Foundations of Buddhist Chaplaincy: A Japan-US Dialogue

From March 27- March 29, 2024, chaplains and scholars from around the world gathered at IBS for Foundations of Buddhist Chaplaincy: A Japan-US Dialogue. The event was a moving and thought provoking three day discussion of chaplaincy, spiritual care, the ways chaplaincy is taken up in different cultures, and how to facilitate collaboration among spiritual care providers.

Dr. Lilu Chen, Field Education Director, remarked, “The workshop was deeply touching, affirming the capacity of Buddhists to respond compassionately to suffering. Ministers, educators, and students reported that they were inspired and benefited from being in community with Buddhist chaplains. I learned a lot from our Japanese colleagues and visiting speakers from various American institutions. The comparisons between the US and Japan helped us contextualize this field of chaplaincy within historical and cultural frameworks, deepening our understanding of how we might better shape Buddhist chaplaincy in the future.”

Co-sponsored by the Institute of Buddhist Studies, the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, the Numata Foundation, and the Buddhist Ministry Working Group, the event featured the following presentations and discussions:

Speakers and Moderators:

• Ram Appalaraju, Buddhist Eco Chaplain and faculty, Sati Center for Buddhist Studies
• Dr. Mark Blum, Professor and Shinjo Ito Distinguished Chair in Japanese Studies, UC Berkeley
• Dr. Lilu Chen, Field Education Director, Institute of Buddhist Studies
• Rev. Prof. Fronsdal, senior guiding teacher, Insight Meditation Center
• Dr. Jitsujo T. Gauthier, CoChair, Buddhist Chaplaincy Department, University of the West
• Rev. HIRANO Shunkō, former abbot of Chūgenji Temple; death row chaplain at Tokyo Jail
• Dr. KASAI Kenta, Psychologist, Professor at the Graduate School for Applied Religious Studies, Sophia University
• Dr. KAWAMOTO Kanae, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo
• Prof. KIGOSHI Yasushi, Professor, Shin Buddhist Studies, Otani University
• Jamie Kimmel, BCC, Staff Chaplain, UCSF Health
• Rev. Dr. Daijaku Kinst, Professor Emerita, IBS; guiding co-teacher, Ocean Gate Zen Center; Kokusaifukyoshi (International Teacher), Soto Shu
• Dr. Nancy G. Lin, Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy, Tibetan and South Asian Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies
• Dr. Adam Lyons, Assistant Professor, Institute of Religious Studies, Université de Montréal
• Dr. Leigh Miller, Director of the MDiv Degree and Chaplaincy Program, Maitripa College
• Dr. Scott Mitchell, Dean of Students and Faculty Affairs, Institute of Buddhist Studies
• Rev. Mary Remington, Director, Spiritual Care Department, Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, NY; Director, Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program, Upaya Institute and Zen Center
• Rev. Dr. Monica Sanford, Assistant Dean for Multireligious Ministry, Harvard Divinity School
• Rev. TAKAHASHI Eigo, Abbot, Koryūzan Kichijōji Temple
• Dr. TANIYAMA Yōzō, Professor, Practical Religious Studies, Tohoku University
• Trent Thornley, Executive Director & CPE Educator, San Francisco Night Ministry
• Dr. UCHIMOTO Koyu, Associate Professor, Ryukoku University
• Jonathan Watts, Coordinator, International Buddhist Psychotherapy and Chaplaincy working group; Senior Research Fellow, Rinbutsuken Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program, Tokyo, Japan
• Evan Wong, BCC, Pediatric Palliative Care Chaplain, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center
• Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, pastoral counselor and author, Marabella Storycraft; world traveler; spiritual care “crier”
• Dr. Elaine Yuen, contemplative educator and chaplain; professor emerita, Naropa University

Workshop Schedule

Wednesday, March 27th

3:00 PM                  Welcoming remarks

• Dr. Scott Mitchell, Dean of Students and Faculty Affairs, Institute of Buddhist Studies
• Dr. Mark Blum, Professor and Shinjo Ito Distinguished Chair in Japanese Studies, UC Berkeley

3:15–5:15         Key Topics for Chaplaincy in the US and Japan 

What developments in the field of chaplaincy are worth naming and/or celebrating? How is the work of chaplains evolving alongside the changing nature of our world? What are the key issues and challenges faced by chaplains and chaplaincy educators today? In this workshop, what do we hope to learn from each other in our respective approaches to chaplaincy?

