Rolleston Prisoner seeking Guidance from Buddhism to Navigate Lives

On 5th April 2023, the Fo Guang Shan Christchurch received a letter from Blaine Hughes, who shared that his friend in the prison had shared the book 366 Days with Wisdom with him, which he found very inspiring and wished to have a copy of his own.

Due to the limited collection in the prison library, Blaine expressed his sincere desire to learn about Buddhism. He believes that society is becoming more accepting of Buddhism, especially in the West, as its teachings align with human ethics. Despite living in a predominantly Christian country like New Zealand, Blaine wishes to explore Buddhism as a guide for his life.

While reading the 366 Days with Wisdom, he came across a page on his birthday which stated that, "Death is the beginning of life," which gave him hope for his future. Spending years in the prison, Blaine has felt lost in life and seeks spiritual guidance. He was interested in the topic of reincarnation and deeper into the path of Buddhist practice. He has also requested other books by Venerable Master Hsing Yun for self-study and improve his life while serving his sentence.