Jarvis Jay Masters.

It's not hard to find memoirs of prisoners nowadays. It seems that every major penal institution in America has its share of literate cons, waiting to become spokesmen of the conditions under which they live. I've been able to read a few of them, and they have been without exception enlightening. Some of these authors claim to have undergone true rehabilitation during their sentence. In a few cases their stories are quite convincing. It's become almost a cliche for inmates to have a religious conversion while incarcerated. No doubt many of these revelatory transitions are contrived and superficial- mainly aimed at improving the way future parole boards view the convicted. But at least some of these religious experiences must be valid. I believe that there are some convicts that actually have found "God" behind bars. Most often they become Christians or Muslims. Rarely however, do you hear about an inmate adopting Buddhism. Finding Freedom (1997) is a book about just such a case.

Convicted of armed robbery at age 19, Jarvis Jay Masters found himself facing a ten-year sentence at San Quentin. Like many others, Masters soon joined a gang- the Black Guerilla Family. In 1985, prison guard Sgt. Dean Burchfield was stabbed to death with a prison-made knife. Three members of the Black Guerilla Family were tried for his murder. The man who actually killed Burchfield, and the inmate who ordered the killing, both received life sentences without parole. Masters, who was said to have made the weapon and passed it on to the killer, was given the death sentence.

Melody Ermachild Chavis was a private investigator working with Masters' defense team. She found herself caring deeply for the man she was trying to save. She turned her client on to two of the main passions in Masters' life- Buddhism and writing. During a series of visits to the prison, Chavis split time working on the appeals process and writing with Masters. Through her encouragement, Masters put together his first collection about his time on death row- Finding Freedom. They also studied Buddhism, and Chavis helped introduce Masters to a spiritual guide. Eventually she arranged to have a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche) travel to San Quentin to perform a Red Tara Empowerment ceremony for Masters- thus making him an official Boddhisattva. This actually occurred in a visiting area outfitted with screens separating visitors and inmates, with phones to connect them.

Masters writes about the difficulty of the Buddhist practice in the penitentiary. He has pledged oaths of harmlessness, helpfulness, and purity. This can be a tricky proposition in San Quentin. All three of these qualities, while evidence of great inner spiritual strength in the free world, are interpreted as weakness in prison. For instance, Masters tells a story about how he came to a homosexual's aid in the exercise yard. Knowing that such an inmate invited his own demise by his very presence, Masters put his own well-being at risk by subtly interposing himself between the man and his would-be killer. Each time Masters puts his religious beliefs into practice, he leaves himself vulnerable to predators. But concordance with his adopted faith does not allow him to remain a neutral observer. He is committed not only to non-violence, but to assisting others who face the ordinary threats of prison life. Reading about how Masters negotiates the treacherous traps of his days and nights proves to be compelling. His voice is mature and confident, and he demonstrates a remarkable degree of self-insight for a virtually self-educated man. The reader finds himself rooting for Masters throughout the book. Fortunately for his supporters, their efforts on his behalf may not be in vain.

In March of 2007, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the State must show cause to continue to hold Jarvis Masters. They acted on information that testimony used in prosecuting Masters was provided by inmate witnesses who have since recanted. Apparently they were offered a secret deal by the prosecution for their cooperation. Such tactics are inappropriate, if not illegal. Perhaps sometime this year, Masters will be a free man- his 22-year nightmare over.