NEW YORK ZEN CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATIVE CARE

Introductory Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program Graduates

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

GRADUATION DAY

One weekend we asked the chaplaincy students to compose Haiku. This is a selection from that day.

Gee wasn’t it grand?
The seltzer bottle is emptied
The bubbles remain
Carole Baker

Breathing in, the flickering of the
Candle’s flame
Breathing out, smoke rising
Anne Reigeluth

Traces of hawk’s wing
Etched on reservoir snow
Gone by day’s end
Dojun

Thresholds of my breath
Change like wind, a child’s mind free
I begin again
Mary Remington

The quiet descends
The clamor undone
Farewell

This snowflake clings
But cannot resist
Dissolution
Mrs, Smith!

Each moment perfect
Without beginning or end
Including today
Ann Grossman

She arrived in early Spring
She returned by way of early Winter
She now rests in Summer
Vasti

I spread my arms
To wind
Sing and fade.
Willie Smith

Leap year day
In bright spring sun.
So soon, it is done.
Laura Foley