Rev. Dr. Monica Sanford is one of only a handful of fully trained Buddhist 'practical theologians' producing scholarly research on the profession of Buddhist chaplaincy today, and is one of only two Buddhists to lead a religious life program at a North American college or university. Rev. Dr. Sanford conducts unique field research and regularly presents at international conferences on Buddhist chaplaincy and higher education chaplaincy, including for the American Academy of Religion and the Global Conference for Chaplains in Higher Education. Her work has been published by Oxford University Press and she is an advisory board member of the Journal of Interreligious Studies and a member of the Buddhist Ministry Working Group.
"""Reading Sanford's Kalyanamitra: A Model for Buddhist Spiritual Care is like reading an ancestor's dream for their descendants. Those who have been writing about Buddhist spiritual care for the past few decades will be impressed by how Sanford integrates those writings. Those who geek out on Buddhism will appreciate Sanford's use of scripture, interpretation, and research methodologies. Early professional Buddhist chaplains will rejoice at how Kalyanamitra reveals what we do and how we do it. For practicing Buddhists who have felt the vocation of spiritual care without all the fancy academic jargon, this book, which has that jargon, academically validates what you have felt in your heart-mind. This is a must-read textbook!"" Pamela Ayo Yetunde, JD, ThD, Co-Founder, Center of the Heart, author: Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, U.S. Law, and Womanist Theology for Transgender Spiritual Care (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) ""An invaluable, inspiring, and groundbreaking guide to the emerging field of Buddhist chaplaincy and spiritual care, Kalyanamitra: A Model for Buddhist Spiritual Care, provides us with a map, a way, a path to follow as we respond to the world in need. Rich, nuanced, and deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings, I will return to this book again and again."" Daijaku Kinst PhD, Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy Director, Buddhist Chaplaincy Program, Director, Certificate in Soto Zen Studies Institute of Buddhist Studies, Core Doctoral Faculty, Graduate Theological Union ""Sanford's fresh and clarifying voice offers the profession of chaplaincy two gifts: first, a warm, wise, and accessible overview of chaplaincy in general and second, a comprehensive theory of Buddhist spiritual care in particular. No one interested in Buddhist chaplaincy can afford to ignore this groundbreaking text. It makes new and explicit links between Buddhist traditions, the caring practices of thirteen Buddhist chaplains in a variety of clinical settings, and existing spiritual care literature. Sanford rightly places spiritual and theological reflection at the center of chaplaincy, writing in ways that illustrate, evoke, and cultivate the personal qualities needed for the work of spiritual care. Each chapter includes abundant reflection questions appropriate for the formation of effective chaplains across spiritual-religious traditions. Non-sectarian, readable, and learned, this book promises to enrich conversations, shape training programs, clarify fuzzy concepts, and expand how we perceive spiritual care. Highly recommended."" Duane Bidwell PhD, Professor of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling Accreditation Liaison Officer, Claremont School of Theology at Willamette University"