting cards containing Master's aphorisms and flyers introducing Master and the Quan Yin Method. Next the inmates were shown a video introducing Supreme Master Ching Hai followed by the video lecture The Real Meaning of Freedom. Afterwards one of the inmates observed that she felt as if Master had been talking to her and pointing directly to her heart during the video presentation. The initiates also distributed Master's books and lecture DVDs and presented sample booklets in various languages to the prison library.

Prison regulations, however, required prior approval to teach the Convenient Method to interested inmates. So the initiates accepted the officials" suggestion to seek permission and schedule a CM instruction session on another day. The activity ended with a hearty vegetarian lunch that was lovingly prepared by the sisters and brothers and highly praised by the inmates.

Subsequently, on December 2, Bangkok initiates delivered 171 packages of warm clothing and other essential items to the Klongphai General Jail, although they were unable to give them to the male inmates directly due to a week-long prison activity encouraging relatives to spend time with inmates.  Master's books and DVDs also were presented to the prison library.

The fellow practitioners of Bangkok thank Master for Her blessings and for giving them the opportunity to develop unconditional love by providing material aid, moral support and encouragement to inmates at the Klongphai General Jail and its special treatment facility.