By Dario Doshin Girolami
Buddhist chaplaincy is an emerging field in Europe. Centro Zen L’Arco, in collaboration with the EBU Chaplaincy Network and the Department of Psychology at Sapienza University, with the financial contribution of the Italian Buddhist Union and with the patronages of the European Buddhist Union and of Religions for Peace Europe, organized in Rome, at Sapienza University and at Centro Zen L’Arco, the first European Buddhist Chaplaincy Conference from the 23rd to the 25th of June. An exciting programme of speakers, workshops and discussions to foster dialogue amongst Dharma practitioners serving in the areas of health, end-of-life-care and prisons.
Speakers included Dharma teachers, researchers, pioneers, changemakers and other faith leaders from across Europe and the United States.
As the sun and the clouds alternated on the seven hills of Rome, similarly the speakers took turns on the stage, resulting in a long friendly conversation, followed by more than fifty people, in attendance and online. The conference was opened by the vibrant speeches of Ron Eichhorn, president of the European Buddhist Union, Filippo Scianna, president of the Italian Buddhist Union and Luigi De Salvia, President of Religions for Peace Italy and Europe. That beginning set the tone for the harmony that reigned throughout the conference, which marked a turning point in the development of Buddhist Chaplaincy in Europe.
Rev. Joan Halifax Roshi, Abbot of Upaya Zen Center and Hospice Caregiver, spoke about the practice her chaplaincy connecting it with Sila, Samadhi, Prajna. Her sweet voice, her deep wisdom moved us all. Ven. Ajahn Khemadhammo – Phra Bhavanaviteht, Spiritual Director of Angulimala spoke about the evolution of Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy in the UK. Ven. Dr. Carola Roloff, Buddhist Nun, Professor of Buddhism at the University of Hamburg spoke about buddhist chaplaincy in Europe from an academic perspective.
Dr. Monica Sanford, Assistant Dean for Multireligious Ministry at Harvard University spoke about Kalyanamitra – a model for Buddhist spiritual care, presenting a research and analysis into the professional practice of Buddhist spiritual care based on the work of actual chaplains. Rev. Elena Seishin Viviani, Italian Buddhist Union Religious Ministers coordinator, spoke about the religious ministers and the spiritual assistants of the Italian Buddhist Union.
Yours truly, Rev. Dario Doshin Girolami, Abbot of Centro Zen L’Arco, Prison Chaplain, EBU Chaplaincy Network Coordinator and chief organizer of the Conference, spoke about buddhist meditation in prison: how to meet every single inmate as a Buddha and not as a monster. Kirsten DeLeo, Meditation Teacher, Trainer in Contemplative Care and EBU Chaplaincy Network steering group, spoke about Buddhist chaplains in end-of-life care. Keith Munnings – Meditation Teacher, Hospital Chaplain, and EBU Chaplaincy Network steering group, spoke about what qualifies a Buddhist practitioner for chaplaincy. Prof. Antonino Raffone, Professor of Neuroscience, Sapienza University and conference co-organizers spoke about his scientific research on chaplaincy and its benefits.
Dr. Stefano Bettera, EBU vice president, chaired the interfaith panel discussion, introduced by Dr. Luigi De Salvia. F. Baby Ellickal, Catholic Chaplain, Dr. David Gerbi, psychologist and president of the Association Safeguarding Transmission of the Jewish Heritage of Libya, Imam Yahya Pallavicini, of the European Council of Muslim Leaders for the inter religious dialogue, animated a fraternal discussion. Representatives of different religions met on the common ground of compassionate help to others.
Delegates who share the visions of European Buddhist Chaplaincy and who are keen to contribute to its development over the next few years joyously attend the conference and the workshop in presence and online.
We reflected on the unique opportunities and challenges within the European context and explored: the practice of Buddhist spiritual care in different public settings (hospital, hospice, prison), the European approach to Buddhist chaplaincy, the training needs and pathways to becoming a Buddhist chaplain, the various training models offered in the United States, the insights from chaplains of other denominations.
In addition, the conference tried to identify the spiritual and pastoral needs within Buddhist communities to encourage broader community cohesion and social integration.
On this occasion the new EBU training course for Buddhist chaplains has been officially presented. Produced by EBU Chaplaincy Steering Group formed by Rev. Dario Doshin Girolami (Chair and founder), Kirsten DeLeo and Keith Munnings, this proposal has emerged from discussion within EBU in the need for clearer entry pathways into and career pathways through Chaplaincy. The wish is for a more widely recognised and accepted form of qualification. The aspiration is for a training pathway to be applicable to different public sectors and useable across Europe.
Integrating Buddhist teachings and practices, this training will equip Buddhist practitioners with basic skills of chaplaincy/spiritual care.
Students will learn about the different fields of buddhist chaplaincy and spiritual care, the basic knowledge and essential skills needed to serve in prison, healthcare or hospice/palliative care chaplaincy as well as sangha care within our own communities, the practical foundation in Buddhist-based forms of spiritual care.
We currently envision it as an introductory training. It may not meet all the requirements needed for professional certification in the different countries. It may help some students to fulfil the requirements of their sangha to be endorsed or ordained as a chaplain.
The course – endorsed by the Dharma Gate Buddhist University – will comprise four modules with a total of 144 hours of learning. The entire training may take between 18 – 24 months and, on its completion, will provide through the University a “Adult learning program” certificate.
The word “Chaplain” goes back to St Martin of Tours. While Martin was a soldier in the Roman army and stationed in Gaul (modern-day France), one day he met a scantily clad beggar. He impulsively cut his military cloak in half to share with the man. Suddenly the sky cleared and the sun began to warm like summer. When Martin woke up the day after, he found his cloak restored to wholeness.
The part kept by himself (in Latin Cappa Sancti Martini) became the famous relic preserved in the oratory of the Merovingian kings of the Franks. The Christian priest who cared for the cloak in its reliquary was called a Cappellanus, and ultimately all priests who served the military were called cappellani. The French translation is chapelains, from which the English word chaplain is derived.
So it was highly symbolic to hold the first conference on European Buddhist chaplaincy right in the middle of Rome, the center of Christianity.
As St. Martin’s action changed the climate, may the Buddhist chaplaincy turns the chill of old age, sickness and death into the warmth of compassion.
About the author
Dario Doshin Girolami, M.Phil., is a Soto-Zen priest and a Dharma Teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. Former Adjunct Professor of Zen at John Cabot University and of Comparative Religion at the American University of Rome, he currently teaches Buddhism and holds regular seminars at the Faculty of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, and teaches Meditation at Rebibbia Prison – Rome.
This article first appeared in EBU Magazine #11 – Buddhism and Education (Autumn 2023). Download the full issue as PDF or browse all issues.