Sometimes one of the men will ask me whether I’m surprised at what I’ve seen in prison. I respond that many people — as the men know all too well — would expect prison to be filled with calloused, hardened people but that personally, I was not surprised in the least to see that pockets of compassion, family and humanity obstinately persist behind bars. People are people, no matter where they are. We wish to be treated with compassion, but — as these men’s stories attest — sometimes we also seek to give compassion without expectation. It makes life richer, and in austere circumstances where very little is certain, it makes life livable.

Enjoy the full essay originally published on the Insight Meditation site.  Wonderful stories of acts of compassion inside the prison walls.
IPP Volunteer Becky LoDolce writes about her experiences inside San Quentin State Prison in New Cartographer magazine. For the complete story, click here.