Why Study With Us?

 The Asiana Institute exists to cultivate Buddhist chaplains and consciousness-informed spiritual caregivers who can meet the profound spiritual, emotional, and existential needs of individuals and communities in an increasingly complex world. 

Grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Buddha’s Dhamma and the rich contemplative traditions of Asia, we integrate rigorous academic training in Buddhist studies with cutting-edge explorations of Eastern and Western psychology and the frontiers of non-materialist consciousness research. Our mission is to professionalize and globalize Buddhist chaplaincy while fostering a vibrant, collaborative network of organizations, activists, spiritual leaders, and scholars dedicated to compassionate service and collective awakening.

This includes clinical pastoral education principles, transpersonal psychology, trauma-informed care, and interfaith competencies. Simultaneously, we pioneer the serious academic study of psi abilities, expanded states of consciousness, near-death experiences, spiritual emergencies, and non-materialist theories of mind — subjects often overlooked in conventional chaplaincy programs yet increasingly relevant to the lived experiences of those we serve.

 We facilitate resource sharing, joint research, annual gatherings, and collaborative projects that strengthen the global field of Buddhist chaplaincy. In doing so, we address critical gaps: the scarcity of high-quality, Asia-rooted graduate programs; the limited integration of consciousness studies into spiritual care training; and the growing demand for culturally sensitive, non-theistic approaches to chaplaincy in healthcare, education, justice systems, and community resilience work.

 In fulfilling this mission, we contribute to the evolution of spiritual care as a field that honors both ancient truths and emerging frontiers of human experience.Through collaborative education models and cutting-edge research,  Asiana Institute strives to embody the Buddha’s invitation to “be a lamp unto yourself” while extending that light to all beings.