UW News

February 21, 2002

Training as chaplain

Kekanadure Dhammasiri (Siri), a Buddhist monk, has been selected as Harborview Medical Center’s second spiritual care chaplain resident. He is the first ordained Buddhist to participate in the spiritual sare internship and residency programs.


Born in Sri Lanka, and ordained as a monk in 1967, 47-year-old Dhammasiri spent most of his life at the Sunandaramaya Monastery there before coming to the United States in September 1999. He came to Seattle to pursue his dream of becoming a chaplain and combining his ancient spiritual tradition with new-found knowledge.


Dhammasiri says being in the chaplaincy program is an extension of his spiritual tradition, Theravada Buddhism.


“There is no such concept as chaplaincy in the Buddhist tradition,” Siri says. “We have the concept of service — arogyaseva. When we treat any patient, we get strong, positive merit from the Buddha. Buddha says, ‘If you treat the sick, you treat me.'”


“In the Buddhist tradition, monks are revered and when people are sick, they ask for blessings from the monks,” he says. “I would like to introduce the chaplaincy concept to Buddhist monks and mix the Buddhist philosophy with Western chaplaincy concepts.”


As one of the most diverse institutions in Seattle, Harborview, with its strong mission to care for the underserved and its ecumenical Spiritual Care Program, is a good match for Dhammasiri. The Harborview Spiritual Care Chaplaincy Program is ecumenical and prepares its participants to minister to the spiritual needs of people from all walks of life — the faithful and the not-so.


“I came to Harborview because this medical center belongs to the common people — it’s like a global village — multicultural and multilingual. I can learn a lot here, not only about spiritual care but also from the experiences of other cultures.”


During his Harborview residency, Dhammasiri works as a chaplain while he completes four units of clinical pastoral education required for chaplaincy certification.


“As a chaplain resident, he is on a course of study and practice that prepares him to be a certified chaplain,” says George Grant, administrative director of the Spiritual Care Program. “He’s learning how to best be present for persons regardless of what they believe.”


“By incorporating an educational component in this setting, we are ensuring that the quality of care that professional chaplaincy affords — to make sure we respect the backgrounds, traditions and values of all patients,” Grant says.


As he walks the halls of Harborview in his orange monastic robes, Dhammasiri is often a point of curiosity.


“Western chaplains usually don’t wear an official uniform,” he says. “As a monk, I must wear my robes. When I enter the room of non-Buddhists, I am very sensitive in my approach, because they may perceive me as not being of their particular faith tradition and may find it hard to accept me.”


Grant says his presence is exactly what Harborview is striving for in its Spiritual Care Program.


“Many people think only Christians can be chaplains,” Grant says. “The more people we train, the more that perception will change. We need chaplains from different faith traditions.


“Siri’s presence at Harborview is beneficial to our community because of our continued interest in being a multi-faith and diverse health care community. Because he’s from another country and from the Buddhist tradition, he adds to our own education of how to best be with our international community.”


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