Corrections_Today_March_April_2021_Vol.83_No.2

nEWS&vIEWS

What Works for Me

Conclusion Prison is a hard place to work and to live. Whether you are a staff mem- ber or an inmate, the noise and stress level can get intense even in the best of prisons. Meditation is not a magic bullet that will eliminate the noise and stress, but it can be a step in the right direction. I encourage you to try it. Start at home by yourself a little bit at a time. Later introduce it to a few inmates and staff in your institu- tion. What do you have to lose? Or better yet, what do you have to gain? Maybe some stillness. And peace. 5 Rakicevic, Mira. February 2, 2020. 27 Meditation statistics that you should be aware of. Downloaded from www.disturbmenot.com on December 22, 2020. 6 Hanh, Thich Nhat. 2002. Be free where you are. Berkley, CA: Parallel Press. 7 Hanh, Thich Nhat. Mindfulness of (Painful) Feelings . Downloaded from www.plumvillage.org (Talks/Short Teachings) on December 21, 2020. Other Resources Hanh, Thich Nhat. 1991. Peace is every step: the path of mindfulness in everyday life . New York, NY: Bantam Books. Harari, Yuval Noah. 2018. 21 Lessons for the 21 st Century (Chapter 21, Meditation). New York, NY and London: Spiegel & Grau, Jonathan Cape. Muesse, Mark W. Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad . www.thegreatcourses.com Course No. 6380. Since retiring in 2013 as the Director of Religious and Volunteer Services for the Tennessee Department of Correction, Dr. Turner has published several articles and led presentations in 15 states on inmates’ religious rights. He is an adjunct instructor at Tennessee Technological University. Endnotes 1 Psalm 46:10. (NIV) 2 John 14:27. (NIV) 3 Plum Village (free app) 4 www.plumvillage.org

Mark Your Calendars! Join us for future ACA Winter Conferences and Congresses of Correction! 151 st Congress of Correction Nashville Aug. 12–17, 2021 (Tentative dates; subject to change.) 2022 Winter Conference Phoenix Jan. 6–11, 2022 152 nd Congress of Correction New Orleans Aug. 4–9, 2022 2023 Winter Conference Orlando, FL Jan. 26–31, 2023

There is no single way to meditate. You can do it anywhere, anytime. Just be comfortable and do what works for you. I have learned the following works for me: 1. Sit down in a quiet place with both feet on the floor. 2. Relax but sit up straight. 3. Put your hands in your lap or your arms on the arm rests. 4. Close your eyes. 5. Notice your breath coming in and going out as your belly rises and falls.

What do you have to lose? Or better yet, what do you have to gain? Maybe some stillness. And peace.

6. If thoughts come into your head do not get upset. Gently go back to your breathing. [I like to listen to a tape guiding me thorough the meditation. If I do not remember the last thing said on the tape, I know my mind is wandering and I refocus on the words I am hearing.] 7. End by opening your eyes and noticing the colors and sounds around you.

12 — March/April 2021 Corrections Today