Restorative Justice As a Spiritual Practice
A spiritual practice our world is hungry for
In this 1 hour 45 minute audio recording, Susan Shannon discusses her extensive work and involvement in Restorative Justice, particularly at San Quentin State Prison. Restorative Justice is a social movement and philosophy taking place in our prisons, courts, and schools that invites a fundamental shift in the way we think about justice.
Restorative Justice is based in the understanding that we are all interconnected; none of us operates as an independent being free from affecting others. Given the truth of our interconnection, rather than punitive justice that points the finger at the ‘offender’ and says “you are wrong and you need to be disconnected from the whole” restorative justice asks “how have we failed you and what can we do to bring you back to recognizing you are a part of the whole picture?”
A long-term dharma practitioner, Susan views Restorative Justice as a spiritual practice: spiritual transformation through deepening an understanding of our interconnectedness with each other and our planet, a practice available every moment and important regardless of one’s spiritual leaning.
Especially these days, with the effects of climate change raging, we all would benefit by implementing Restorative Justice practices within ourselves, our families, our schools, and most of all, our life on Planet Earth. We welcome you to listen to Susan to learn about her work and this spiritual practice. In this recording, Susan leads a meditation, talks about her work and provides an experiential exercise.
Your Instructor
Susan Shannon, M. Div. is a seeker, teacher, earth and animal steward, and devotee of the heart. She has worked in the fields of Emotional Literacy and Restorative Justice for over 20 years, incorporating over 45 years of Buddhist practice and study from the Tibetan tradition. She’s worked with various diverse populations all her life including inmates, Tibetan refugees, the homeless, the differently-abled, at-risk youth, and has served as the Buddhist Chaplain to the men in San Quentin State Prison and Death Row. She currently resides in the San Juan Islands where she writes, provides spiritual coaching and tends her land.