Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia – The Prison is the Temple
Existence in a provincial prison in Cambodia can be a dismal affair, but after having taught Yoga and Buddhism in one on a part - time and volunteer basis over the last year, one can not help but be impressed by the spirit of the men and women who serve time in one.
This writer has also found that the men and women there do appreciate the efforts of others to assist them in anyway possible.
During this writer’s most recent experience of teaching Yoga and Buddhism there, I was told more then once “thankyou” for things that had been taught and shared with the men and women, or some of the things such as hats, clothing, books, magazines and food that I had been able to give to them.
Perhaps that is because they recognize the commitment and effort of this writer or more fully understand and appreciate the need and benefits of the Yoga and Buddhist teachings and practices.
Anyone who has practiced Yoga and meditation extensively or taught them has experienced and knows the mental and physical benefits that is can bring an individual and there is no reason there to think that men and women in prison can not experience such a thing also.
One of the things that we have tried to make the men and women in prison more mindful about is that it is where we are at the moment, be it a prison, our home, a club or restaurant, or in a bus, plane or train is our temple and that we need to serve in it and act in a way that reflects that understanding.
In many respects, a prison is the highest manifestation of a temple, providing that the men and women in it are provided with clean clothing, a safe, secure and clean living and sleeping environment, healthy and adequate food and an opportunity to both work and educate themselves. Sadly, these things are lacking and not being worked to being provided in Cambodian prisons and it is more through the effort of individuals and private organizations to bring about such a thing.
But a prison does provide one with the discipline and opportunity to live a regulated lifestyle with there being regular times for bathing, sleeping and eating, and through that, a positive evolution of one’s mind and consciousness can occur.
This is what we want to happen when we practice Yoga and Buddhism and what many of us have sought out and committed ourselves to over the years, be it a weekend or month - long retreat in upstate New York or Massachusetts, or a trip to and stay in a temple in Thailand or Sri Lanka.
We have been taught or learned to recognize that a sparse and simple environment and a disciplined approach to daily life and living bring about benefits.
Perhaps if instead of wanting more and more and not being satisfied unless we have those things to indulge in or confuse and overwhelm us, we worked to simplicity and contentment, we could make our own house, home and our community and the world as a whole a temple.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough
Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia: In The Prison
“The practice of religion involves as a first principle a loving, compassionate heart for all creatures” - Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king – Chapter 12
We sometimes unwisely think of men and women in prison as being dangerous, in there for a bonafide and legitimate reason, as being lifelong criminals or getting what they deserve, as not being able to change or rehabilitate themselves, or as being ignorant and stupid. Such assumptions show more ignorance on our part then anything else.
Men and women make mistakes, sometimes ones that are very stupid, but it does not mean that they are hardened criminals, lifelong threats to society and other people, or can not change.
The conditions that men and women must live in in a Cambodian prison are quite harsh and I am sure that anyone of them would gladly embrace the opportunity to spend time in an American or western prison with all of its amenities.
Having taught Yoga and Buddhism, and more infrequently English in a local provincial prison in Cambodia on a part - time and volunteer basis over the last year has allowed this writer to grow as a human being and as both a student and teacher of Yoga and Buddhism.
Much can be taken from such an experience and if seen with understanding, balance and clarity by others, used as a springboard for cultivating greater insight within themselves.
The point is assisting others in anyway is something that makes both ourselves better and more joyful people and along the way can also bring something worthwhile, meaningful and healthy into their lives also.
We can do it in easy ways each day of our life wherever we are, such as giving a friendly and sincere smile to others, showing a sincere interest in their health and well - being and that of their family, and offering ourselves as someone who will listen to their concerns regarding life and giving them insightful responses to assist in dealing with those concerns.
Its called compassion and some of us, in our anxiety and fear, lack of balance and focus, and tendency to ill – will and anger have lost sight of how to live in such a way.
It is not hard at all, though for some of us it may take some painful work and changes to get it back or make changes in our life that can bring it about.
We do not have to have all of the things in life that we may selfishly or unwisely think of as being necessary to enjoy and find satisfaction in it as a prerequisite for being compassionate.
We also can not be wrapped up in or led astray by thoughts, feelings and emotions based on jealousy and envy.
The realities of life and the limitations of the body humble us all and teach us that others share the same loneliness and confusion at times that we do, and that we all share the same fate.
We should be thankful for the health, peace, work, opportunities and material and financial gifts that we have in our life instead of getting lost in those things within that create greater pain and disharmony for both ourselves and in our relationships with others.
Yoga and Buddhism both offer us a set of teachings and practices that make us more mindful about ourselves and others and allow us to act on that mindfulness in a compassionate manner.
