Erin Ferguson's Friends

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  • Rhonda Richey for the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi
  • Claudette
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Erin Ferguson's Page

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john simons and Erin Ferguson are now friends
Oct 31, 2012

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How you are involved in Prison Dharma
Volunteer, Interested
Tell us about yourself & your interest in prison dharma: (answer required) .
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Erin Ferguson's Blog

A personal trip to one of San Quentin's in-house rehabilitation programs

Posted on April 9, 2008 at 12:00pm 0 Comments

By Lindsey Crittenden, Sunday, February 17, 2008, The San Francisco Chronicle

I always had a soft spot for criminals, especially good-looking ones who made me laugh. My favorite TV show in fifth grade was "Alias Smith and Jones," and as a teenager I practiced kissing on a poster of the Sundance Kid. And then my little brother, the funniest person I ever knew, grew up and became a drug addict who supported his habit… Continue

Study Shows Compassion Meditation Changes the Brain

Posted on March 27, 2008 at 3:37pm 0 Comments

Can we train ourselves to be compassionate? A new study suggests the answer is yes. Cultivating compassion and kindness through meditation affects brain regions that can make a person more empathetic to other peoples' mental states, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.



Published March 25 in the Public Library of Science One, the study was the first to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to indicate that positive emotions such as loving-kindness and… Continue

San Quentin's self-rehab: Healing on the Inside

Posted on March 21, 2008 at 6:00pm 0 Comments

San Quentin, Calif. - When he stands, Gerry Harris towers over everyone in the room. He's bald, with a salt-and-pepper beard that climbs to his temples and big, almost square glasses. His presence is gentle, even when he's agitated, which he is now. "Three minutes," he tells the men in the room. "I can't account for three minutes. I might never get them back."

They are the three minutes between when Mr. Harris, an elementary school teacher,… Continue

Louisiana Justice. Cruel and Unusual.

Posted on March 20, 2008 at 3:05pm 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

For 35 years, Jim Crow justice in Louisiana has kept Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox locked in solitary confinement for a murder everyone knows they didn't commit.



More info.



Despite overwhelming evidence of their innocence, the 2 remaining "Angola 3" prisoners (one has been exonerated) spend 23 hours each day in 6 x 9 cells at Angola--the… Continue

Rohatsu Sesshin at Upaya Zen Center: Sensei Fleet Maull

Posted on January 16, 2008 at 12:09pm 0 Comments


Front Row Center: Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, Roshi Joan Halifax, Sensei Kaz Tanahasi, and Sensei Fleet Maull

Comment Wall (12 comments)

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At 1:12pm on January 4, 2009, john simons said…
Hi Erin, I have not been in touch for a while but things are what they are and my time has been taken up fighting my alcohol problem. I have it licked now and I'm a mended person but I must not get too complacent and take each day as it comes. I have had guys I was in prison with trying to induce back into the bad ways but that is just the maddest thing, I would not live to see the outside again if I took that route and got caught. This is a problem for the released prisoner in England, a poor guy has to go back to his home and where all his friends and family are, he meets up with his old buddies and gets into a party situation and one thing leads to another and before he can blink he's back inside. I have seen this so many times and it is tragic, these poor young guys are cannon fodder for the British police and the criminal justice system which is itself a farce! The probation service does nothing to help, all they are interested in is making sure that ex cons attend certain courses and gets to regular meetings on time. The most tragic thing is that no one cares enough to do anything about it. Young guys around where I live are regularly stopped and searched by the police, especially if they are wearing "hoodies". These are teenagers not even out of school yet, they have no place to go but hang out in the street and get stoned and drink and the other stuff that teenagers do. That usually ends up with another little human being on the planet, unplanned of course, and so the cycle goes, terrifying!
At 12:41pm on September 29, 2008, b.broekema@sympatico.ca said…
Hi Erin:
Thank you for your contribution to the web site.
I have recently joined this site. Well I will read
some more of your work.
I have spent over 30 years visiting the prison
population. Good to relate to others for sure.
Bill
At 12:02am on May 16, 2008, Douglas Ray said…
Hello,
Thanks for your message, it's good to hear the Dharma is slowly continuing to taking root in prisons. I don't know of anyone in the Spokane area. Have you tried Prison Dharma co-ordinator Shugen Sensei Arnold at Zen Mountain Monastery?
Just a thought.
All my best.
Doug R.
At 9:09pm on January 21, 2008, scott brown said…
Good to be your friend on PDN Erin. Thanks,

Scott
At 1:26pm on January 18, 2008, Katharine Shields said…
Hello,
Thanks for your work.
Do you know who is doing prison work Massachusetts?
anon,
katharine shields
At 4:01am on January 11, 2008, eva papadakis said…
Hi Erin,

Thanks for your message - do you know of people in the UK doing yoga in prisons?

Many thanks, Eva
At 4:41pm on January 10, 2008, Shakti said…
Hi Erin!
Sure - feel free to use the meditations in correspondance with inmates. I'll post at least 2 others in Spanish soon.

Take care.
Shakti
At 4:19pm on January 10, 2008, Amanda Mahan said…
Erin:

Yes, I am interested in volunteering..preferably in the prison but I might also be able to do some in the office as well. I contacted Ms. Crisp and we are planning to meet soon. I am still working out my schedule...so we will see what happens!

Amanda
At 10:48pm on January 5, 2008, Anna Klegon said…
Hi Erin, thank you for your comment. You will hear from me soon.
Anna
At 8:31pm on January 3, 2008, Douglas Ray said…
Hello Erin, So you grew up in Seattle? I lived up in Lynnwood for a brief time & then had a place down by Sea-Tac. It's been a while, but I do really like the area, nothing more beautiful than driving across the Floating Bridge on a clear, sunny July day! Liked to swim in Lake Washington & Sammamish in summer,when I'm around.
Most of my life has been here in the Vallley, though.
Take good care.
Metta,
Doug R.
 
 
 

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