THE BUDDIST ON DEATH ROW
AUTHOR: DAVID SHEFF
NON-FICTION
RATING:
8 out of 10
Jarvis Master’s story and the themes throughout this book resonated deeply with me. I think anyone dealing with the hardships of life will find that Jarvis and his story can provide perspective and hope. As I have said before, quieting the chaos in-between our ears is the only path to genuine happiness and peace. This book is another roadmap that can guide us on our journey to finding our ‘peace’… whatever that means for you. Recommend.
THEMES
HOPE | BUDDISM | SUFFERING | HUMAN CONNECTION | CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | PEACE | MEDITATION | MINDFULLNESS
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PAGE
I have found that with some books, the best way to convey my “real world” takeaways is to directly quote the author. These are all of the areas in which I underlined, circled and highlighted while reading Jarvis’s story. This also gives you an insight into my thought process as I was reading and the lessons that I am learning along the way.
“Cage the eagle and it will bite at the wires, be they iron or gold”
On inmates…
“They’re just people, some more fcked up than others, some no more fcked up than people on the outside… and they all have souls”
“People change but that transformation comes in fits and starts. The journey forward isn’t linear but cyclical, and it’s hard. The process and goal is different from what many expect. Instead of working to change our true nature, we must find it. Instead of running from suffering, we must embrace it.”
“Fear is a thought. Thoughts can’t hurt you. Thoughts can’t kill you.”
“We learn to think in new ways that break us out of the thought patterns that cause our suffering.”
On his Mom, who was addicted to drugs his entire childhood…
“I used to watch you lying on the bed… I always felt like you were Mama when you were asleep and a stranger when you were awake.”
“Meditation is hardest when we’re most afraid, because it forces us to face our fears when all we want to do is run from them. But it’s the only way out of misery.”
“It’s like walking from one mountain to another. If you think about how far you have to go, you’ll freeze up and never take the first step. Just start walking.”
“The only way out of pain is through it.”
“As hard as it is to accept, this is where you have to be now. You may not see it, but you are fortunate to be in a place where you can know humanity’s suffering and learn to see the perfection of all beings and yourself.”
“I never would have done any of that. I wouldn’t have looked at my past, that scary sh*t… I’d be running from it. The truth is… the sentence saved my life.”
“I don’t think too many prisoners would live under the boots of their misery if they knew that the amount of work is the same to make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong. And when we do, we can free ourselves without leaving our cells.”
“He wanted Buddha to lift him up out of San Quentin onto that mountain top, high above the suffering – to save him. That’s the Buddha he had to kill – the illusion that anything outside ourselves can save us. What he learned is that Buddha can’t save us. Jesus can’t save us. Allah can’t save us. Only we can save ourselves.”
“What do you need? What does everyone need? Compassion. Caring. Love.”
“It takes a lot of energy to carry hate. Letting it go… I feel… Liberated.”
“When you are in hell and things can’t get any worse, you can try things you never tried before. Like trusting people. Looking at yourself. Admitting you’re scared.”
“When his mind was free. He was free.”
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
This type of dedication and love will forever be chased… truly astounding…
“Every two weeks for 17 years she came to see me on Tuesday. I will forever hear her laugh. She never gave me the slightest chance to doubt that she loved me. There will never be anyone like her.”
“I know you don’t feel like a warrior but you are. And sometimes a warrior’s task is to sit with defeat.”
“Our enemies are our most important teachers.”
“In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?”
I hope you guys check out Jarvis’s story… whether through this book or simply looking him up. What an inspiration.