Dr. Nancy Lin: Nurturing Buddhist Chaplains Through the Hanyu Chair

As the current holder of the Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Buddhist Chaplaincy Professorial Chair at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS), Dr. Nancy Lin is carrying forward an important legacy of compassion and service.

The Hanyu Chair was established in 2011 through a generous $500,000 gift from Noboru Hanyu to honor his late wife Yaeko. Mr. Hanyu envisioned the chair as a way for IBS to “share the Buddha’s compassionate teaching to all students, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, through the work of chaplaincy.” He saw chaplaincy as a means for IBS and the Buddhist Churches of America to “participate and contribute to society” by addressing the needs of all people.

As the leader of our chaplaincy program, Dr. Lin has embraced this vision, working with IBS students to equip them with both academic and embodied knowledge of spiritual care. Under Dr. Lin’s leadership, the chaplaincy program at IBS has grown to include about 8 current students, with more incoming. Most are pursuing Master of Divinity degrees, and some are in the Buddhist Chaplaincy certificate program. 

Dr. Lin teaches core courses like Buddhist Spiritual Care, which is a requirement for all M.Div students. “The point of that class is to integrate spiritual care principles and literature with Buddhist principles and teachings,” Dr. Lin explains. Students read texts on pastoral care alongside Buddhist sutras and writings by Buddhist chaplains. 

For example, students might read primary texts like the Avatamsaka sutra, exploring the concept of “Indra’s Net” and how interdependence is a core principle of Buddhist chaplaincy, and articles by contemporary Zen and Tibetan Buddhist teachers on the art of listening. In addition to reading academic and spiritual texts, students engage in hands-on exercises like practicing active listening with their fellow students. 

As part of her commitment to our chaplaincy program, Dr. Lin volunteers weekly at Laguna Honda Hospital through the Zen Caregiving Project, offering her presence and listening to residents. She encourages her students to pursue similar volunteer opportunities as part of their training.

“What we do [as chaplains] is offer our presence and offer to listen and see what comes out of that,” Dr. Lin says of her volunteer work. “Sometimes that means watching TV with them, their favorite shows. And sometimes… they’re telling you their life story.”

Although chaplaincy is serious work, Dr. Lin acknowledges that it’s not always sitting in silence listening. Bingo night is an important event at Laguna Honda Hospital. “What is religion and what is religious?” Dr. Lin asks. “We could make a case that bingo serves a spiritual need. You look at church bingo, it’s a whole thing. It’s part of community- the joy of it, the joy of winning, the providence or luck of winning.” 

Dr. Lin’s work ensures that the legacy of compassion and service envisioned by the Hanyus will continue to flourish. To donate to the Hanyu Chair, please visit https://ibs.populiweb.com/router/donate?donate_page_id=6