Buddhist chaplain/spiritual caregiver adult education course begins at Dharma Gate (in English)

In cooperation with the European Buddhist Union and The Tan Kapuja Buddhist College, a new English-language adult education program, Buddhist Chaplain/Spiritual Caregiver, will be launched at The Tan Kapuja.
The new adult education program, which will start in September 2024, is open to Buddhist practitioners who would like to engage in Buddhist care, as well as those who work in healthcare, hospitals, hospices, palliative care, or prisons, even as volunteers, and would like to deepen their spiritual care practice. The program also welcomes practicing professionals who are open to Buddhism and wish to develop their skills and knowledge.

Following the Buddha’s path, Buddhist caregivers provide compassionate service to Buddhists, people of other faiths, and non-religious people alike. They help to alleviate and transform the pain of suffering through spiritual and religious care.

The Buddhist Chaplain/Spiritual Caregiver course is open to practitioners of all Buddhist traditions, especially those who wish to serve in healthcare, end-of-life care, or prisons. The training has been developed jointly by experienced Buddhist chaplains and caregivers from the main Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana).

Through shared practice and learning across traditions, disciplines, and nationalities, another important goal of the training is to build a strong and vibrant European pastoral sangha. The European Buddhist Union is working to ensure that this course meets the requirements for professional certification in various European countries. The course can also help students meet the requirements of their sangha for ordination as chaplains or spiritual caregivers.

This foundational training is an introductory course that includes both online and in-person training. The training consists of four modules, totaling 144 hours of study, with each module taking approximately three months to complete. The entire training can be completed in 18-24 months. During the training, there will be three half-day online meditation sessions (on Zoom) and a 4-day residential retreat at the Tan Kapuja Buddhist Church and College Retreat Center in Mánfa. In addition, each student will receive individual supervision and peer support.

For more information and to apply, visit the program’s English-language website:

https://www.europeanbuddhistchaplaincy.org/home