Mind Without Borders is a prison dharma program organized by the New York City Nalandabodhi sangha. We provide Buddhist study through correspondence courses, dharma pen pals and practice instructors. We are able to nurture Buddhist study and meditation groups within some prisons and send DVDs for the inmates to view and discuss together. When possible, we make personal visits to the prisoners with whom we are working.

Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has told us, in general, that those of us who have been fortunate enough to hear, contemplate and meditate upon the Buddhadharma have a responsibility to share it with others, especially those who are in the greatest need. Specifically, in respect to prisoners and the dharma, he says, “Prisoners should have the same opportunity as any one of us.” He considers prison outreach work to be very important social justice work.

The mission of our program is to provide prisoners personal and structured support in the Tibetan Buddhist path. We work with those inmates who are drawn to us karmically rather than by advertisement. We are also committed to working with those most hidden and difficult to reach prisoners, those inmates in Solitary and those serving life or other long terms. We aspire to benefit these most stigmatized members of our society, so that they in turn will benefit others, and that, together, we may spread harmony and happiness in our shared and interdependent worlds — because heart and mind know no prison walls or borders.