QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE

Saint Jacob

The most awe-inspiring qualitative evidence I can offer for the effectiveness of the practice of Intentional Living is the story of a young man named Jacob.  When I first met Jacob in Fort Leavenworth, in January of 2004, I was very impressed with his quiet, peaceful demeanor.  Thus, I was terribly surprised to learn that just a few years earlier, Jacob was known as the most angry, violent person at Leavenworth.  Confined for killing another human being, Jacob would routinely assault other inmates viciously for the most petty of reasons.  People said of Jacob, “You can feel the hate radiate off that guy.”             

However, the Jacob I met had spent the last couple of years confronting his rage and his addict-type habits, utilizing the practice of awareness to transform those harmful qualities into the qualities of kindness and compassion.  Over the last five years, Jacob has continued his miraculous transformation.  He has turned prison into a monastery and lives exactly like a monk, practicing awareness very diligently.  He is now the wisest, most compassionate person that I know personally.
            Jacob responds with patience and kindness to situations that would give rise to anger in even the most saintly of people.  Thus, I refer to him as “Saint Jacob”.  I have even seen Saint Jacob watch with a smile as a mosquito bites him and takes the blood it needs.  Considered a monster only ten years ago, now he will not even kill an annoying mosquito.  Saint Jacob is a living miracle, and an inspiration to us all. 

- matthew j. tenney

 
QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE

Below are some links to scientific studies that demonstrate the benefits of mindfulness/awareness-based practices both within prison populations, and among the general public.  

http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=FX1CQXM51D1N9M5RWGJ8EBEKBGXH9995&ID=34286

http://www.prison.dhamma.org/research.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16938074

http://tpj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/87/2/254

http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/relatedresearch.php

http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/4/564