Pramesh S Jain
In an effort to encourage discipline and behavioural reform through yoga and meditation programmes organised by the Karnataka Prison Department,inmates who participated in a 10-day Vipassana meditation camp at the Bengaluru Central Prison will be granted a 15-day special remission in their sentence,prison authorities announced on Tuesday.
The Vipassana Dhyana programme was conducted from May 8 at the Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara under the guidance of senior prison department officials.
Around 25 convicted inmates participated in the camp and shared their experiences during the valedictory function,stating that the meditation sessions helped them develop self-control,mental discipline and positive thinking.
Speaking after the completion of the camp,several inmates described the programme as transformative and said it had helped them introspect and reform themselves.
One of the inmates,Girish alias Giriraju,said the camp helped him understand“how to attain liberation in life and how to keep the mind under control without falling prey to desires,ambitions or temptations.”
He said the Vipassana sessions created self-awareness within him and appealed to prison authorities to conduct similar programmes for all inmates.
He also said he intended to share the lessons and experiences gained from the camp with other prisoners.
Another inmate,Thimmarayappa,told reporters the programme taught him the meaning of meditation,how it should be practised,how a person should conduct oneself and the importance of leading a disciplined life.
A third inmate,Mohammed Peer alias Munna,said the camp helped him understand proper human behaviour and ways to improve knowledge and self-awareness.
He added that the benefits of the programme should be shared with more people so that its message could reach others as well.
Other participants also shared their experiences,stating that the meditation camp had been immensely beneficial and expressing hope that such reformative meditation programmes would be extended to more inmates in future.
Prison authorities led by Director General of Prisons, Alok Kumar said similar rehabilitation,yoga and meditation programmes would continue to be organised as part of reformative initiatives inside prisons.
