We set 1,000 prisoners free.
In 2016, a small team of meditators empowered 1,000 San Quentin State Prison inmates by teaching them desperately needed meditation techniques. Our belief is that everyone deserves the pursuit of freedom and even steel bars aren’t strong enough to imprison one’s mind. When just one suffering person finds a path to inner peace, our entire society takes a step in a more loving and compassionate direction.
Even more, society can’t count on the prison system to reform anyone when the system itself is broken and needs to be reformed. Until that happens, we have the opportunity to initiate meaningful social transformation by liberating the prisoners from within.
The U.S. imprisons more people than any other country. Because of poor rehabilitation practices, the rate of prisoner return is failing us. With proper instruction, the effects of meditation alone have been proven to significantly reduce the rate of recidivism.
Along with Modern ŌM, we designed malas (given to donors) with 7 striped beads representing both prison bars and the chakra system as a reminder for daily practice.
