The merit of the retreat was dedicated to the well being of Jarvis. Below is some history regarding Jarvis and his present situation.

Jarvis will have turned 44 by the end of February this year. He has been in San Quentin since he was 19 and has been living in virtual isolation on death row for about 20 years.  He was born in LA; his parents were drug addicts and drug dealers.  He had a very abused and neglected childhood and spent most of his formative years in foster homes and juvenile detention centers.  He ended up at SQ at the age of 19 for armed robbery.  He became a member of a gang and in 1985 a prison guard was killed and Jarvis along with 2 other gang members were accused of the crime. Jarvis, who was tried for making the weapon, was given the death penalty, while the others who planned and actually committed the murder, were given a life sentence. 

Jarvis is innocent of the crime. He was set up by other gang members who had a grudge against him, the DA, and a prison informant.  He was unable to come forward and claim his innocence or even try to prove it, as he would have been murdered by other gang members in retaliation.  Last year his appeal was filed and he has enough factual evidence to show his innocence. All the people involved in the crime, including the man who actually made the weapon,have sworn affidavits claiming Jarvis was innocent and had nothing to do with the murder.  It may take 2 -3 years before his appeal is even looked at, and even then, the chances are slim that his conviction will be overturned.

While he was going through his trail, he was helped by an investigator appointed by the state to help defend him... Melodie Irmachild Chavis, who introduced him to Buddhism and meditation.  He then met his teacher, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, who came to San Quentin and gave him an empowerment ceremony.  Jarvis took a vow of non-violence and a selfless promise to help others, which he takes very seriously.  Melodie helped him find his voice as a writer and he started to write.  Jarvis only had a Grade 6 education prior to his incarcerations, and got a High School Diploma while in a Youth Detention Facility as a teenager. Yet he is intelligent, articulate, and very insightful.  He wrote his first book "Finding Freedom on Death Row" which is published by Tibetan Treasures. He just finished writing two more books which have not yet been published.

His book is used in High Schools in the LA area to counsel kids about violence and gang membership and teachers encourage kids to write to Jarvis.  He gets lots of mail and counsels kids (through letters) from his cell.  His book is also used in Un iv. California by a Sociology Profession as part of a course on mediation and non-violence

Jarvis is currently housed in the Adjustment Center, the worst part of Death Row, reserved for the most violent offenders and gang members.  He is locked up all day in a 6 x 10 foot cell, with no doors or windows. He cannot control the inflow of air or the lights.  He is allowed outside 3 x a week for 3 hours each time, but that time is spent walking in a small cage.  He is only allowed a few books in his cell (but recently all books have been stopped from coming into the Adjustment Center), some writing paper, the inside filler of a ball-point pen.  He has a small portable radio and a tiny B & W Tv (no cable!). He is not allowed to partake in any activities, no chance to learn, study, or associate with anyone at all other than a few visitors a few days a week. Contact is limited to talking on the phone through a glass booth.

He is a good friend of Pema Chodron who visits him regularly when she is in San Francisco.  He has read extensively books on Buddhism and is quite knowledgeable on the subject, but a while ago decided "enough reading, time to practice".  He meditates daily and does yoga in his cell.

His goal is to get out of jail and fight for the abolition of the death penalty.