Dan Troyack is Australia’s first full-time Buddhist prison chaplain. He recently Eurocopa In New South Wales, north of Sydney, he recently Tricycle Dan talks about his work as a prison chaplain and his dharma practice. Last spoke Tricycle 2022He can be found online Buddhist Counseling.net
What is the prison system like in Australia?
Our prison structure is very similar to the US. We have state run prisons, with each state running its prison system independently. We are most familiar with prison operations in New South Wales. Our church services are of the highest standard. We are government supported. [and] We can earn an income from this job and focus on it.
Currently, our prison population is at an all-time low. This is probably a post-COVID phenomenon. The system in which we work is very similar to the US model and far removed from the European, especially Scandinavian, models. But there is always change in correctional facilities, there is always something different, a different style, a different approach. [emerging].
Are we healing people? Are we truly committed to recovery? [that] Can we do that? I think we can do better. But this is not a criticism. Australia is a prison nation. We have a history of prisoners and inmates. We have a prejudice against prisons and people who go to prison. Our system is not restorative, so we don’t see it as a very good thing.
“Are we healing people? Are we really committed to recovery? [that] “Can we do it? I think we can do it better.”
Society has rules, Australia is a secular country, and if there is no religious foundation or religious ethics, there may be a secular ethics. And [since] Secular ethics are not the norm in this country, [single] In standard secular ethics, there are laws, people follow the laws, and that is what many people consider to be the basis of ethical behavior. [and] If you don’t follow the law, you’re not going to be very welcome.
How does prison chaplaincy work? Do you teach meditation and work with prisoners? Do you work with prison officers? Yes, I work with prison warden. The great thing about Buddhism is that it has a comprehensive, holistic approach to happiness and well-being right now. This isn’t a future thing. In many other traditions, there’s a view that the future is going to be better. To be able to not only promote that and support people with mindfulness and meditation, but to go into the deepest depths is incredible. [like] We’re working with trauma. The Dharma is very deep. It’s psychology, it’s philosophy, it’s religion. It’s a way of life that we love. We hear it a lot. But Australia is a secular country, so the Buddhist holistic approach to trauma is [an] The holistic well-being has been very well received, and Buddhism is currently incredibly prevalent among inmates, staff, and outsiders.
We are often contacted by different departments within the prison, asking for assistance in resolving disputes. [or] It helps build relationships and has an eight-part program to help staff improve their skills. [own] Mental health and how to work well together as a team. [The program] These include meditation, mindful living, integrity, conflict resolution, etc. I have been using what I learned from my teacher. Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche Thanks to the support and teachings of Phuntsok Phodrang of the Sakya lineage and Dorje Denpa Rinpoche of the Sakya Zongpa lineage,
Do you seek teacher guidance in developing your curriculum? I’m not a teacher. I don’t have formal monastic training here. But I’ve been trained by my teachers for this kind of work. So I like to say I share the dharma, I share what I do, I share my knowledge. I would never teach deep philosophy because I’m not trained to do that. But I can talk about how I improved my mental health and well-being, how I overcame trauma, and how I learned to let go, using the tools that my teachers gave me.
How did you become involved in prison work? A very kind and supportive friend shared a Facebook post with me about the New South Wales Buddhist Association looking for a prison chaplain. At the time, I was so afraid of going to prison. It was actually a very deep anxiety and fear of being locked up for nothing but being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I knew I had to get over this fear. [maybe] The only way out is to tackle it head on. Probably the best way is to avoid getting arrested. This might be the way to do it.
What do your teachers think about your job? Are they interested in what you do? Our teachers are there to support us not only in our dharma work but also in our spiritual work. They understand the teachings about suffering, interdependence and interrelationship. So they are not surprised, because suffering is suffering. Whether you are in prison or outside, suffering is there.
What I get from them is incredible spiritual support. Of course, I’m very lucky to have emotional support when I need it. And if a question about the dharma comes up that I don’t know how to answer, the support network is there. I see them not just as gurus, but as my true teachers, my tutors, and support for my overall well-being.
Tell us about the students who come to you through the system. I’m a really casual person – I wear sporty clothes and walk as I am – so it’s very easy for me to connect with people. [even] I attracted a bit of attention in the garden because people would come up and ask who I was. [been] It’s easy to create connections, [to have a] Trust with people.
The percentage of indigenous people in prison is high, which is very unfortunate for a multicultural country. There is still a long way to go. Many indigenous people are very interested in Buddhism because it has a deep spirituality. [those communities] And they recognize the interconnectedness of all things. I have built wonderful relationships with Indigenous youth who have experienced death in their families. [usually requires] It’s a sacred ritual, but it’s very difficult to perform in prison. [So] We can use Buddhism to provide the support that is needed with rituals and so on, and the inmates appreciate that and see the connections or overlaps with some of these things.
Another group that I identify with, or at least that draws me towards, are white Australians, particularly young males, who want to work on themselves, who are not satisfied with their lives, who have done things that have not been good for themselves or others, or who are in the system but perhaps should not be. [in the system] People who want to deal with trauma, people who want to work on themselves.
You describe Australia as a secular country, but what happened to the indigenous religions? Was it deliberately destroyed over time? In my work with indigenous peoples, I have heard stories. I have sat with people and shared stories at a deep level. And what I have seen is a tremendous amount of trauma that has been passed down from generation to generation, and a deep distrust of social and political institutions. But what I want to focus on is [our] Indigenous prisoners [the] The here and now. How do we deal with what we’re feeling? How do we deal with what we’ve been carrying? History is important, and there’s no denying that culture is important. [also] Unfortunately, many [indigenous] Religious practices have been lost.
Are people looking for meditation? What are they looking for from you? Oh, absolutely. What people see when they attend my group sessions in the prison chapel is people who teach mindfulness and Shamatha (Calming or calming) They need someone to engage with them. What’s going on with them in that space? What does it feel like for them right now? What’s going on in their wing or their yard right now? And they can share with me the stress that’s there and I can provide the tools to help.
They are looking for more than just calm, cool, collected mindfulness. I teach an integrative practice integrated into daily life. It includes everything from ethics, meditation, dharma, mental health tools, conflict resolution, communication, relationships, and more.
The prison community is its own community. The rules are very well defined, but they’re always changing. But people need to know how to behave in this new kind of community. The prison system is a very small, densely populated, finely tuned ring, and a high-stress place, anywhere in the world. There’s no place to retreat. There’s no place to run, no place to hide, no distractions. It’s a really small, intense ring.
Please tell me a little bit Eurocopathe center to start. Buddhism in Australia is very small in scale. Officially we have 500,000 Buddhists, but of course there is a lot of interest. There aren’t many visiting teachers. There aren’t many monks. So, particularly in regional Australia, Buddhism is fragmented and it’s hard to really reach out to people. My vision is to make Buddhism more accessible in regional and rural areas, and to create spaces where people can come together and develop spiritual friendships.Cariana MitrataI want to create a space that embraces a holistic approach to wellness that utilizes the Dharma as the foundation for a healthy and honest life. Teachers from all traditions will be visiting, and the first visiting teacher will be Dorje Denpa Rinpoche.
Have you ever worked with inmates who are now outside of prison, and do those relationships continue? I was very happy to see that in one particular section of the prison that housed violent criminals, all of the men that I had supported as a Buddhist chaplain were released. [has not been sent] To me, this is not a personal achievement, but a testament to the Dharma. These men have studied Buddhism and incorporated it into their daily lives. They have done their homework, they have worked hard, and now they are living life to the fullest. I am very happy.
