Inteview on Visions for Prisons by Dan

Dan Millstein, is a Teacher of Peace, a Psychosynthesist, co-founder of the O.C. Attitudinal Healing Centers & the founder and director of Visions for Prisons, a non-profit volunteer group based in Costa Mesa, CA.

Author of The One Minute Miracle, contributor to Chicken Soup for the Prisoners Soul & Serving Time-Serving Others.

He is the recipient of many awards for his volunteer services including The Fetzer Institute Jampolsky Award & The Institute of Noetic Science Temple Award

Interview

Dan, how did prison rehabilitation become you life's work?

There was a large oil rig fire in Texas. All the pros showed up to put it out but they couldn't get close enough. A small town fire department up the road a piece, saw the smoke, and rallied all the volunteers to go see what was happening. They approached the fire with their old, dilapidated engine, went right past all the heavy equipment and stopped right next to the hot fire, jumped off and put out the fire with everything they had on the truck. About a week later the oil company president came to the small town and gave the fire department a huge check as a reward for their bravery. As he handed the check over to the fire chief he asked what they would do with all the money. The fire chief's reply was, "First thing we're gonna do is get the damned brakes fixed on that old truck."

But, actually, the idea manifested itself. I was seeking my own rehab. We just went along and walked through the doors as they were opened to us. We now have active programs in prisons around the world.

What kind of things are you doing in prisons?

There are 2,300,000 people incarcerated in the U.S. . That is the highest rate per capita of any country in the world today and almost all of those people are going to get out someday, un-changed from when they went in except in the most negative ways. No skills for rehabilitation will be given to them; no hope for their future will be instilled, only their anger will be fed in prison.

Visions for Prisons attempts to give prisoners the tools necessary to cope with, and even flourish in today's fast paced and crazy world. We teach prisoners deep meditation as a tool to change their minds and release old encoded behavior patterns. We also facilitate Attitudinal Healing support groups.

And why prisons, with so many people saying 'lock 'em up and throw away the key'?

Because prisons are our nation's cancer. Dostoevski said that we can judge the degree of civilization in a society by entering its prisons. Jesus was in prison; Nelson Mandela was in prison; Dr. King was in prison. Who do we throw away when we throw away the key? Our brother, our father, our sister, our savior?

How does Attitudinal Healing work to keep prisoners from repeating the behavior that got them in prison in the first place?

The principles of Attitudinal Healing tell us that even if the circumstances in our life 'suck', we can change our minds and see things in another way. Maybe, a way that produces peace and harmony in place of hatred and chaos. Maybe, in a way that causes us to grow and heal instead of shrink away from society and die to our humanity. Love is simple, and love heals all wounds. So, we do what we can to bring that message into the dark corners of the world and, believe me, the prison system on this planet is pretty dark.

So, love is the answer?

Sure. Love is the glue that keeps the world together. Just imagine that tomorrow morning love ceases to exist in the world. What do you imagine would happen?

What segment of the prison population is served by Visions for Prisons?

We presently serve both men and women in federal, state and youth prisons in the western U.S... Most of our programs are voluntary. Almost all of the prisoners we see have drug and alcohol dependencies.

You deliver to, and are accepted by, everyone?

Well, no. We only need about 10% of any population meditating daily and using the principles of our program to raise the consciousness of the whole facility. Prison staff, other prisoners and families of prisoners are profoundly effected by participant's new ways of seeing and being in the world.

You emphasized "new ways" not 'a new way'.

'One way' has always gotten man into a lot of trouble. We know that behavior is a spontaneous reflection of consciousness, so instead of trying to change behaviors such as drug use, we attempt to raise the inmate's consciousness until his spontaneous or automatic behavior reflects positive social and moral values even beyond those values of present day society.

Higher moral values in prisoners than that in the general population?

You bet your life, and we are. Ram Dass & Bo Lozoff's Prison Ashram Project has been advocating 'new use' of prisons for over 20 years. We're simply trying to gain acceptance of that same concept in a way that people can understand and get behind no matter what their religious beliefs, because it works and because it's the right thing to do.

How does the word ashram fit with your program?

One of the principle points of our program is that the prison provide a "quiet room" so prisoners can meditate together. Dr. Deepak Chopra, in his book "Quantum Healing" talks about an internal 'free zone which is un-effected by the dominating surrounding influence of dis-ease. Our ability to meditate allows us to know that such a place exists within us. The principle delusion that we must continue our lives based on the past is shattered by this silence. We had an instance some years ago where one of our group participants failed to urinate in the 2-hour time given for a random drug test. He was given 38 days in solitary confinement as his punishment. He spent that time meditating and studying. When he returned to our group he looked 20 years younger and glowed with his new self awareness.

Does Visions for Prisons intend to reform everyone within the justice system?

The possibility exists. Gangs are a big problem in prisons yet we see every ethnic variety sitting together with eyes closed or in groups discussing higher principles which transcend color, intellect and emotion.

We understand that a common theology is not possible but that a common experience is not only possible but necessary for us to see the light in each other rather than focusing on the lampshade.

This program sounds like a panacea for all social problems

.

We know that the world is very complex these days so we are not deluding ourselves. What we do have is a solid foundation for change that we can deliver to an entire prison for what it costs to keep one prisoner incarcerated for one year.

On that subject, how are you financed?

By small contributions and out of the pockets of friends. We are constantly looking for grants and funding but the climate of 'lock them up and throw away the key' has made it tough to find support. All of our new programs have the potential for supporting themselves but we need some 'fertilizer' to get them started.

Don't the prisons that you serve pay you?

We are not paid, we are only supported by donations from individuals. We want no barricades between us and our students and becoming part of 'the system' rather than community volunteers could build walls for some prisoners. For the present we live by faith that by doing the right thing will be supported by God's laws.

Prison has been described recently as a revolving door, any comment?

The recidivism rate has been reported to be 45% to as high as 90%. This is really a failure rate so it is not talked about too much by prison officials, but it's not wholly their fault. It is just another symptom of deeper problems; budget, over-crowding and rising crime rates are also symptoms. We need to work on the root, ala Chauncy Gardener in the movie 'Being There'. There is no sense spraying medicine on the fruit of the tree, we must attack the problem at its root. Our program fits those criteria. With inner-peace and self-love and awareness as our focus we can change our minds and therefore change our lives.

How do you conclude that such a simple solution can solve such a complex problem as crime and punishment?

Because God's love does not stop at walls. Our ability to meditate allows us to know that a neutral place exists within us. The principle delusion that we must continue our lives based on the past is shattered by this silence. We had an instance some years ago where one of our group participants failed to urinate in the 2-hour time given for a random drug test. He was given 38 days in solitary confinement as his punishment. He spent that time meditating and studying. When he returned to our group he looked 20 years younger and glowed with his new self awareness.