The Buddhist on Death Row

*Originally published on my Wordpress blog 10.14.2020

The Buddhist on Death Row is both an informative and inspiring book. Author David Sheff tells the story of Jarvis Masters, an African American man who was convicted of car theft and armed robbery.  As a consequence, he was imprisoned  at San Quentin when he was 19 years old. Some years into his incarceration he was allegedly set up in the murder of a correctional officer.  

There are a couple of ways in which this book is informative. First, it gives the reader insights into the criminal justice system and the way felons are treated. The book is a clear window into the murky and slimy way that much of society views these convicts, especially those on Death Row. I understand that these people have been convicted of crimes but it is tragic to read about the conditions under which they are held (at least at San Quentin). They are human beings but I’m not sure that that is obvious from some of the descriptions of the facility and treatment. 

The book also informs the reader about the Buddhist tradition. Mr. Masters had been in San Quentin about ten years when a member of  his legal team began talking to him about Buddhism. She had become a confidante to him and saw his increasing despair. She encouraged him to try meditation but he was initially dismissive. He couldn’t imagine how meditation could change him or his situation. However, in his darkest moment, he must have felt that he had nothing left to lose and he tried it our. Those early moments in meditation led him to a more focused study of Buddhism.  David Sheff deftly shows the transformative effects that Buddhism had and continues to have on Mr. Masters.

I am acquainted with Buddhism and have read fiction and non fiction that details Buddhist practices and beliefs yet this book was instructive for me. It provided concrete examples of Buddhism in action. I appreciated the explanations of some of the tenets and philosophies of this tradition.  Mr Sheff introduced me to some of Jarvis’s teachers. One of his strongest teachers is Pema Chödrön. I am well acquainted with her books and enjoyed reading about how she was able to influence and teach Jarvis.

I said the book was inspiring?  Is it though? I had to think about that a bit before moving forward. It is certainly a story of endurance, strength, and an amazing capacity for resilience.  From the perspective of someone who doesn’t practice Buddhism, it was heartening to read about how an individual creates a life that is of value and worth in a place that seems like it is determined to make that person worthless. Mr. Masters didn’t come to prison at age 19 as a child of relative wealth and privilege.  Born in Long Beach, California, his early life was filled with crack, alcohol, violence, and men who paid his mother for sex. He was sent to foster care when he was five, and later landed in juvie. It was a short hop from there to San Quentin.  The fact that he could endure so much and yet make (and continue to make) such a valuable contribution to the community is remarkable.

If I were a Buddhist practitioner, I think it would be encouraging to see the ways Jarvis used the Buddhist belief system to support and sustain his life in prison. It’s very clear throughout the book that Buddhism isn’t a straight shot. One doesn’t just buy this outlook on living and then, voilá, all of life is  perfect. No. David Sheff shows that a Buddhist follower must accept that their practice will have ups and downs. You move forward and you fall back. You learn and you re-learn. It’s like life. This was an important insight for me because I was sort of stuck on the idea that Buddhists had this window on something special, something that constantly elevated them. Jarvis’s dedication was tested on more than one occasion and I imagine that would be useful material for an aspiring Buddhist.

This is a five star book. It gives an inside look at the criminal justice system and life at San Quentin. It also give the reader a look at contemporary Buddhist practices and shows Buddhism in action. Buddhism transformed Jarvis Masters into a compassionate and loving human being. That offers hope. The book does make me want to study Buddhism more. It also makes me want to work more to humanize the criminal justice system in this country. Thank you to Jarvis Masters for allowing his story to be told and to David Sheff for a masterful delivery of the story.