Renowned for its unique teaching styles and focus on Tibetan Buddhism, Naropa University emphasized especially “Cross-disciplinary skills of learning and practicing” in their Buddhist Chaplaincy training programs. Therefore, in the curriculum, apart from studies on Tibetan Buddhism, various dharma teachings and communication among religions are also enclosed. To illustrate, Professor Elaine Yuen said that students are required to serve at various religious groups and to visit, at least one time before their graduation, local religious groups at their birthplace. As Americans often convert to a different religion after reaching adulthood, the purpose is for the students to open up their eyes, have refreshed understanding of their hometown religions, and sense the diverse facets of the multi-ethnic culture in American society.

In terms of actual practice, according to Elaine Yuen, students are required to meditate for five hours per week, training their mind to concentrate on practice. But she also pointed out that students are free to choose their own meditation methods; they could follow either Buddhist, Jewish or Islamic tradition. Furthermore, students need to participate, at least once, in an one-month solitary retreat during the program.

Elaine Yuen found that in such trainings, students learned to be better aware of their own mental and physical state. And with their mindfulness gradually enhanced, they are able to remind themselves to constantly give rise to the Bodhi Mind and remain resolute along the path of becoming a Buddhist Chaplain.

Meanwhile, Elaine Yuen also called attention to certain syndromes, such as “compassion fatigue” and “harm from ethical contribution,” which occur quite often to Buddhist Chaplains but should never be overlooked. When interacting with those in need, she said, various kinds of stress would inevitably accumulate, leading to “compassion fatigue,” a gradual decline in empathy towards others. Sources of stress include overload from work, over engagement in the recipients’ trauma,
being stuck due to limited resources from the organization, or even disagreements among group members.

When enshrouded by “compassion fatigue,” Elaine Yuen reminded, it is necessary to resort to mindfulness to again give rise to the Bodhi Mind. One also needs to investigate clearly the real causes underneath the fatigue so as to avoid “harm from ethical contribution” caused by unnecessary self-blame.

Texts: Yang, Ya-Ying (楊雅穎 ) Dharma Drum Monthly
Photos: Lee, Fan (李東陽)
Translation: Elenda Huang
Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)