BEGINNING JANUARY 5TH 2026 | Mondays 12:00 - 2:00 pm est


Much work has been done to engage the way that spiritual formation impacts ministry work through chaplaincy. In Buddhist chaplaincy, much of the conversation has been advanced through various Zen based lineages. But what of Vajrayana, or tantric Buddhism? How do the unique expressions of this rich and dynamic Buddhist tradition inform chaplaincy and caregiving? 


This two-year program seeks to solve this problem by providing high quality support for Vajrayana practitioners who are interested in eventually pursuing formal professional chaplaincy training. By providing a fertile ground for individual spiritual practice that inspires and connects the participant towards exploring how to bridge, yoke, or grow points of connection between the foundations of chaplaincy and engaged authentic spiritual practice, this Vajrayana spiritual formation program is both unique as well as timely.


Key Vajrayana practices will be introduced to participants in year one along with essential skills required for professional spiritual caregiving. During the second year these learnings will continue as participants engage in clinical work at a location within one’s community. Such sites can include, hospitals, hospices, assisted-living facilities, jails, prisons, LGBTQIA community centers, etc.


This program is suitable for practitioners new to the dharma who wish to deepen their commitment to spiritual awakening as well as for experienced practitioners who are seeking to create a stable basis upon which they can formally enter the Clinical Pastoral Education process later. It’s also an excellent resource for chaplains/spiritual caregivers who want to deepen their practice at the intersection of focused and dedicated spiritual practice, and for dharma practitioners who wish to benefit from going more deeply into the spiritual insights offered by the Vajrayana tradition and who are also interested in developing healthy curiosity and critical thinking skills around how such insights can be a benefit to the needs of Western culture and the various crises that humanity is facing. 


Over the period of two years, we will explore the development of the following Spiritual Care Outcomes as presented by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in a way that is complemented by the richness of Vajrayana Buddhism:


  • Identify formative and transformative experiences in one’s narrative history and their significance to one’s spiritual journey.

  • Articulate how one’s narrative history informs one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care.

  • Use knowledge of behavioral sciences to understand how one’s narrative history informs one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care.

  • Evaluate one’s integration of how knowledge of behavioral sciences informs one’s practice of spiritual care through the lens of one’s narrative history.

  • Articulate awareness upon reflection of when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s narrative history. 

  • Demonstrate awareness in the moment of when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s narrative history.

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of one’s social identity as related to spiritual care.

  • Articulate how one’s social identity informs one’s approach to spiritual care.

  • Demonstrate how one’s social identity interacts with the care receiver’s social identity.

  • Evaluate one’s integration of how knowledge of social identity informs one’s practice of spiritual care.

  • Articulate awareness upon reflection when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s social identity.

  • Demonstrate awareness in the moment when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s social identity. 

  • Describe how one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care are part of one’s orienting systems.

  • Demonstrate how one’s orienting systems inform spiritual care encounters.

  • Demonstrate how one’s orienting system interacts with the care receiver’s orienting systems when providing spiritual care.

  • Evaluate how one’s orienting system interacts with the care receiver’s orienting systems when providing spiritual care.

  • Demonstrate the ability to represent one’s role and function when initiating spiritual care relationships.

  • Articulate an understanding of power dynamics and one’s authority when providing spiritual care.

  • Demonstrate flexible communication styles and skills, including trauma informed approaches, that develop spiritual care relationships using one’s authority.

  • Evaluate one’s use of communication styles and skills, including trauma informed approaches.

  • Demonstrate an understanding and initiate use of communication styles and skills in spiritual care relationships.

  • Articulate how one’s communication styles and skills, including trauma informed approaches, develop spiritual care relationships.

