The Soto Zen Camino Medio Community (CSZCM) has presented the project «Seeds of Peace – Meditation and Coexistence in Penitentiary Centers» to the call for grants 2025 from the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation, of the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts.

This call is intended to support initiatives that promote coexistence, religious freedom and pluralism, as well as preventing intolerance and discrimination based on beliefs. In this context, Our proposal seeks to carry out the practice of zazen, sitting meditation of the zen tradition, to a particularly sensitive environment: the prison system.

A project to sow serenity in contexts of confinement

«Seeds of Peace» is born from the desire to cultivate inner peace, coexistence and freedom of conscience among people deprived of liberty. Through weekly meditation sessions, thematic workshops and human support, It aims to offer a direct experience of calm, self-knowledge and mutual respect.

The project is supported by the stable collaboration that the CSZCM keeps with him Villena Penitentiary Center, where meditation courses have been held with an excellent reception from the inmates and the center staff. This prior experience ensures viability and continuity of the proposal.

Content and development

The program includes:

• Weekly sessions zazen with groups of inmates.
• Training workshops about attention, compassion and coexistence.
• Preparation of pedagogical and audiovisual materials to facilitate practice.
• Volunteer training, that will accompany the activities inside and outside the center.
• Possibility of participation of some internal people in retreats organized by CSZCM, with due institutional authorization.

The expected duration of the project is sweet months, with a team made up of volunteers from the community and coordinated by Daizan Soriano, Zen teacher and educator with experience in the penitentiary field.

Waiting for resolution

The project has been formally presented to the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation, within the line of aid intended for religious entities of minority confessions. The maximum amount requested is 10.000 euros, what would cover 75 % of the total budget, complemented with resources and contributions from the community.

At the moment, the proposal is in evaluation phase, awaiting resolution from the Foundation. If approved, The program will run throughout the year 2026, consolidating the presence of Soto Zen Buddhism in spaces of social transformation and human accompaniment.

"Seeds of Peace" represents the commitment of the CSZCM with society and with the vision that the practice of zazen can be a path of liberation, even in places where freedom is limited.

In gasshô.
Soto Zen Camino Medio Community