The CHT Course: Reimagined & Restructured
Spiritual care has been integral to the Hindu tradition from time immemorial, delivered informally within the close family structure and by spiritual guides. With the growing acceptance of chaplaincy and spiritual counseling as established vocations across religious traditions, the Hindu diaspora has also begun to adopt these models, offering alternatives to traditional familial support structures. The Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI) has emerged as a key leader in this transition, addressing the evolving needs of the global Hindu community.
Since its inception in 2018, the Certified Hindu Chaplaincy Training (CHT) course has seen ongoing enhancements. However, a major transformation was introduced for Cohort-7 in 2024. This overhaul was driven by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and the growing complexities of spiritual care today. The transformation spanned curriculum content, teaching methodology, and structures for continued learning. Notably, class size and pedagogical structure were redesigned to encourage deeper engagement between faculty mentors and students. A common concern among graduates -- "I have completed the CHT course; what next?" -- served as a catalyst for this change. The updated structure also lays out a pathway toward obtaining a Master's degree at institutions such as the Graduate Theological Union (GTU).
The curriculum is now organized into six Mandalas, or modules, each focusing on a core area of learning and application.
This reimagining has been enriched by four newly onboarded faculty members with deep expertise in Hindu philosophy and chaplaincy. The curriculum is now organized into six Mandalas, or modules, each focusing on a core area of learning and application. The first three Mandalas develop essential knowledge, skills, and tools rooted in Hindu traditions. The latter three explore key life events such as birth, education, career, marriage, elder care, aging, and end-of-life. These later modules draw directly from Hindu scriptures and contextual wisdom to offer clinical learning opportunities.
Each scholar is assigned a dedicated faculty mentor who guides them through the entire course. For every Mandala, two primary faculty members oversee the content and assignments. Students are expected to complete two faculty conversations, two peer reflection dialogues, one to two guided discussion sessions, and two discussion forum contributions per Mandala. The culmination of each module is a reflection paper synthesizing the scholar's insights and learning. The final stage involves a comprehensive reflection on the cohort experience, presented during a faculty panel that also helps clarify the scholar's future trajectory.
To support these learning objectives, multiple interactive tools are employed. Discussion forums initiated via Moodle foster peer-to-peer engagement and the exchange of diverse perspectives. Faculty-led live discussions serve to deepen understanding of specific skills introduced in each Mandala, helping students identify and refine their strengths and areas for growth. These sessions aim to move scholars away from "one-size-fits-all" approaches by cultivating a nuanced understanding of both themselves and their future care-seekers. Drawing on Hindu theology and sacred texts, students are encouraged to develop individualized and responsive care practices.
A particularly impactful addition is the expanded use of role-play. These exercises expose scholars to a wide range of chaplaincy scenarios and conversational styles, enabling them to build confidence and practice culturally sensitive care strategies.
A particularly impactful addition is the expanded use of role-play. These exercises expose scholars to a wide range of chaplaincy scenarios and conversational styles, enabling them to build confidence and practice culturally sensitive care strategies. Role-plays are designed to highlight the subtle art of spiritual care within a Hindu context and are actively participated in by both faculty and students.
The service component of the course is supported by TrayaCare, HSCI's proprietary AI-driven virtual meeting platform. Built on WhatsApp functionalities and layered with a secure calendar and scheduling system, TrayaCare allows care-seekers to book sessions with minimal friction. Meetings are transcribed for the benefit of both parties, though no official recordings are stored, ensuring privacy and data security.
Graduates of the CHT program have multiple pathways ahead. They may pursue a Master's degree in Interfaith Chaplaincy at GTU or other institutions such as Harvard Divinity School. Others may join HSCI's telechaplaincy service or establish independent practices within their communities. With its restructured format, the CHT course prepares its graduates to serve with confidence, cultural competence, and spiritual depth.
Kailash Joshi, PhD
Kailash Joshi, retired IBM exec and founder of HSCI, draws on a rich career in academia, startups, and community orgs to build institutions that serve the spiritual needs of the Hindu diaspora. His professional background includes engineering, executive leadership, and nonprofit management.
Usha Narasimhan
Usha Narasimhan serves as a faculty member, registrar and Board member at HSCI. She holds credentials in chaplaincy, law and finance. As Registrar, she also mentors students on both academic and practical subjects.