VISIONARY PROGRAM FOR IMPERILED WORLD

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 4, 2008 

UPAYA'S CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM: A VISIONARY PROGRAM FOR IMPERILED WORLD  

Santa Fe, New MexicoThe Upaya Buddhist Chaplaincy Training is a comprehensive two-year certificate program for a new kind of chaplaincy intended to serve individuals, communities, the environment and the world. The program, launched in 2008, is now accepting applications for its 2009 learning cohorts. 

The Upaya Chaplaincy Program is open to those who wish to be ordained as Buddhist chaplain priests and lay chaplains, as well as those who wish to deepen their understanding of service from a Buddhist and systems thinking perspective. The training is intended to prepare students to have the skillful means to transform all forms of suffering, including suffering induced by structural violence. 

Over the last 20 years, we have seen a huge growth in the presence of Buddhism in the West and what it has to offer as a means for transforming suffering in the world. The program focuses on altruistic and compassionate applications of Buddhism in settings such as health care, hospices, prisons and jails, and the environment. The program is based on the premise that those doing ministerial work are endeavoring to serve and heal not only individuals, but also environments and social systems. This approach, based on complexity and systems theory and Buddhist philosophy, is radically innovative and is the theoretical and practical basis of the training.  

The Chaplaincy Program is part of the Zen Peacemaker Order, a leader in integrating spiritual practice with social action.  

Upaya’s Chaplaincy Program Faculty represents some of the leading Buddhist teachers and thinkers of our time, including Roshi Joan Halifax, Fleet Maull, Margaret Wheatley, Alan Wallace, Joanna Macy, Daniel Siegel, Richard Davidson, Stephen Batchelor, Sharon Salzberg, Frank Ostaseski, Alan Senauke and many more. Training paths for students include End-of-Life Care, Prison Ministry, Peacemaking, Environmental Ministry, Interfaith and Multifaith Ministry, and Women’s Ministry.  

WHAT: Upaya Zen Center's Buddhist Chaplaincy Program
WHEN: The next training cohort begins February 27, 2009. Applications are now being accepted for 2009. 
WHERE: Upaya Zen Center, 1404 Cerro Gordo Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.
COST: $5,400 per year (two-year program), includes 26 learning days at Upaya each year, mentoring and support materials. 
INFO: www.upaya.org 505-986-8518; chaplaincy@upaya.org 

ABOUT UPAYA: The Upaya Zen Center is one of the most renowned and respected Buddhist centers in the world doing socially relevant programming, making it possible for new and seasoned practitioners to explore how the contemplative life forms a base for social action and service.   

Contact:
Jennifer Marshall
505-231-1776
jennifer@jmarshallplan.com
www.jmarshallplan.com