The Dhamma Brothers

"The Dhamma Brothers" is a documentary film directed by Jenny Philips. This film shows the prisoners' experience of Vipassana meditation at Donaldson Correctional Facility, which is located in Alabama state. This facility is a maximum security prison, where most of its inmates are serving life sentences. The introduction of Vipassana meditation in this prison, which is located far away from the origin of this Asian tradition, led to positive consequences and changes in prisoners' further life. In this movie review, I will analyze the influence of Vipassana meditation on prisoners whose behaviors were deviant until the introduction of this practice. In most cases, when a person is committing a felony, he feels hatred, which is one of the components of craving. The person who does not know Four Noble Truths does not know the true meaning of life. Feelings such as hatred, delusion and greed cause craving, which, in turn, is the origin of sufferings. Murdering is one of the consequences of craving. Therefore, murderers are true representatives of people who do not know the true meaning of life. In the moment of committing a crime, a criminal earns bad karma of course. After their death, this bad karma will lead to their rebirth in lower realms, maybe even in a Hell realm. However, the true meaning of life is to achieve nirvana and liberate yourself from sufferings. Therefore, criminals due to the commitment of a felony deprived themselves of escaping samsara and the attaining of nirvana. In prison, they have no opportunity to rethink their life, bad deeds. However, prisoners from Donaldson Correction Facility had this rare opportunity to practice mindfulness under guidance. It is a very amazing act, to introduce Vipassana meditation in prison, in the West. Not so many people, actually, would take an initiative to introduce a meditation which is commonly practiced by the Asian community, in such an insecure place, which is full of criminals. In 2002, Vipassana meditation was introduced in this prison. Although it is a Buddhist traditional practice, most of the prisoners agreed to participate in 10 days of intensive retreat, which is a surprising fact. The reason for such decisions can be interest in a new experience in their lives, as they do not have so many opportunities to diversify their life experience within the walls of this correctional facility. After practicing Vipassana meditation for some days, they experienced physical pain and they could not break the silence. Such conditions seemed to most of them to be harsher even than prison's conditions. For example, one of the prisoners, Grady Bankhead highlighted that practice meditation is harder and tougher in comparison with his 8 years of serving the life sentence. For a time, a life in prison seemed to them more comfortable in comparison with a retreat. However, after some time, after adjustment of the body and mind for a retreat, after coping with physical pain, they could concentrate on themselves. Their mind became concentrated, most of them concentrated it on their breath. With a flow of time of meditation, their behavior has changed to the good side, even guards highlighted that there was no such silence in a prison before the introduction of meditation. Such amazing perception by criminals of Vipassana meditation shows that Vipassana meditation can be practiced by people who are following other religions, or even by atheists. The reason is that the true meaning of practicing Vipassana meditation is to show the true nature of mind for its practitioners and to practice mindfulness. The Buddha itself achieved the enlightenment by the means of Vipassana meditation. So, Vipassana meditation is a technique by practicing which a practitioner will become aware of his life experience, will have a new insight into his life. The mindfulness is the most important component in humans' lives and they should practice it to understand the true meaning of life. After this meditation, many of the prisoners changed their behavior, some of them even were liberated from the prison, and were given a second chance to live their lives outside of the prison. From this, it can be concluded that Vipassana meditation, undoubtedly, had a positive effect on prisoners' mindfulness. Therefore, prisoners in need of practicing Vipassana meditation, as they have a chance to purify themselves and their karma. In conclusion, Buddhism is a humane religion, namely, it is widespread, and can be followed by anyone regardless of being a good or bad person, as prisoners, for example. Buddhism can be practiced by everyone, regardless of their social class, citizenship, age, gender, religious belonging. Buddhism shows its practitioners the true meaning of life and by the practice of meditation, people can liberate themselves from sufferings.

This documentary looks at a group of men, incarcerated for serious crimes including murder. They are not educated guys, not even necessarily articulate guys. They are in a horrible prison that amazingly allows volunteers for an in-house Vipassanna intensive. The film shows the work to set up the space, away from normal prison life and skillfully cuts to various people involved, including the warden and mostly the prisoners. Giving themselves to the rigors of the silent retreat, spending long hours in focused mindfulness, these guys come to a clarity about themselves and about life that is simply astounding. Their followup efforts to maintain their practice and what that practice does for their behaviors and choices constitutes the rest of the film. These guys gain a wisdom and clarity and acceptance of personal responsibility that moved me to tears. So powerful. One of the most memorable films I have ever seen. Surely, anyone could benefit from this but especially, if we have any hope of rehabilitating those who end up in prison, this program should be in every prison.

This is so beautiful and inspiring! An American version of an earlier film, "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana", which takes place in an Indian prison. We are all criminals, whether we are incarcerated or not. We have all done things we regret and have to live with. Vipassana meditation shows a way out towards freedom. How utterly courageous, to do this difficult work when you know you will never be released from prison alive! Can those of us who are free cherish our freedom and use it towards good? Throughout the film, the skeptics wonder "will it last?" "Will these people really change? Is real change possible?" But they have not done the course! In the Indian prison, the prison staff took the course before the inmates.

Everyone that pays taxes should see this important documentary. When we hear about prison and violence there is always a sense of hopelessness. After all, how much more millions and millions can we spend on prisons?

What we have tried over and over has not worked. The prisoners come out more violent than when they came in. There does not seem to be any solution.

This film shows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. we are so used to over paying for gadgets, guns, high security and over look the simple need of humans. It is such an important film that everyone that runs a prison should see it.

The folks like us that pay for these expensive prisons should certainly watch it. It is that important.