What is the International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society Prison Program?

The International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society (IBPYS) prison program is a spiritual outreach and education program for inmates. Our goal is to share information about Bhakti Yoga, the ancient spiritual practice that is highly beneficial for all regardless of background, race, class, gender, nationality or social status. It is founded on basic principles of love for God and humanity and is both mono-theistic and non-sectarian. It is available for all irrespective of their religions.

We send out a monthly course called the Journey to Prema (love), and also provide penpals to inmates who then write them regularly, answering their questions and sending them our spiritual books (Bhagavad-gita, Jaiva-dharma, etc). We also send ancient Vedic literatures of India translated by Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaj to prison libraries. We have sent to 8 states in America thus far and our goal is to send to all 50 states.

The head of the chaplains for Texas recently approved our books and now they are about to be sent to 114 prison libraries throughout Texas. It took over three months for the chaplains to review and approve our books being placed in their libraries. Ten books will be sent to each library costing GVP Sponsorship Program about $5,000. We are extremely grateful to all of the donors for being instruments in this process. Now though, our funds are exhausted.

We have also given books to prisons in England, Australia and India and hope to do more.

Here are some comments we have received from prison chaplains:

From the Kern Valley State Prison
I am proud that people and Organizations like yours may help the less fortunate. I would like to receive the religious material you may offer to the inmates. Thank you so much for your lovely and generous deed. May God Bless You.

From San Quentin Chaplain:
I am the Catholic Chaplain at San Quentin State Prison in CA - I have an interfaith library in our chapel – and encourage openness and seeking and diversity among the prisoners here. We also have begun an interfaith Sunday evening Kirtan in the Chapel. There are a few Hindu inmates here and many others who are interested in learning about other faith traditions.
Would be grateful for any resources you can send my way.

Letters from inmates:

Hi my name is Misty. My husband is currently in Corcoran, CA. We are currently fighting his case. Until then God is working on us both growing in His love, and mercy. If possible I would like to sign my husband up for your course to help strengthen his walk, and give him something productive to do. Please let me know what I need to do to get it started.


Please visit our website: www.prisonseva.org.

Please help us by joining us and giving your helping hand to transform the lives of those unfortunate!

Your donation changes the life of an incarcerated individual and brings you good karma simultaneously.

We are a 5013c non-profit so your donations can also be a tax write-off.  http://gvpbookdistribution.com/book_sponorship/sponsor-books/.

Please write to Vasanti Dasi (vasantidasi@gmail.com) with any questions.

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