Prison Teaching Program
INSIDE MEDITATION (formerly called the ZEN PRISON PROJECT) is an umbrella organization to support and inform volunteers who teach meditation, Buddhism, Buddhist psychology, and Yoga in Texas prisons. This project started at AZC in 2002 but has expanded to include members of other Austin sanghas. Currently teachers come from AZC, the Shambala Center, Plum Blossom Sangha, Appamada (formerly Ordinary Mind), and Dharma Yoga. We maintain an e-list and meet on an irregular basis. We also print copies of a meditation booklet called Doing Your Time with Peace of Mind. All volunteers are welcome to distribute copies of this booklet to their inmate students.
At the current time members are involved in programs at the following prisons:
- Lockhart Prison
- Travis County Correctional Facility, Del Valle
- Gatesville Prison
We have previously supported programs at the Texas State Jail on Webberville Rd. There are other prisons in the Austin area that would benefit from and might welcome teachers from our program. Our current programs can always use substitutes. If you have a solid practice, an interest in teaching and a desire to help those behind bars please use the contact us form to get more information about being involved in prison teaching. Go to the Prison Volunteers Google Groups page to join the elist. Go to the TDCJ Volunteer Information and Application to begin the process of being allowed to volunteer in most Texas prisons (The Travis County facility at Del Valle jail is not included in TDCJ).
Next-Step is for people who have attended a meditation instruction and who are interested in bringing what they have learned to the zendo. This is an hour and a half class where we will go over the forms and ceremonies in Soto Zen and will touch on things like how to move around in the zendo, bowing, chanting and service. 
Dogen said, “Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.” 