• More About the Program
• Visitation Schedule
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programs and Retreats
• Character-Based Dorm Proposal (PDF)
• Coleman Retreats
• Spanish Translations
• Inmate Voices

More About the Prison Program

The prison program for the Gateless Gate Zen Center is made up of volunteers who share their practice in assorted confinement facilities throughout North Central Florida. Complimenting this effort are a few contributors that have been very generous with their time and money. The Kwan Um School of Zen has been unstinting in providing material and administrative support.

The volunteers make no claim to special training, empowerments, or secret knowledge. They share their practice as they practice it themselves. They do not practice law, medicine or advocacy. Those activities are left to others who are better qualified for such tasks. Each person meets most of their own expenses associated with the program.

The cosmic glue that unites us is our belief that we can make a difference. To this end, we have and will dedicate our individual time, energy, and money. This belief has been validated by those inmates, who upon release, have come to the Gateless Gate to visit and practice as well as donate their time, energy, and money.

The program spans federal, state, and county confinement facilities that range from the local jails to Death Row. To this end over the last 10 years, we have traveled more than 200,000 miles, conducted over 1800 programs, donated cushions for programs in 7 prisons, and written over 60 megabytes of letters.

The program has been fortunate in that it has been able to place over 2,000 books in the prisons of North Central Florida. This in turn has generated considerable correspondence which was instrumental in attracting inmates to the program. However, other material needs have not flowed with equal grace. There is a great need for miscellaneous items such as malas, zafus, zabutans, more books, and altar supplies.

We need your help not only to grow, but just to continue. We have reached the limits of our ability to support such an effort and have consequently reduced the scope of the program because of financial constraints.