A Milestone for Buddhist Chaplaincy

As some of you may know, I have been involved in supporting Buddhist chaplaincy in Europe. This March, the first group of twenty-one Buddhist practitioners graduated from our first course in Buddhist Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care. An exciting and innovative collaboration between the European Buddhist Union and Dharma Gate University in beautiful Budapest, the oldest Buddhist university in Europe.

What made this training programme unique? Its pan-Buddhist approach and emphasis on experiential learning. We developed for practitioners from all traditions, Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. We also combined online, residential learning, and one-on-one mentoring with longer practicums in hospitals, nursing homes, palliative and hospice care, and prisons.

By practising and learning together across Buddhist traditions, areas of specialisation, and nationalities, the students formed a vibrant chaplaincy sangha. The newly trained chaplains now serve their communities in a variety of ways, and many have already begun working as full-time, part-time, or volunteer chaplains in the public sector.

What’s next? A new course is already in the planning for autumn 2027. So, stay tuned! If you are interested in learning more, please email us at: ebuchaplaincy@gmail.com