How Hindu Tradition can Enrich the Practice of Chaplaincy
People who know me as a Yoga therapist, Ayurvedic practitioner, and practicing Hindu sometimes ask, "Why enter chaplaincy?" In my view, traditional Hindu and Dharmic principles will have a special role in enriching current chaplaincy practices.
Bharat's Dharmic tradition can be summarized as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning "the whole universe is my family." In this statement, there is no mention of any sectarian division - the tradition is completely open and inclusive - it is actually a step beyond interfaith, so the Dharmic approach to the interreligious world is organic and unbound. While interfaith and secular influences offer an alternative approach to denomination-based chaplaincies, Dharmic tradition can shift the paradigm further by eliminating religious barriers and genuinely touching the care seeker without separation. In other words, I believe that chaplaincy in the Dharmic tradition can offer a "supra-secular" approach which encompasses "all" without necessarily rejecting anything that sounds "religious."
I believe that chaplaincy in the Dharmic tradition can offer a "supra-secular" approach which encompasses "all" without necessarily rejecting anything that sounds "religious."
In my perspective, the interaction between caregiver and careseeker within the framework of the caregiving process can be seen as analogous to the Upanishadic view of the interaction between higher knowledge and the student in the knowledge-seeking process. In the Upanishadic view, while a student must have a high level of motivation to learn, paradoxically a certain dispassion is needed in order to recognize the ultimate reality. Similarly, a caregiver must maintain high levels of compassion while simultaneously maintaining equanimity so that they themselves are not emotionally vulnerable.
Hindus can enrich chaplaincy by using Yoga, Yoga therapy, and Ayurveda as adjuncts to the assessment tools widely used in formal chaplaincy. These tools will add immensely to the understanding and care of individuals and can be extended to other domains of chaplaincy services such as prison education, corporate and military services.
I live with a rich blend of learning and teaching Yoga, pranayama, and meditation. HSCI's CHT course further heightened my desire to serve the community, so, when HSCI and GTU announced the first-ever pathway to Hindu chaplaincy, I was among the first to sign up for GTU's inter-religious chaplaincy program. I can foresee that the participation of Hindu scholars will enhance chaplaincy education, with the promise of helping humanity in all parts of the world.
Sanmay Mukhopadhyay
For the last 35 years, Sanmay has practiced various Yoga lineages like Iyengar, Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, and Patanjali Yoga. He has attended courses in the USA as well as India. From his childhood, Sanmay grew up in the yogic culture and was initiated into yoga using Bisthu Ghosh's traditions. Sanmay formally started health/wellness and disease management using yoga over the past 15 years. He has been teaching Yoga for the last 20 years and teaches in the USA and globally. Sanmay studies and specializes in ancient scriptures to create the foundation for his yogic journey. Sanmay left his corporate executive job to spread the health benefits of Yoga and Ayurveda.