Vajrayana Spiritual Care Foundations

Much work has been done to engage the way that spiritual formation impacts ministry work through chaplaincy. In Buddhist chaplaincy, much of the conversation has been advanced through various Zen based lineages. But what of Vajrayana, or tantric Buddhism? How do the unique expressions of this rich and dynamic Buddhist tradition inform chaplaincy and caregiving?

This two-year program seeks to solve this problem by providing high quality support for Vajrayana practitioners who are interested in eventually pursuing formal professional chaplaincy training. By providing a fertile ground for individual spiritual practice that inspires and connects the participant towards exploring how to bridge, yoke, or grow points of connection between the foundations of chaplaincy and engaged authentic spiritual practice, this Vajrayana spiritual formation program is both unique as well as timely.

Key Vajrayana practices will be introduced to participants in year one along with essential skills required for professional spiritual caregiving. During the second year these learnings will continue as participants engage in clinical work at a location within one’s community. Such sites can include, hospitals, hospices, assisted-living facilities, jails, prisons, LGBTQIA community centers, etc.

This program is suitable for practitioners new to the dharma who wish to deepen their commitment to spiritual awakening as well as for experienced practitioners who are seeking to create a stable basis upon which they can formally enter the Clinical Pastoral Education process later. It’s also an excellent resource for chaplains/spiritual caregivers who want to deepen their practice at the intersection of focused and dedicated spiritual practice, and for dharma practitioners who wish to benefit from going more deeply into the spiritual insights offered by the Vajrayana tradition and who are also interested in developing healthy curiosity and critical thinking skills around how such insights can be a benefit to the needs of Western culture and the various crises that humanity is facing.