Right Understanding, the first step and foundation for the practice of The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, is a set of teachings that we are all capable of learning and understanding whether we are in a prison in Cambodia or America or a shack in India or a penthouse in New York.
The Yoga and Buddhist teachings and disciplines are both universal in scope and application and will bring benefits to all who take some time to learn and apply them.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough (johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)
Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Buddhism in Cambodia – Working With Prisoners
Gaining the trust and respect of other people is something that all of us have to do at one time or another in our life. Hopefully we can do it in a sincere and unstressful manner and environment. The reality seems to be that many of us do not always care what other people think and feel, or are more apt to condemn or criticize them then look at them as being the same as us or reaching out to them.
When there is a cross – cultural aspect to this, things can be more complex.
In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, patience is required. For some this patience come naturally and is not a problem, while for others it can involve resentment and anger to implement. Certainly the person who is engaged in the former will be less effective in achieving his or her objectives.
In working with prisoners, as with anyone in any situation, compassion is also required. Too many times our attitude to prisoners can be that they did something that requires them to be in prison and that whatever punishment they have received is one that they deserve.
Of course, if we look closely at the history of the law and the legal system, we find that more then once the wrong man has been incarcerated or even executed or given an excessive sentence for a crime.
In developing countries, the circumstances that get a man in prison can be more complex, with many times him or her being nothing more then an individual who had to fight against a person or system that was trying to exploit them unfairly.
Regardless of the country, social environment or status of development in a country, in working with prisoners we are dealing with people, people who can change, people who can admit to their mistakes, people who regret, suffer for and come to realize that they have not lived their life in the best, wisest or healthiest way.
This writer has, as we all have or will, experienced an evolution in his life in many ways. One among many evolutions, was coming from being a prisoner for a short period of time in a state penitentiary in the United States to working with prisoners in a provincial prison in Cambodia. One of the things that I learned and saw from my own prison experience was that men in prison have that mixture of states of mind and behavior that we all have. They can be sincere and helpful or fearful and angry.
The Buddhist teachings are very clear about how we can be as human beings. We can either be unwise, unhealthy and unwholesome or the opposite, that being wise, healthy and wholesome.
We can for the most part gain the respect of any man in any situation if they know that we are sincere. For the men that this writer works with in a provincial prison in Cambodia, part of that respect was brought about when they learned that I do this work for free, and that I do not receive any kind of salary or benefits in doing it or that I do not work for any kind of organization.
For my part, I have begun to see most of the prisoners there as friends and as being children to me. This is partly because of my age (I am 55) and also because of what Buddhism teaches us and the evolution that it brings about in us through its practice.
The understanding and application of loving kindness and compassion are two of the major practices of Buddhism, and when we habitually and naturally see others in this light, we will act towards them in a manner which fosters understanding and a respectful connection.
In fact, this writer has learned that humility and sincerity in any action is something that is appreciated by others and that kindness will eventually be appreciated.
We seem to live in an at times unkind world, and we are not always mindful about how our own attitudes and actions may be adding to this state.
We are taught by various forces to pursue this and that, or that happiness, peace and contentment come through various things, without having the mindfulness to see that a joyful and productive life is one that stems from mindfulness, discipline and balance.
Achieving such things in life is what the teachings and disciplines of Yoga and Buddhism have as their objective and nothing else. We do not have to look upon them with a distrustful or wary eye.
If we can teach them to prisoners in any country of the world in a clear and committed manner, we will help men and women experience a change in their life that will make them more focused and balanced, so that they have a greater ability to find their way in life.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough
To Be A Yoga Teacher, One Has To Be A Yoga Student
In this writer’s attempts to teach Yoga to individuals in Cambodia, I have come across a curious phenomenon among three different people. Each one of them has done one or two Yoga classes with me or observed me teach and then they are telling me that they are going to be teachers of Yoga in the future.
Though I both admire and respect their interest in becoming and doing such a thing, I need to remind them that in order to be a Yoga teacher in the future, one has to be a Yoga student in the present. This requires a commitment, study and application of all of the teachings and disciplines of Yoga, not just the practice of postures once a day.
Too many times we think of Yoga as being something that is physical and then think that that is all we need to know and understand and be able to do in relation to it in order to teach it.
Such a narrow - minded perspective of and approach to Yoga can cause problems as teachers who think this way will not be able to develop themselves as both human beings and Yoga practitioners and teachers. They will spend too much with the physical aspect of Yoga and not understand the importance of non – violence, compassion, loving – kindness, contentment and non – greed, among other things.
Yoga, in both its practice and the teaching of it involves an overall change in our approach to life, to ourselves and to other people.
The changes that we experience through the postures are something that goes along way to bringing about such a change but they alone do not develop the mind and consciousness in the way that Yoga teaches us that we are capable of and should work to.
