A kind, thoughtful letter of gratitude from a Books Behind Bars participant, on what Dharma books have meant to him in prison:
Brothers and sisters, On May 1st, my sentence will be over and I’ll be released to continue living my life. A life made better through the knowledge I gained from the literature you made available to me. I’ve written you before in hopes of letting you know how grateful I am for what you’ve accomplished in making my time spent in here as peaceful as possible. I can now see the lasting effects that will permeate my future and want you to know that I will be forever grateful for that. Trials and tests were placed in my path while incarcerated and as long as I live this life that will continue. If I didn’t have the understanding the Dharma has provided me, those trials would have been a source of suffering and a missed opportunity for insight. Thank you for what you do. I am one sentient being that you can be assured has had his suffering eased by your actions. Your actions will now echo through me as I practice compassion for others. You, me, we…all one. All one or none. Because of what you do, my time spent incarcerated became not a punishment, but instead a blessing.