Sati Center Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Training
This 18-month, online program offers basic Buddhist training in the wisdom and skill needed to be a Buddhist Environmental Chaplain, i.e., those who work to support people in developing healthy, compassionate, and mutually supportive relationships with each other and with the natural world.
The program offers experience-based activities and contemplative practices that deepen individuals’ own relationships with the natural world, as well as provide them with skills to be spiritual caregivers, helping others (re)connect with nature and face contemporary socio-environmental crises with wisdom and compassion.
More below, and for additional information and details, please visit Eco-Chaplaincy - Sati Center.
The application period for our 2026-2027 program is closed.
If you would like to be on our mailing list, please email buddhistecochaplaincy@gmail.com
Environmentally Based Spiritual Care: Purpose and functioning of an environmental chaplain, applications and settings for ecologically-oriented spiritual care, engaged Buddhism.
Histories of Environmentalism: Environmental Movements, Environmental Justice, learning to engage with contemporary issues of social/environmental justice.
Eco-Chaplaincy Skills: Spiritual counseling, collaboration with others, nature-based ritual, more-than-human storytelling, council practice, nature-based rites of passage.
Buddhist practices and teachings related to environmental care.
Practices, rituals and ceremonies for ministering ecological death, dying, grief and loss, as well as for celebration, rites of passage, birth and visioning.
Deep nature connection and practices for (re)connection to nature.
Cultural competency.
Design and implement personal project related to Buddhist Eco-chaplaincy.
Areas of Training
The BEC training program runs for one and a half years (18 months) and includes ten one or two-day online retreats and two seven-day residential retreats at a California based location.
Classes include teachings, sessions of meditation, skills training, reflection, group work, community building and practice in nature.
In between courses, participants are assigned readings, writings, and exercises, and have regular meetings with other participants.
A key learning component of the program is for participants to create and engage in a personal project of their choosing that aligns with the goals of the program.
This is putting into action the intention of the training and what is learned.
This program is offered and instructed by Gil Fronsdal, Kaira Jewel Lingo, Ram Appalaraju, Kirsten Rudestam, and Susie Harrington. Kaira Jewel will not be attending the residential retreats in person but will participate in virtual sessions; Susie Harrington will not attend the virtual sessions but will be present for one residential workshop. Gil, Ram and Kirsten will be supporting all virtual and both residential workshops.
The retreats will also feature guest teachers and facilitators skilled in specific areas of teaching and inquiry.
Upon completion, participants receive a certificate of completion in Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Training from the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.
Program Details
