hilitehead

“I am glad to say that I’ve heard that some Buddhist centers are beginning to apply Buddhist principles socially. For example, I have heard of Buddhist centers involved in some form of spiritual education in prisons, where they give talks and offer counseling. I think this is a great example. It is of course deeply unfortunate when such people, particularly prisoners, feel rejected by society. We are not providing the opportunity for these people to make a constructive social contribution when they actually have the potential to do so. I therefore think it is important for society as a whole not to reject such individuals, but to embrace them and acknowledge the potentials contribution they can make. In this way they will feel they have a place in society, and will begin to think that they might perhaps have something to offer.”