FOUNDATIONS IN BUDDHIST CONTEMPLATIVE CAREGIVING TRAINING PROGRAM

July 19th, 2008
Introductory Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program Graduation


Anne Grossman: PA-C/MPAS, Physician Assistant, Coordinator, Palliate Care Team, Capital Health System, Trenton, NJ "This program deepened my commitment to benefit all sentient beings. Most beneficial to me was the opportunity to my practice in a different light."	Erin Merriman: Designer, Artist, Student "With the help of the amazing teaching team, I made a surprising discovery about myself: that I have a deep longing to be of service. The Chaplaincy training is not about being a Buddhist or even a chaplain, but about being yourself."	Jane Ashe: Registered Nurse "I jumped at the opportunity to attend the Zen Center for Contemplative Care. For one year I basked in the light of skillful teachers, enthusiastic students, routine one on one supervision, insightful reading assignments, dynamic guest speakers, and volunteerism. The "Center" brought me back to my community , back to my passion, back to my center. It like hospice has penetrated my everyday life with purpose."

Karen Walker: President, Oneteam, Inc. "The biggest gift [from the program] is the comfort level I now have just being with people who are seriously ill and dying. This has led directly to the ability to be present, and to be a comfort for friends coping with life threatening illnesses, and family who've lost or are losing a partner or parent. I have broadened my understanding of death. I only wish I'd had this experience before the illness/death of my father."	Mark Morris: President - Heart Circle Sangha "Selfless service is an essential component of the spiritual journey. The NYZCCC chaplaincy program showed me how to express that principle more deeply and in (for me) new areas. It brought new dimensions of meaning to the notion of being present to the suffering of the world and to my own life. It was a truly life and consciousness altering experience."	Willie Smith: Episcopal Priest "As an Episcopal priest I learned about Chaplaincy in Seminary. I was looking for more. I learned to be present in a deeper way. I learned to be a witness to all the people I met and by using myself to listen. I came away with a deeper awareness of the Divine in everyone and for that I am very grateful."

On July 19, 2008 the inaugural Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program’s 34 students graduated. It was a beautiful two day retreat of all the students presenting their Final Projects: from published rituals for people who are about the be removed from life support to art projects expressing their experience of the year of training. Our Guiding Spiritual Teacher, Roshi Enkyo O’Hara presided over the graduation giving the students certificates of completion of 300 hours of Training. We are proud of all our students.

In the first year, our students provided contemplative care in prisons. hospices, and hospitals, and police stations, and connected with:

3,400	individuals received contemplative care in the face of death, cancer, AIDS, and other illnesses
515	family members and friends received contemplative care as they dealt with grief, mourning and loss
3,100	hours of compassionate care have been given by our volunteer chaplains
800	staff people in prisons, hospitals, and hospices received spiritual care, including doctors, nurses, social workers and officers
552	contemplative care and, meditation groups were facilitated by, our volunteer chaplains