If one can not have the attitude that they are not only a Yoga teacher, but a lifelong and ongoing student of both Yoga and life, they will never reach their potential as human beings and as Yoga teachers, and in falling short of such a goal, they may find themselves doing themselves and others a disservice.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough
Update on Yoga, Buddhist and English Education Projects in Cambodia – November 10th, 2006
This writer has just completed a thirty - day period of volunteer work in Cambodia. It was his fortieth such trip over the last four years. Another such trip of equal length will be embarked upon during the first week of December of this year.
The purpose of this essay and posting is to give those people who have provided donations and financial support for this work and other interested parties a status report on that work, how it is progressing, what we continue to learn from it and what our objectives are for the immediate future and in the long - run.
· Yoga and Buddhist education in the prison – This has been our core work for the last year and there has been a lot of progress made with the teaching of this class. This includes using a prisoner to act as a translator for the teacher and the teacher now having good enough Khmer language ability to teach the class on his own. We also use a chart written in Khmer to assist us in teaching about Yoga and Buddhism and have recently brought in a Khmer Buddhist monk to assist with teaching the classes on a daily basis.
· Teaching Yoga to those individuals who have been made handicapped by land mines, accidents or through birth – This class is held two times a week on an irregular basis because the learners are not always available for learning. This is because the center that trains them does not always have learners attending classes and courses throughout the year. Also, learners sometimes do not wish to attend classes because they find the classes to be too demanding. We may make some adjustments in teaching these classes in the year 2007, when they will start again.
· Prison amenity fund – This fund provides hats, dictionaries, clothing and food for needy prisoners who lack these things or may benefit from having them.
· Student support and amenity fund – This fund provides hats, clothing, dictionaries and other material support for low-income learners, mostly those who come from villages and farming families to complete their secondary school education in Sereisophan, the provincial capital for Banteay Meanchey Province. This may also include things such as providing gas canisters for cooking food on, providing money for repairing bicycles, and providing wholesome activities for young students away from their family, home and village to engage in and help them relax from the stress of their studies and life.
· English language teaching – In this work, we provide free instruction and assistance to those learners who wish to improve their English language ability. This is done through one on one teaching and learning, short special courses to small classes and formal and informal classes for small groups of Khmer learners.
· English language teacher training – In this work, we provide information, advice and training on an informal basis to those Khmer individuals who wish to become English language teachers in the future.
Immediate and long - term objectives of our work:
· Provide a house and safe, secure and comfortable home for selected learners from the villages so that they can concentrate on their studies. We think that the yearly fee for such a house will be about five hundred U.S. dollars
· Continue to teach Yoga and Buddhism to the prisoners in the local prison while at the same time making an effort to enlarge the educational programs that can be made available to the men.
· Continue to work to networking with other organizations and people that do similar work in assisting the Khmer people.
· Continue to work to the setting up of some kind of legally recognized organization that will allow us to expand our work to other prisons and also apply for funding.
We continue to be in need of donations in order to continue with our work and build on it in a positive and evolving manner. If you wish to make a donation, please look over the remittance instructions which have been attached.
Thank you once again for your attention and interest in this work.
What Do You Have To Wear To Practice Yoga and Buddhism
Like many westerners who developed an interest in Yoga, Buddhism and Indian philosophies and lifestyles, there was a period of time when I started to wear Indian clothing. That period of time is largely in the last now though my clothing is a bit unusual being an adaptation of both Indian and Pakistani Islamic clothing, that being loose and comfortable for teaching Yoga in, but also neat and presentable in all circumstances and occasions.
In order to practice the Yoga postures, it is best to wear loose clothing, preferably cotton. This kind of clothing is also suitable and comfortable for doing any kind of meditation practice.
But as both Yoga and Buddhist scripture tells us more then once, what we wear and how we look has little if any influence on how far we have worked on ourselves in order to weaken and destroy those aspects of our being that cause suffering.
In fact, there are a number of scriptures in The Dhammapada that say that the robe that the Buddhist monk wears means little or nothing if the man who wears it is lax in his practice or dishonest and has desires of various kinds.
The reality is that we can wear anything and be anywhere and be practicing Yoga and Buddhism.
We can wear blue jeans and a hard hat and do construction work in Texas, or work on an oilrig at sea. We can wear a business suit and live and work in Singapore, Shanghai or New York.
We can wear a chef’s outfit, a blouse and skirt, a school, football or baseball uniform or even nothing at all.
Practicing Yoga and Buddhism has little to do with what we wear and all to do with our mindfulness and our ability to look at ourselves with mindfulness and stop those fluctuations of mind and consciousness that lead to suffering and problems.
This can be achieved and in doing it we are engaged in an ongoing effort to purify ourselves.
What we wear is not a factor.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough
Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement