AHAM's Prison Ministry began
in June 1998. Prison and jail inmates began writing letters to AHAM
with questions relative to AHAM's instructions in Self-Inquiry, and
presentation of the teachings of both Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi;
and A. Ramana, AHAM's founder and spiritual director. Through the grace
of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, it was revealed to Ramana that it was now
time to carry AHAM's message to the prison population, by sharing the
Truth that there is no happiness in the world of persons, places and
things. Real and lasting happiness is only found in each one of us,
as the core of our own Being.
Through the practical approach
of Self-Inquiry, and other consciousness transforming processes, one
can realize this happiness as one's own natural state, even within the
prison "walls and fences." Therefore, AHAM's Prison Ministry
is dedicated towards alleviating the suffering of prisoners throughout
the world. Through the introduction of its teachings, AHAM is committed
to empower prisoners with a spiritual practice containing techniques
and processes that enable each of them to transform their negative attitudes
of anger, guilt, blame, shame, etc., into positive attitudes that enhance
the quality of their lives, not only during their incarceration but
also following their release. Currently, AHAM's teaching is primarily
disseminated through its literature, prison visitations, written correspondence
and prison and jail visitations. AHAM's outreach to the incarcerated
population may be viewed as a "win-win" situation in which
everyone benefits, the inmate who has transformed himself/herself into
a productive and responsible member of the community, and the members
of the community who desire to live their lives and raise their children
in an environment free of criminal activity.
Prison
Ministry Committee
The Prison Ministry Committee consists of members who are actively engaged
in AHAM's conscious curriculum. The committee primarily focuses upon
the day-to-day management of the dissemination of AHAM's teaching in
the correctional system. A periodic report of Prison Ministry activities
is submitted to AHAM's Board of Advisors and Trustees.
Prisoner
Correspondence Program
Upon initial contact with AHAM, prisoners receive
an Introductory Packet containing: A subscription to the Heart to
Heart magazine (Prison Edition); a copy of A Love Process
by A. Ramana; a printed card with the Seven Basic Truths™; two small books entitled, Living
Free While Incarcerated, by A. Ramana and Practicing Self-Inquiry,
The Teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi, by V. Ganesan. An AHAM
volunteer is assigned to correspond with a prisoner following receipt
of his/her second correspondence and a commitment to participate in AHAM's
teaching. Prisoners are encouraged to correspond with the Prison Ministry
(see address below).
A “team” of several
AHAM volunteers, each having completed the Self-Inquiry
Series (explained elsewhere on this site), provide spiritual empowerment to prisoners by the development
of a spiritual relationship for disseminating Self-Inquiry
through written correspondence. Incidentally, the lives of many prisoners
are being transformed through this program. If a prisoner desires to
maintain the correspondence following his/her release from prison, each
AHAM volunteer is encouraged to maintain the spiritual connection by
continuing the correspondence. Men and women released from prison need
encouragement and spiritual guidance; for this is a crucial time for
each of them as they meet with parole officers and attempt to enter
or re-enter the employment work force in their communities. AHAM supports
ex-offender participation in the Self-Inquiry Series of programs, as
well as in the other functional or advanced programs in its conscious curriculum. This is not
a traditional "pen-pal" program. Volunteers not only follow
established guidelines, but they also strongly support the dissemination
of the principles and practices taught within AHAM's curriculum by sharing
their own spiritual experiences.
Book
Donations
1) To introduce AHAM's teaching throughout the correctional
system in North Carolina, California, New York and Texas, copies of
The Handbook to Perpetual Happiness, by A. Ramana were donated
to either all or the majority of prison libraries in these states in
2001-02. In addition, prisoners throughout the US who request it, and are
unable to purchase the book, also receive a donated copy.
2) AHAM donates many books on the teachings of Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi and A. Ramana to prisoners that are unable to purchase
them. Although this procedure is not cost-effective for AHAM, because
current donations for the Prison Ministry are very minimal, it is necessary
in order that AHAM's message can be communicated to the prison population.
Sales
of Books and Tapes/Video Cassettes
All of AHAM's books, tapes and video cassettes are available for purchase
by prisoners. For prisoners, chaplains, program directors and supervisors,
books, tapes and video cassettes may be purchased online from this website.
It is important that prisoners and prison personnel are aware of any
restrictions associated with the receipt of resource materials at their
respective prisons. In the book Living Free While Incarcerated,
Ramana addresses spiritually-related questions from inmates in prisons
across the country. This book is being distributed to inmates around
the world for free, and it is also for sale at a cost of $4.95
to the general public.
AHAM has reccently published a second book by A. Ramana entitled, Freeing Yourself From the Prison of Your Mind. This book is also available free to inmates who have read Ramana's above book, and it is also for sale at a cost of $4.95 to the general public.
We would appreciate any
donations you feel inclined to send in care of the Prison Ministry to
cover the cost of publishing, printing and distribution of the books.
Heart
to Heart (Prison Edition) Magazine
AHAM initiated its Prison Edition of the magazine or newsletter in May,
2003. There were then approximately 30 new inmate subscriptions per month
in 2003, the number now is almost twice this. In North Carolina, 62 prisons receive a free subscription to
the Heart to Heart (Prison Edition). Any prisoner requesting spiritual
materials from AHAM in the US also receives a free subscription. Each
issue generally contains articles by A. Ramana and Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi,
a Words of Wisdom article, and either poems, artwork or sharing of the
benefits of the teaching by other inmates, in addition to periodic articles from others serving AHAM's Prison
Ministry.
FREE
Daily E-mail Message
Prisoners, chaplains, program directors and supervisors are encouraged
to sign up and receive, via email, AHAM's “Daily Message for Transforming
the Mind” from the teaching of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. This message is sent daily by email to about a 1000 people.
Donations
AHAM is a non-profit, tax-exempt spiritual education organization, chartered
in North Carolina under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code. All donations,
contributions, gifts and bequests for the Prison Ministry are welcomed,
and are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by the law. All funds
go directly to the support of AHAM's work, and assist us in our ongoing
spiritual mission of transcending or eliminating emotional pain, suffering,
conflict and confusion and bringing about real and lasting peace, freedom
and happiness for all incarcerated persons.
Links to Other Prison
Related Programs
Here are web sites for other prison related news, books, services and web resources:
www.bpf.org/html/home.html
www.gangaji.org/satsang/programs/prison.asp
www.humankindness.org
www.prisondharmanetwork.org
www.sivananda.org/programs/prison/index.html
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