By Go-Palak Krsna Das and Lila Sundari Devi Dasi
Devotees in Singapore have been visiting local prisons for the past 20 years to bring the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness and meaningful association to inmates. Around ten devotees regularly participate in this weekly service. They have aimed to share spiritual teachings from the Bhagavad-gita, lift inmate morale, build good character values, and provide mental solace for the incarcerated men. The devotees are enthusiastically welcomed by prison leadership and staff. Below, devotees will share some of their experiences with prisoners and the impact Krishna Consciousness is having on their lives. This service is led by Chandrashekara Acharya Das and his son, Go-Palak Krsna Das.
The sessions are held on weekend mornings and start with Hare Krsna kirtan, followed by Nrsimha prayers. Usually, the devotee counselors will ask one of the inmates to lead the singing of Nrsimha prayers, which is often met with enthusiasm. After this, the devotee counselors speak from a Bhagavad-gita verse, sometimes conducting it as a multimedia presentation via slides and video clips. Often, they elaborate on the verses using pastimes from the scriptures or illustrative stories, with a focus on character building and values. This is followed by one round of maha mantra chanting. The counselors demonstrate how to keep count of the japa chanting using one’s fingers, as the inmates are not allowed to keep japa beads. Through the efforts of the devotees, sponsored copies of the Bhagavad-gita and other books are provided to the Hindu inmates. These are their personal copies that they can read when they are in their cells.
The response from the inmates has been favorable and, at times, highly inspirational. A number of inmates are chanting regularly and reading the books. Some inmates specifically request vegetarian food so that they can follow the four regulative principles. They have also expressed their gratitude for the personal copies of the Bhagavad-gita they have received from the devotees. The inmates’ families have seen changes for the better, as these inmates have put in the effort to mend the fractured relationships with their families and loved ones. Some ex-inmates have joined our regular programs and started coming to the temple regularly.
Below, devotees will share some of their experiences with four prisoners and the impact Krishna Consciousness is having on their lives. Note: All names have been changed to protect identities.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/prison-counseling-in-singapore-transforming-inmates/
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