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| – Before Our First Workshop |
| – September Karuna – Compassion Workshop 1: 09/26 Workshop 2: 09/30 |
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| – November Sila – Virtue Workshop 1: 11/07 Workshop 2: 11/21 |
| – December Nekkhama – Renunciation Workshop 1: 12/12 Workshop 2: 12/19 |
| – January Panna – Wisdom Workshop 1: 01/16 Workshop 2: 01/23 |
| – February Virya – Energy Workshop 1: 02/06 Workshop 2: 02/13 |
| – March Khanta – Patience Workshop 1: 03/13 Workshop 2: 03/20 |
| – April Sacca – Truth Workshop 1: 04/03 Workshop 2: 04/10 |
| – May Aditthana – Resolve Workshop 1: 05/08 Workshop 2: 05/15 |
| – June Metta – Lovingkindness Workshop 1: 06/05 Workshop 2: 06/12 |
| – July Upekkha – Equanimity Workshop 1: 07/10 Workshop 2: 07/17 |
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Applied Dharmology
<< back to writing assignments page
(4-6 pages)
Your assignment is to write the core tenets of your dharma practice from within the vast realm of dharma teachings, specific practices, and traditions. You will then apply these to an interaction from your volunteer work. The purpose of this writing assignment is to guide the chaplaincy student in identifying and articulating his or her own theology or dharmology of spiritual care. Theological competence as a chaplain includes articulation of one’s core theology or dharmology and how it is used in one’s spiritual care practice.
There is no one right way to write this paper because it is deeply personal. However, there are a common selection of questions in this realm that may inspire your reflection and writing. They are:
• Why do we suffer?
• What is spiritual suffering in particular?
• What doctrine of my faith tradition am I using?
• What religious teachings inform or influence my spiritual caregiving?
• What shapes my thinking and understanding about spiritual care?
• What directs my thinking and actions from the dharma?
• What teachings inspire you?
• What is a guiding light?
• What happens between us?
• Why are we here?
• What happens when we die?
• What is liberation?
• Is liberation possible?
• Where is the central idea(s) in my belief structure?
Relatedly, there are a collection of essays from various authors on the subject of their beliefs in the links below. While each does not address the breadth of this assignment, each are good examples of articulating or contextualizing one’s beliefs.
– The Golden Rule by Karen Armstrong
– My Faith by Kerry Egan
– Buddhist Boomers by Clark Strand
– Religion and Spirituality by Rev. Dr. Chaplain John P. Oliver
– Many Faiths One Truth by Tenzin Gyatso
– Pluralism, Diversity, Liberalism: Words of Panic or Care? by David C. Johnson BCC
– A Better Way to Talk About Faith by David Bornstein