Transforming
fierce fire into serene lotus
IBS Prison Program in San Diego
California USA
Interview
with Ven. Xian Zhong
Questions to Ven. Xian Zhong by
disciple Lih Hwa
---------------------------------------------------
Q1.
Venerable Xian Zhong, it was said that last month's visitation to the prison in
order to spread dharma, resulted in more than 100 inmates receiving the five
precepts. This is absolutely auspicious;
would you elaborate the reason and the cause of initiating such program?
Ven.
Ans:- While my Master was a student as UCSD, before renouncing his life as a
layman, he taught a Buddhism class at a temple that focused on disseminating
dharma for the westerners. One of his students at
the temple was a radio station host.
In 1994 after my Master became ordained in Taiwan to become a monk and
upon his return to the United States, the student wanted to interview him
because he realized that many listeners have problems with drug addiction and
he wanted to have an open discussion on how to change bad habits from a
Buddhist perspective. During the
broadcast, some inmates at the Calipatria State Prison were listening to the
radio program. After the
interview, the inmates wrote to the temple and expressed a desire to learn more
about Buddhism and ultimately requested regular teachings to be provided at Calipatria
State Prison.
Because
Master still needed to complete his training in Taiwan, he was not able to meet
with the inmates at that time. He
requested Mr. and Mrs. Tam to facilitate the spreading of the dharma. Thus the beginning of the prison program
ensued, which has persevered for the past 17 years.
“Negative acts are easy to commit,
but it is difficult to cultivate wholesome deeds.”
