Visiting Hours

Question – May I ask about your visit to the prisons in Malawi, please?

Answer – I expected the conditions to be very poor, verging on unbearable. I surveyed the place while trying to appreciate how it would be if I myself were imprisoned there. I went into the dormitory cells, and they weren’t so bad; not much worse than my dwelling in the retreat centre, to be honest. Although they didn’t have any mosquito nets, which I thought might pose a difficulty initially. Anyway, the rooms weren’t as bad as I expected.

I didn’t see their food, but I can’t imagine it is very good. We probably have better food in the retreat centre. And one of the prisons has a shortage of water, which must make life hard for them.

Basically, I left with the impression that I could probably stick it and that I might even be able to help my fellow inmates if I was imprisoned there, and the experience could be beneficial for me as well. The language barrier would be a hindrance, but you can soon learn a language when you live with native speakers.

For some reason, wherever I have lived, my fellow residents have seemed to grow fond of me and hold me with some regard. If that were to happen in the prison, then I could definitely help the people there. Several guys had bruises and marks that showed they’d probably been fighting or were being bullied, etc. Since the prison populations were relatively small, I got the impression that if I lived there, I could advise the inmates and help make the place more peaceful and harmonious. Although maybe that is misplaced arrogance on my side.

You might not like this, but I think the prisoners there could probably do more with the teachings I have to offer than most of you. They are all fit young men. They looked bright, switched on, with lots of energy and clean mental health (crazy people who break the law tend not to be incarcerated with the general prison population, do they?)

Furthermore, many of them probably have some degree of courage and ambition. They must have done something to be sent to prison, so maybe they would also do something with my teachings if I had the chance to impart them.

Anyway, these are some of the thoughts and impressions that stayed with me after I visited the prisons.

Drupon Khen Rinpoche

May 2023, Kagyu Samye Ling, UK, during the Third UK Kagyu Monlam.