Course Content
(indicative)
MODULE 1 Introduction to Buddhist Chaplaincy
Entering the Mandala
Session 1 online
INTRODUCTION - CONTEXT OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Exploring the power of intention.
Entering the mandala of public space.
Developing sensitivity to our external surroundings and cultivating mindfulness of our internal responses: service delivery, multi-faith & belief context and safeguarding.
Session 2 online
CONTEXT OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Models of Care: pastoral, spiritual & religious care
The Four Brahmaviharas/Immeasurables in Buddhist Chaplaincy
Deepening reflective practice
PREPARATION FOR ASSIGNMENT: Public sector profiling
Session 3 residential retreat Meeting Suffering
PRACTICE OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Building caring spiritual care relationships
Contemplative skills to develop capacity for presence and compassion (holding space, and deep listening and communication)
Team working & collaboration
Case studies
Rituals, prayers and meditations
PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Exploring compassionate service
Reflecting on personal spiritual formation through Buddhist teachings and practice and deepening dharma practice
Buddhist models for chaplains: ‘kalyanamitra’ and ‘bodhisattva’
Broadening awareness of personal attitudes towards suffering.
Practicing self-care
Buddhist practice across traditions
CONTEXT OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Developing a contribution to chaplaincy
Service provision
Session 4 online
PRACTICE OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY / REVIEW AND CONCLUSION
Student presentations on public sector profiling
Working or volunteering as a chaplain
Dedication
MODULE 2 Chaplaincy Specialisations
Students choose a public sector: prison, healthcare or palliative care/hospice.
Some of the training sessions will be shared sessions across all public sectors.
Written assignment before attending Module Two:
My personal experience and spiritual understanding of suffering and my views
on the relevance of the Four Noble Truths to my chosen chaplaincy field
Session 1 online REVIEW OF CHAPLAINCY SPECIALISATION ASSIGNMENTS
Session 2 residential
Shared sessions (one third of the in-person training will be held in shared sessions with all practitioners.)
PRACTICE OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Introduction to spiritual assessment
Responding to spiritual needs and offering spiritual care
Self-care and boundaries
Ethical questions
Deepening communication skills
Cultural sensitivities
Accompanying patients/clients/inmates from other faith traditions or none
PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Deepening: Supporting our own Buddhist communities
Deepening: Integrating dharma practice
Deepening: Spiritual formation and development
Exploring how spiritual formation equips us for chaplaincy
PREPARATION FOR ASSIGNMENT:
Spiritual Formation
CONTEXT OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Responding to specific fears and spiritual concerns (imprisonment, illness, dying)
Working with staff (within the specific workplace)
Working with families and friends
Specific contextual needs (e.g. forgiveness, unfinished business, spiritual distress, healing relationships, preparing for death, the dying process, spiritual dimension of the bereavement process)
PREPARATION FOR THE WORK PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENT
Considerations of the work placement environment
Session 3 online
CONTEXT OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Case studies in the chosen fields
Session 4 online
PRACTICE OF BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY
Working as chaplains in the chosen field
Review
DHARMA PRACTICE & STUDY FOCUS Modules 1 & 2
Intention
The Four Noble Truths
Interdependence
The practices of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity
Calm (samatha / shamatha) and Insight (vipassanā / vipaśyanā)
MODULE 3 Placements Compassion in Action
Keeping a reflective log, supervision from placement hosts and EBU faculty
Mid-point session; sharing placement experience
PREPARATION FOR ASSIGNMENT: Reflective Log
MODULE 4 Integration and Final Assessment
Session 1 online Reflective log review
Session 2 online Integration
Session 3 online Individual presentations
Session 4 residential
Individual presentations, celebration & graduation