Kalyāṇamitra, volume II: Pragmatic Skills for Buddhist Spiritual Care
Rev. Dr. Monica Sanford
with contributions from Victor Gabriel, Nathan Jishin Michon, Henry C.H. Shiu, & Linda Hochstetler
ISBN 978-1-896559-70-4 / Paperback, 8x10 inches / 252 pages / includes bibliography & index / Available March 20, 2025
Kalyāṇamitra: A Model for Buddhist Spiritual Care presents research and analysis into the professional practice of Buddhist spiritual care based on the work of actual chaplains. Kalyāṇamitra is one of less than a dozen books about this young but growing profession, and the first to present a comprehensive theory for Buddhist spiritual care.
Kalyāṇamitra, Volume I, presents an overview of Buddhist chaplaincy with a comprehensive theoretical framework and model for Buddhist spiritual care. Together, the framework and model outline the stages of formation of a Buddhist chaplain, provide a heuristic for the praxis of spiritual care, and a guide to grounding Buddhist chaplaincy in the Dharma.
Kalyāṇamitra, Volume II, focuses on the development of pragmatic skills throughout the education, training and internship of new Buddhist chaplains, as well as an overview of professional issues facing Buddhist chaplains in North America. Volume II builds on the theoretical framework and model presented in Volume I by placing the skills within their context and advancing a plan for the integration of the framework and model in Buddhist chaplaincy pedagogy.
Rev. Dr. Monica Sanford is the Assistant Dean for Multireligious Ministry at Harvard Divinity School, where she leads the Buddhist Ministry Initiative and teaches courses related to Buddhism, spiritual care, ministry, reflection, and spirituality among the non-religious. She is one of only a handful of fully trained Buddhist practical integrative scholars producing research on the profession of Buddhist chaplaincy. She is one of only two Buddhists to lead a religious life program at a North American college or university. Rev. Dr. Sanford conducts unique field research and regularly presents at international conferences on Buddhist chaplaincy. She is a member of the Buddhist Spiritual Care Educators of North America, a practicing chaplain, and an ordained minister in a Chan lineage.
Volume II Contents
Acknowledgments / Introduction / How to Use These Books
Part I: Pragmatic Skills for Every Context
1 Presence
Not Being Present / Being Present in Meditation & Daily Life / Being Present in Spiritual Care / Being Present for Yourself: Reflexivity
2 Listening & Responding
Not Listening / Listening / Responding Appropriately / Responding to Difficulty
3 Empathy & Compassion
The Lexicon of Open-Heartedness / The Dark Side: Contagion, Fatigue, Trauma, Burnout / Cultivating the Four Divine Abodes / Connection and Satisfaction
4 Spiritual Assessment
Existing Assessment Tools and Models / Buddhist Spiritual Assessment Models / Creating Spiritual Assessments / Charting and Note-Keeping
5 Personal & Professional Boundaries
Confidentiality, Transference, Countertransference, & Projection / Healthy Boundaries at Work & Home / Maintaining Communities of Accountability
6 Spiritual Leadership
How to Be a Good Follower / Models for Leadership / Spiritual Authority in Spiritual Care / Spiritually Empowering Leaders
7 Part I Conclusion & Reflection
Conclusion / Reflections Questions for Chapters 1 to 6 / Listening & Responding Exercises / Servant Leadership Questionnaire
Part II: Pragmatic Skills for Particular Contexts
Introduction
8 Prayer & Ritual, by Victor Gabriel
Introduction / Prayer as Relevant to the Buddhist Chaplain / Prayer from an Emic Perspective / Tibetan Ritual Theory / Dynamics of Buddhist Prayer / Conclusion
9 Interreligious Competencies, by Nathan Jishin Michon
Personal Interreligious Background / Interfaith Consciousness and Definitions / Where Religion and Culture Intertwine / Beginner’s Mind and Right Mindfulness / Responsible Learning and Awareness / Interfaith Rituals / Contemplative Practices for Multireligious or Interreligious Care
10 Intercultural Competencies, by Henry C.H. Shiu
Dharmic Basis for Intercultural Competencies / Principles for Intercultural Competency
11 Practical Psychology for Chaplains, by Linda Hochstetler
Introduction / Risk Assessment Protocols / Homicide Risk Assessments / Child Abuse / Elder Abuse / Domestic Violence / Addictions / Mental Health / Effective Referrals / Non-ordinary Spiritual Experiences / Community of Support / Potential Barriers / Continuity of Care / General Wholesome Supports
12 Privilege, Oppression, & Power
Reckoning With the Positionality / Case Study: A White Suburban Bubble / Dealing with Discrimination / Working Towards Social Justice
13 Part II Conclusion & Reflection
Conclusion / Reflection Questions for Chapters 8 to 12 / Ritual Design Exercises / New Explorations in Buddhist Chaplaincy
Appendices
Buddhist Chaplaincy Programs / Case Studies: Buddhist Spiritual Assessment for Charlie; Buddhist Spiritual Assessment for Edith / Bibliogaphy / Index