INSTRUCTORS

Lama Justin von Bujdoss

Spiritual Director & Founder

Lama Justin von Bujdoss is an internationally renowned vajrayana Buddhist teacher, writer and chaplain. He is the author of Modern Tantric Buddhism: Authenticity and Embodiment in Dharma Practice published by North Atlantic Books and contributor to Buddhism and Whiteness: Critical Reflections published by Lexington Books. He has been a frequent contributor to various Buddhist magazines and journals and has been a collaborator with the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art and other cultural institutions. With over thirty years of Buddhist practice, Justin is ordained as a repa, a lay tantric yogin in the tradition of Milarepa, by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, one of the heart sons of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and is a ngakpa, a lay tantric yogin in the Nyingma tradition of the Yuthok Nyingthik lineage. He has worked professionally as a hospice chaplain, was the head chaplain and Executive Director of Chaplaincy and Staff Wellness for New York City Department of Correction, and the chaplain for Hart Island, New York City’s Potter’s Field. He is currently the chaplain for the Shelburne Falls/Buckland Fire Department. Lama Justin has spoken widely at colleges and universities across the United States and is passionate about helping to create the conditions for authentic embodied tantric Buddhist and Ati Yoga practice in the West.

What this program provides

  • This course provides an in depth introduction to Vajrayana pastoral care and serves as a basis for pursuing formal chaplaincy training & board certification

  • Develop long lasting relationships with peers and instructors in an engaged online setting

  • Clinical Work at location of choice during second year to develop caregiving skills and integrate topics covered in a practical action based environment all while being held in a container of support by your instructors and peers

  • Study with special guest teachers and trusted chaplains in the field

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome Letter & Details

    2. Class Syllabus

    3. Student Walktrough: How to use this course

    1. ZOOM LINK

    2. Submit Your Questions

    3. READING & PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS

    1. Trimester 1 Overview: The Outer

    2. Module 1 Overview

    3. Welcome & Introduction to the program | (Pre-recorded)

    4. Yuthok Nyingthik Essential Empowerment + YN Ngondro reading transmission with Dr. Nida | (Pre-recorded)

    5. Yuthok Nyingthik Ngondro Instruction with Jasmine | (Pre-recorded)

    1. Module 2 Overview

    2. Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Theravadin

    3. Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Mahayana

    4. Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Vajrayana

    1. Module 3 Overview

    2. Getting Clear: With Guest Lecturer

    3. Getting Clear: With Lama Justin | (Pre-recorded)

    4. Getting Clear: With Guest Lecturer

    1. Module 4 Overview

    2. Embracing the Shadow: With Guest Lecturer

    3. Embracing the Shadow: With Lama Justin | (Pre-recorded)

    4. Embracing the Shadow: With Lama Justin | (Pre-recorded)

    5. Trimester 1 Conclusion: Dharma CV

About this course

  • Mondays 12:00 - 2:00 pm EST ​
  • $1600 | Two Year Program Starting January 5th 2026
  • Live + Pre-Recorded Class with Recordings Provided

FAQ

  • What are the student expectations?

    In order to foster an engaged and supportive container for enrichment and development, students are asked to participate in live meetings, complete short reflection papers throughout, find a volunteer location of your choice in your community in accordance with the schedule of year two, and complete a capstone project at the end of the two years.

  • What certification is offered

    Upon successful completion of this program a certificate will be sent to you documenting the hours of class participation and practice as well as the topics covered during the course. The hours accumulated can be used towards M.Div equivalency if one plans on engaging the path of training as a chaplain.

  • I am new to Vajrayana is this program suitable for me?

    This program is suitable for practitioners new to the dharma who wish to deepen their commitment to spiritual awakening as well as for experienced practitioners who are seeking to create a stable basis upon which they can formally enter the Clinical Pastoral Education process later.

  • What is your cancellation policy?

    All participants have 14 days to engage the program, participate in classes, and get a feel for the structure of the classes before deciding whether or not they are right for you.. In order to receive a 100% refund, contact us at [email protected] no more than 14 days after the start of this course. and if you are on a payment plan, cancellation of remaining payments. In the event of a family, health or other emergency, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note that no refunds will be given after January 19th, 2026.

  • What is the payment structure for this program?

    The cost of this program is $1600 for the two year training. Participants may choose to pay all at once or with a variety of payment installment plans anywhere from 2 to 12 months. If one enrolls in a payment installment plan, the first payment will be made upon registration which will initiate the monthly installments. From there payments will be automatically withdrawn from the original payment method provided each month on the same day. Payment methods may be updated at any time.

Watch the Free Introduction