On December 23, 2009, deep inside the Eastern Correctional Prison Facility in Napanoch, New York, Acharya Gaylon Ferguson conducted a Buddhist Refuge ceremony. Seventeen men witnessed the ceremony, three men took the vows. Also in attendance were Steve Gorn, Barbara Bash, Patrice Heber and Carrie Schapter, who have all been involved with supporting this Buddhist meditation group within the prison over the past five years. Ines Fernandez, a counselor in the prison and advisor to the group was also there, as well as Peggy McRoberts the Deputy of Programs.
To witness the allegiance to basic goodness in the densely punitive atmosphere of a prison is a powerful teaching in itself. In this charged environment the intention to bring all difficulties in life to the path becomes a poignant personal challenge. Having this refuge ceremony take place was an expression of the deepening connection of this group of men to the Buddhist path.
Acharya Ferguson began the session by inviting the men to say why they were in the room, what brought them there to practice meditation. The answers ranged from a deep need for peace, for clarity, for getting beyond anger, for personal strength and power. Then he spoke of the possibility in our life of setting our own course, steering the boat in the direction of waking up to our true nature. The open hearted listening in the room was strong and bright.
Watching the three men come up to take the vow and receive their refuge names something open, soft and brave was visible on their faces. The possibility of accepting one’s life, one’s self, as it is, and taking refuge in the Buddha as an example of a human who did this, the dharma as the open path to walk, the sangha as the support to remind us – it was all so fierce and true in this setting.
At the end of the ceremony Acharya Ferguson recited the auspicious verses as he tossed the rice around the room, connecting the ancient lineage of practitioners to this present moment.
Afterwards we had ten minutes before the guards would tell us the room needed to be cleared. We all mingled, talked and congratulated the new refugees. Inside this room there was love and encouragement all around. Then our Sky Lake group left, walking back through the prison to the front lobby, out the door, into the bright cold air – free again and yet bound in the best way to our prison sangha.
Barbara Bash
