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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 29

Benny Liow spoke with Dan and Education (CPE). It is also known Buddhists have been giving
requested for a brief interview as Clinical Pastoral Counselling and chaplaincy support for close to
based on his pioneering work on has a number of training units. In 2,500 years. The word Chaplain
Buddhist chaplaincy in Australia. Buddhist chaplaincy, the support has a long Christian heritage. It was
we give is contemplative care. once used to refer to representatives
Benny: Can you share with us This is a process of presence, deep of the Christian faith, but now
how you first became interested listening and reflection. A chaplain it’s applied to all traditions. The
in Buddhism, and why you choose helps to deepen one’s awareness of Buddha himself instituted care
to become a Buddhist chaplain? attitudes, beliefs and assumptions, and support for those in need into

and it’s incredibly holistic and the monastic order. In sending the
Dan: My interest began not in therapeutic. We are caregivers that monks and nuns to walk through
organized religion but in a spiritual focus on mental, emotional and India spreading the Dharma
practice that could help me navigate spiritual support to allow a person they propagated the Buddhist
suffering and trauma. Somehow, I the breathing space to recognize culture of compassion through the
found this was wholly complete in their potential for healing. The world. It’s not just in the Vinaya
Buddha Dharma and from the very Buddhist Council of New South teachings that the Buddha gave
beginning felt that if I am going to Wales offers Buddhist CPE training. the practical instruction he gave
put my energy into freedom from Universities and teaching hospitals the spiritual teachings throughout
suffering by understanding my own offer non-denominational CPE the Buddha’s sutra teachings on
mind, then I must find an outlet to training programs. the Four Immeasurables: loving-
support others in doing the same. kindness, compassion, gladness and
Chaplaincy felt like the perfect fit. Chaplaincy seems to be grounded equanimity. We are told that these
in compassion. Can we trace sublime states are like the love a
Where and how were you trained the philosophy and context of mother has for her only child and
as a Buddhist chaplain? Buddhist religious care to the meditated to be universal. This, the
Buddha himself? Buddha didn’t see as a separate part

Becoming a chaplain in Australia of the spiritual endeavour but at the
requires training in Clinical Pastoral core of the path to liberation.