Two papers offer deeply-rooted and contemporary adaptations of non-theistic, non-western spiritual traditions for new perspectives and effective practices of chaplaincy, and two papers engage spiritual care skills and concepts in non-traditional professional and disciplinary contexts. The session presenters offer Buddhist resources for Buddhist, interfaith, and secular campus chaplaincy; multi-faceted Indian Yogic philosophy, ethics, and physical movements as a system to inform healthcare chaplaincy; an argument for spiritual care in the work of public defenders to maintain the dignity and meet the needs of persons in the criminal justice system; and an exploration of spiritual care education in the experiences of professional social workers and their clients. Together, they shed new light on the resources and practices with which, and spaces within which, innovative spiritual care works to free persons from suffering, urging us to question the limits of existing mainstream models and disciplinary boundaries.
As Buddhist campus chaplaincy continues to develop as a field, the work of a Buddhist chaplain requires both creative adaptation and deep engagement with Buddhist traditions. Providing spiritual care to young adults – especially undergraduate students – demands a thoughtful translation of Buddhist discourses, skillful interpretation of core concepts, and innovative ways to apply them in dialogue and practice. Drawing from my experience as a Buddhist chaplain in higher education, this presentation explores how Buddhist literature – rich with stories, similes, and parables – can serve as a resource for engaging students in meaningful spiritual reflection. I will share case studies illustrating how I have applied Buddhist teachings to campus life, including pastoral care, interfaith dialogue, and mindfulness practices. Additionally, I will reflect on how my own Buddhist experience has shaped my approach to chaplaincy, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of recontextualizing Buddhism within a university setting.
Originating in India, yoga has become globally popular, with 38.4 million US practitioners in 2022. Despite modern emphasis on yoga postures, yoga is a multi-faceted practice system for attaining freedom from suffering. Indeed, according to Patañjali, the fifth-century author of the Yoga Sūtras, yoga aims to restrain the movements of the mind. Indeed, yoga seeks to calm an agitated mind through ethical discernment, posture, breathwork, and meditation. Here, I argue for an innovative chaplaincy based on accessible translation of Sanskrit yoga texts to provide an interfaith support system based on yoga. Since Patañjali does not overtly express a religious affiliation, yoga chaplaincy potentially resonates across faiths. Indeed, yoga enjoys widespread multi-faith traction, encompasses teachings for calming the mind, and has medical benefits, according to the scientific research literature. Therefore, it has the potential to form the basis of a comprehensive interfaith chaplaincy.
This paper explores integrating spiritual care practices within public defense, redefining the boundaries of spiritual care beyond traditional religious settings. Drawing on my experience as a public defender and training in spiritual care, I argue that these practices are crucial for public defenders to uphold the dignity of their clients and resist the dehumanization that happens to people who go through the criminal legal system. The paper unfolds in three parts: a narrative account of my work, an analysis of "story companionship" as resistance to state violence, and a call for recognizing public defense as a viable site for spiritual care. Public defenders can promote healing and liberation for clients facing a dehumanizing system by providing empathetic listening, presence, and narrative advocacy. This reimagined approach to spiritual care recognizes the profound impact of systemic injustice on the human spirit and advocates for a more holistic and compassionate approach to justice.
This paper will present three case studies based on actual experiences of social work students and their social work supervisors from three institutional settings: a high school, a long-term health care facility and a state prison. The case studies represent three unique contexts in which students and their internship supervisors have engaged with issues of religious freedom in relation to belief, identity, affiliation and practice of the clients served and/or the professionals working in the institution. The paper will examine philosophical and practical approaches for how the teaching about religion can strengthen professional and inter-professional educational learning outcomes for students and practitioners in a variety of educational and professional settings.