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Shambhala Buddhist Upadhyaya Ordination

article by Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown

On Monday, May 12, 2014, eight members of the Shambhala community were ordained as Buddhist chaplains at the Boulder Shambhala Center. The Upadhyaya (preceptor) ordination was given to Gary Allen, Beka Davis, Fay Elliott, Ellie Hollyday, Melanie Klein, Margot Neuman, Tracy Steele, and Sue Vess by Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown. A small gathering of Shambhala members, family, and Naropa students and alumni were present at the Boulder Shambhala Center for the ceremony.

The Upadhyaya ordination was originally envisioned by the Vidyadhara as a “Buddhist minister” credential to enable Shambhala members to work professionally in spiritual caregiving and chaplaincy. This ordination was the culmination of training and practice within the Shambhala Buddhist mandala as well as academic training in the Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) program at Naropa University, or its equivalent degree or training.

In addition, each of the ordainees had completed clinically supervised chaplaincy internships in hospital, hospice, homeless shelter, managed care or treatment center settings. Letters of ordination from Shambhala International certified the preparation of the candidates. This ordination allows chaplains to apply for professional certification in several national chaplain organizations. This was only the second time that this ordination was offered, though applications for certification are periodically approved through Shambhala International for qualified candidates.

These chaplain candidates are currently working with clients in a variety of professional settings — the incarcerated, the mentally ill, the chronically and terminally ill — and with organizations that support these clients and their families.

The ordination ceremony included a ritual ordination exam, a renewal of the refuge and bodhisattva vows, a bodhichitta blessing, and a chaplaincy vow. Candidates were asked to publicly address their vocation for chaplaincy within the context of Shambhala vision and practice. The Sakyong designed a pin for the new Upadhyayas, and they were presented to the new chaplains at the conclusion of the ceremony.