We are all prisoners, undergoing a life sentence, imprisoned by our own minds. We are all seeking parole, being hostages of our anger, fear, desire.
This remarkable documentary is set in Tihar, one of India’s worst prisons known for the inhumane conditions prisoners are kept in and its rigorous and strict methods. In 1993, a newly appointed inspector general, Kiran Bedi, realizes that major reforms has to be taken in order to make less probable that prisoners come back to their old criminal lifestyle once they regain their freedom. She didn’t know what those reforms should be, what could help her in getting closer to her vision ‘till one day she didn’t find the answer right inside the walls of Tihar. It was an ancient Indian system of meditation called Vipassana, rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago. Bedi arranged 10 days Vipassana course for prison stuff and inmates as well. The event took place inside the prison. 10 days prisoners should remain in silence, objectively experiencing all physical sensations and emotions, from pleasure to pain and hatred. What they come to realize during this process is that nothing is permanent and that they have the ability to change their destructive behaviour patterns. The results were amazing. Inmates were changing so much, getting to know themselves and seeing the ways in which they can change and become better individuals. Vipassana meditation has been introduced to many other prisons during following years, mostly in USA.
I reccomend you watching this movie and seeing for yourself (btw it’s quite short - around 50mins). You can see it online for free here.
Love, Maja