Cecil grew up in the worst housing project in the poorest section of Washington, DC. Both his parents worked hard, but they never had much money. Cecil watched TV and knew he would never have the things that were advertised there. 

The street life became his life. There was so much violence and intrigue that he found it difficult to concentrate in school. He dropped out and the gang became his life. He did robberies and extortion. He got into drugs and lost what little humanity that he had. His family no longer trusted him and wanted nothing to do with him. 

He became a cold, unfeeling person. He killed someone and was sent to prison for life. In prison he felt lonely, useless, depressed. 

He ran into Chris in prison. He knew Chris from the streets. Chris had been shanked (knifed) in prison and was paralyzed from the waist down. 

The weird thing about Chris is that he did not suffer from prison depression. Chris was particularly happy on Friday evenings, when he would wheel himself over to the meetings that were being held by Dr. Alwin Harding, the prison doctor. 

Doctor Harding is a practicing Buddhist, who had offered to have discussion meetings at the prison with interested inmates. 

Cecil went to the first meeting out of curiosity — some of the toughest people in the prison were there. They talked openly about their lives. They chanted together and made determinations to change themselves and their circumstances. Cecil joined the group. Every time he started to feel lonely or depressed he would chant. This always made him feel better. He also could concentrate better to solve his problems. 

After 22 years, Cecil was released from prison last year, determined to never return, determined to make up for negative karma he created, determined to contribute to society. 

He now works for Public Works. He owns two vehicles. His parents now give him their paychecks to be deposited in the bank. 

Twenty-two years ago, they would have never done this. 

He is now trusted by his family and society.

[This experience was given at the yearly Men's Division Meeting at the Washington DC Community Center, Aug. 24, 1999]