donaldson correctional facility is the end of the road for most men. a life sentence without parole or awaiting capital punishment amounts to about the same thing short uggs - four walls and a matter of time. this fishbowl of tension, violence, and hopelessness is one of the most frightening places that a human being can find themselves. however, cultural anthropologist and psychotherapist jenny phillips did not come here to make a film about the darkness of this place.

she came here because a growing number of the men were practicing vipassana meditation, which is geared toward facing one's own suffering. the men, when interviewed, were surprisingly open and honest. it was obvious that something vulnerable had been touched in these men- no easy task in itself. knowing from personal experience what a meditation retreat can do to promote self-healing and change, she and the vipassana meditation center in shelburne falls, massachusetts managed to arrange a 10-day meditation retreat in 2002.

the dhamma brothers: east meets west in the deep south is about the human stories of inner growth, healing and change that unfolded during that retreat. it is accompanied by a book of the same name which contains letters written by the prisoners themselves, some of which can be read on their website. these honest and open snapshots of minds waking up in a hellspot of the world make on reflect on the stories of the buddha's life, when people from all walks of life found peace by practicing meditation and learning the truth (dhamma).

even through the distrust of the prison's guards and warden, who believe the entire transformation a ruse to fool the parole boards, or the people outside in rural alabama, who believe that the devil's work is being done in this jailhouse, one gets the sense that in or out of prison, these men have found freedom at last.

please watch the trailer and read the reviews, below.

"the stories of the dhamma brothers ring with the truth and ugg sundance boots power of their experiences, and offer the hope for renewal and rehabilitation within a dismal and punishment-oriented correctional system. it gives you hope for the human race."

-sister helen prejean, author, dead man walking and recipient, 1996 pax christi pope paul vi teacher of peace award.

"this is an absolutely compelling story of an astonishing treatment program with prison inmates that, against all odds, actually worked. the leaders of the program and the correctional officials open a door to the hearts and minds of a violent prison population, allowing us to see them at intimate range, while at the same time producing a remarkably positive influence on the atmosphere of the prison as a whole.