Dhamma Talks - Misunderstanding Meditation :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Two years ago, I was invited to teach meditation in Brixton prison. The first day, I was a bit excited; it wasn’t my first time in a prison, I had been before, in Thailand. I went into the prison many times to help my teachers to hold some ceremonies there. Now I still go to teach them meditation. Every time I go, I am happy that I can help them in some way, the time of question and answer is especially great. There were many questions which were poured out to me; one question, which I have heard many times and which I keep on answering, is ‘when we meditate, can we float upwards?’ I didn’t understand why all the prisoners were interested in floating. Until I read the book written by Ajahn Brahmavamso, who taught prisoners meditation, like me.

He taught the prisoners in Pert; many prisoners joined his class and the class was over crowded. He instructed them in the basic technique of meditation. While he was giving the instruction, one prisoner interrupted to ask, “Is it true that when we meditate, we can float?” Then he understood why there were many prisoners coming to his class; ‘they wanted to learn meditation, and practise it, so that they could float over the high wall and escape from the prison’. Ajahn Brahmavamso said, “No, it is impossible, but maybe some, who are very expert, can do that. It may take a number of years and they must practise very hard”. When they heard that, some showed their disappointment and left the room. The second time Ajahn Brahmavamso went to teach meditation, the number of students had dropped a lot.

When I read Ajahn Brahmavamso’s book, I understood that it was the same with some of my students in Brixton prison. They misunderstood the aim of meditation, especially insight meditation which could help them out of ignorance and let them see things as they really are. They are in prison, but their mind is not there; it is still wandering around. At the same time, anger, worry, panic, anxiety, restlessness, fear, doubt etc. appear in their mind, so they cannot be calm, and put things down. Meditation can help them to be calm and enjoy life everywhere, even in the prison. It is sure that a prison is not a place to enjoy, but what can they do, since they are there; they should accept it and learn from it. It can be a great lesson for their life, and turn their life towards peace and happiness. Don’t misunderstand the aim, practise it with intention and effort. Then everything is possible.