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people to study Zen Buddhism practice. They also invite people into for people to access the parts of
which has strong religious roots? a supportive community. For folks the tradition that are meaningful
who get involved in the community, and powerful for them, but don’t
At our Zen center we see that lots we make opportunities to try out require it. Basically, we make a space
of people in our city are interested different aspects of the religious for people to see if the practice is
in meditation, but generally not tradition: rituals, chanting, flower beneficial and if they are willing to
so interested in religion. Our arranging, serving tea and treats for join. And some of them do. I am so
introductory programs teach people the community, studying Dharma, grateful that I did! EH
how to do simple Zen meditation cleaning the temple. We make room

Why Buddhist chaplains

are on the rise in US

By Rev Jo Laurence

Rev Laurence in the garden of a memory care facility in Portland Rev Laurence speaking about meditation and bodily suffering with
before visiting hospice patients to offer spiritual care. Photos: Gosia hospice patient Freimann.
Wozniacka/AP

Wedged into a recliner in the corner of her assisted- But rather than invoking God or a Christian prayer,
living apartment in Portland, Oregon, the United States, she talked of meditation, chanting and other Eastern
Skylar Freimann, who has a terminal heart condition spiritual traditions: “The body can weigh us down
and pulmonary illness, anxiously eyed her newly sometimes,” she counselled. “Where is the divine or the
arrived hospital bed on a recent day and worried over sacred in your decline?”
how she would maintain independence as she further
loses mobility. An ordained Sufi minister and practising Zen Buddhist
who brings years of meditation practice and scriptural
There to guide her along the journey was Rev Jo training to support end-of-life patients, Laurence is
Laurence, a hospice and palliative care chaplain. part of a burgeoning generation of Buddhist chaplains