Chinmaya Mission Is Meeting Needs For Hindu Chaplaincy In North America

Photo: Swami Swaroopananda felicitates a graduate of the program as Vilasini Balakrishnan (on right) looks on.

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – In a Los Angeles hospital, a frail, hospitalized Hindu woman faced a difficult decision. She needed a blood transfusion but had religious concerns about the procedure. Desperate for spiritual support, she requested to speak with a Hindu chaplain. 

However, the hospital chaplain informed her that there was no Hindu chaplain available. When the woman insisted on finding a Swami for blessings and prasad, the chaplain contacted Swami Ishwarananda of Chinmaya Mission, based in Tustin, CA. Although Swamiji, understanding the need of the patient, immediately agreed to visit, the hospital turned him away, stating that he was not a trained chaplain. This was in 2018.

This situation reflects a broader, urgent issue: Hindu patients and communities across the US are often underserved. While many major religions have trained chaplains in secular settings like hospitals and military bases, Hinduism has lacked such support.

Chinmaya Mission West (CMW), a prominent Hindu organization, had previously only endorsed chaplains for the US Department of Defense. In 1997, the Department of Defense had approved CMW as an endorser of Hindu Chaplains.  Even today it is the only endorsing agent for Hindu Chaplains in the US military. Now, it decided to step in to fill this glaring gap and train Hindu chaplains for civil society.

Discussions and groundwork began in CMW but a catalyst presented itself in 2017 when Chinmaya Mission was permitted to open its own university – the Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth in Kochi, India. With the university focusing on Indic knowledge traditions, it became the ideal springboard for developing a Hindu chaplaincy program.

With the full support of Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, who understood the pressing need of Hindu Americans said, “Chaplains can serve by helping people facing challenges such as illness and loss, and act as spiritual ambassadors in various forums” Vilasini Balakrishnan, an experienced spiritual care provider and Vedanta teacher, was charged with leading the development of this program.

Along with the support of the university’s vice chancellor, Dr Nagaraj Neerchal, she and her team crafted a curriculum.  The Certificate in Hindu Spiritual Care was ultimately launched online under the aegis of Chinmaya International Foundation in Kerala, in January 2022 with educators Dr Ramesh Pattni and Dr. Madhu Sharma played a large role in this development.

The course proved to be a success, with 50 students from around the globe enrolling and more on the waiting list. On graduating, many quickly found roles as volunteer Hindu chaplains – in well-known institutions like the Houston Methodist Hospital, Children’s Medical Center, as well as in military settings like the prestigious West Point Academy and the Naval Academy.  

Buoyed by this, the 24 graduate credit program was rolled out again in January 2024.  The viability and need for this was made clear again with Balakrishnan noticing how the services of the interns and graduates have been availed of.  One is already employed as a Hindu Chaplain at Duke University; three aspirants are training for full-time military chaplaincy and others are working toward employment as Hindu Chaplains in various city hospitals.

The training is not a flighty, ‘let’s just get the credentials’ kind of course. CMW has lent seriousness and spiritual heft to its students. Balakrishnan says, “Chinmaya Mission hopes to bridge a crucial gap in services to Hindus in the West, providing succor to Hindus in secular environments such as hospitals, universities, and the military.  

With this in mind the education includes not only a focus on Hindu philosophy and general chaplaincy practices but a course on the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture known for its wisdom in challenging situations. Balakrishnan notes that the Gita, “is a perfect scripture for spiritual care in any challenging situation, offering perspective and healing. We believe that to be a chaplain, or spiritual care provider, we must be strongly grounded in our faith and Hindu practices.”

Chinmaya Mission West has also published “Vignettes of Resilience: Hindu Spiritual Care for Healing from Loss,” a book offering 50 stories of spiritual teachings to help Hindus navigate challenges with clarity and faith.

Both givers and receivers have expressed gratitude for the program. One student remarked, “There is an urgent need to support distressed Hindu individuals with familiar words and rituals. This effort will fill a long-felt need for spiritual support in hospitals, universities, and the military.” Another added, “The courses have taught me the power of presence and respectful listening, opening pathways for scriptural wisdom to flow.”

One graduate in Dallas, TX reported caring for a Hindu family whose child was in the hospital after a tragic accident. While the clock ticked, the family talked to her about life support, organ donation, and grief. Through the Bhagavad Gita, the emotions were explored and discussed. So touched was the family, that, “In a sacred moment, they honored me by allowing me to administer Ganga water as their child neared death,” the student said, clearly moved herself.

Given the efficacy of the program, the need and the positive feedback, Balakrishnan said a third course will start in January 2025. For more information:   https://chinfo.org/hinduspiritualcare or spiritualcare.admin@chinfo.org.