• Rev. HIRANO Shunkō, former abbot of Chūgenji Temple; death row chaplain at Tokyo Jail
• Dr. Daijaku Kinst, Professor Emerita, IBS; guiding co-teacher, Ocean Gate Zen Center; Kokusaifukyoshi (International Teacher), Soto Shu
• Prof. KIGOSHI Yasushi, Professor, Shin Buddhist Studies, Otani University
• Rev. Mary Remington, Director, Spiritual Care Department, Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, NY; Director, Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program, Upaya Institute and Zen Center

Moderator: Dr. Nancy G. Lin, Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy, Tibetan and South Asian Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies

5:15-6:15 Reception 

Thursday, March 28th

10:00 AM–12:00 PM     Education, Training, and Formation of Buddhist Chaplains

How are chaplains trained in Japan or the US? What goes into the formation process of future chaplains on the personal and institutional level? How is chaplaincy grounded in Buddhist teachings? How do we draw upon the Buddhist tradition to serve people of diverse backgrounds and situations? What challenges do chaplaincy educators face today? What kinds of training might better equip or enrich our work as chaplains?

• Dr. TANIYAMA Yōzō, Professor, Practical Religious Studies, Tohoku University
• Dr. Jitsujo T. Gauthier, CoChair, Buddhist Chaplaincy Department, University of the West
• Dr. Leigh Miller, Director of the MDiv Degree and Chaplaincy Program, Maitripa College
• Rev. Prof. Gil Fronsdal, senior guiding teacher, Insight Meditation Center

Moderator: Dr. Lilu Chen, Field Education Director, Institute of Buddhist Studies

1:30–3:30       Collective Crisis

Chaplains respond to natural disasters, pandemics, and tragedies that affect large groups of people. What challenges or issues arise for chaplains when responding to a collective crisis? How do chaplains draw upon the study and practice of the Dharma to shape their relationship to tragedy? How do chaplains interact with individuals and communities to facilitate healing and recovery? We will discuss some specific case studies.

• Dr. Elaine Yuen, contemplative educator and chaplain; professor emerita, Naropa University
• Rev. TAKAHASHI Eigo, Abbot, Koryūzan Kichijōji Temple
• Ram Appalaraju, Buddhist Eco Chaplain and faculty, Sati Center for Buddhist Studies
• Jamie Kimmel, BCC, Staff Chaplain, UCSF Health

Moderator: Dr. Scott Mitchell, Dean of Students and Faculty Affairs, Institute of Buddhist Studies

3:30-4:00 Tea and Snacks

4:00–6:00         Personal Crisis

Individuals often encounter personal crises when facing death, physical illness, addiction, and/or mental health challenges for themselves or their family members. What issues arise for chaplains when working closely with those experiencing a personal crisis? How do chaplains draw upon the study and practice of the Dharma to respond to the suffering of others? In what ways do chaplains interact with individuals and families to facilitate healing and recovery? We will discuss some specific case studies.

• Dr. UCHIMOTO Koyu, Associate Professor, Ryukoku University
• Trent Thornley, Executive Director & CPE Educator, San Francisco Night Ministry
• Dr. KAWAMOTO Kanae, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo
• Evan Wong, BCC, Pediatric Palliative Care Chaplain, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center

Moderator: Dr. Adam Lyons, Assistant Professor, Institute of Religious Studies, Université de Montréal

Friday, March 29th

10:00-12:00                   The Future of Chaplaincy

What is the role of the chaplain in our changing world? With shifting religious demographics, how do we imagine chaplains adapting to the unique needs of their communities? What new forms of chaplaincy are becoming relevant in both Japan and the U.S.?

• Rev. Dr. Monica Sanford, Assistant Dean for Multireligious Ministry, Harvard Divinity School
• Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, pastoral counselor and author, Marabella Storycraft; world traveler; spiritual care “crier”
• Dr. KASAI Kenta, Psychologist, Professor at the Graduate School for Applied Religious Studies, Sophia University
• Jonathan Watts, Coordinator, International Buddhist Psychotherapy and Chaplaincy working group; Senior Research Fellow, Rinbutsuken Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program, Tokyo, Japan

Moderator: Dr. Mark Blum, Professor and Shinjo Ito Distinguished Chair in Japanese Studies, UC Berkeley

12:00 PM–12:30 PM  Closing discussion

Moderator: Dr. Nancy G. Lin, Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy, Tibetan and South Asian Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies

A more in depth report will be published in the Wheel of Dharma.