<p><em>New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.</em></p> <p>---</p> <p>Today we have a truly incredible episode about how to meditate in hell. You're going to meet a man named Jarvis Jay Masters, who I interviewed from his cell on death row at San Quentin prison in California. Any of us who meditate do our best to apply it to life's ups and downs — but this person has been applying it in some truly extreme circumstances. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Jarvis has now spent more than three decades on death row, including more than two decades in solitary confinement. Shortly after Jarvis's death sentence, he became interested in Buddhism, and started developing a rigorous practice under the tutelage of a Tibetan lama, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Jarvis has now written and published two books about his life, <a href="https://www.freejarvis.org/finding-freedom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Finding Freedom</em></a> and <a href="https://www.freejarvis.org/that-bird-has-my-wings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>That Bird Has My Wings</em></a>. Both feature forewords by the renowned meditation teacher Pema Chödrön, who has been on this show, and his second book was endorsed by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and also by Oprah Winfrey, who selected the book for her famous book club last year.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Jarvis's current appeal sits before a federal judge as we speak. A decision on his future could be reached any day. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Heads up there are frank discussions of suicide and domestic violence in this conversation.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>In this episode we talk about:</strong></p> <ul> <li>His childhood</li> <li>His road to prison</li> <li>How he unlearned traditional (and harmful) aspects of masculinity</li> <li>How he began to write, and the impact that had on him and his standing in the prison</li> <li>How he meditates in a noisy prison</li> <li>The details of his meditation practice</li> <li>His off-the-cushion practice of 'engaged Buddhism' with his fellow inmates</li> <li>How he prepares for the possibility of release–and for the possibility of execution</li> <li>How he defines freedom</li> </ul> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Full Shownotes:</strong> <a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/jarvis-jay-masters-579" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/jarvis-jay-masters-579</a></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Embrace All Outcomes for Freedom
Define freedom not by external circumstances, but by your ability to make peace with all potential outcomes of your life, without being attached to any single one, as this allows you to live in the present and sleep better.
2. Move Obstacles, Don’t Fight
When facing obstacles, rather than fighting against them, trying to destroy them, or yelling at them, seek creative ways to ‘move them out of the way’ or bypass them to experience greater freedom.
3. Practice Engaged Buddhism
Embody your principles through authentic actions and genuine relationships with everyone, including inmates and guards, rather than explicitly stating your beliefs, as this ’engaged Buddhism’ can make a real difference in your environment.
4. Acknowledge and Process Anger
To manage anger, acknowledge its presence without denial or immediate justification, give it space to exist for a limited time, and understand it is a temporary state that will dissolve.
5. Cultivate Authentic Relationships
Cultivate genuine relationships and be ‘real’ with people, emphasizing the broader impact of their actions on others (e.g., family) to help them understand the seriousness of their choices.
6. Challenge Harmful Masculinity
Challenge traditional, harmful definitions of masculinity (e.g., suppressing emotions, constant aggression) by reading, reflecting, and giving yourself permission to express emotions like crying, which fosters authenticity and better relationships.
7. Use Adversity for Self-Discovery
View challenging times and difficult circumstances as opportunities for deep self-discovery, allowing you to learn about who you are as a human being through practices like meditation and writing.
8. Meditate Amidst Noise
When meditating in noisy environments, don’t try to block out the noise; instead, acknowledge its presence without attachment, grounding yourself in your inner silence and choosing not to engage with distractions.
9. Dedicate Practice to Others
During your meditation practice, conclude by dedicating the benefits of your practice to the well-being of other beings around you.
10. Focus on Few Practices
Focus on a limited number of spiritual practices (e.g., Red Tara, Vajrasattva) rather than trying to master many, to deepen your engagement and understanding.
11. Schedule Meditation Wisely
Schedule your meditation practice for times when you are least likely to be interrupted (e.g., evenings) to ensure consistency and focus.
12. Create Conducive Space
Even in difficult or unpleasant environments, take initiative to create a clean and conducive space for your meditation practice.
13. Practice Gratitude from Observation
Cultivate gratitude by observing the ailments or difficulties of others and recognizing the blessings in your own life, even amidst personal challenges, to foster a sense of appreciation.
14. Offer ‘Wait’ Period in Crisis
If someone is contemplating suicide, ask them to wait for a short, specific period (e.g., a day or a week) before acting, to create space for reconsideration and intervention.
15. Reflect on Anger’s Potential
After an angry episode subsides, reflect on its potential negative outcomes and how quickly life can change, to reinforce the importance of managing it and preventing impulsive actions.