Twenty-five hundred years ago the historical Buddha established a practice to address suffering, old age, sickness and death. In this tradition, Koshin Paley Ellison and Robert Chodo Campbell, Zen Buddhist priests & chaplains established the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation, in the heart of New York City in 2006.

Fully-accredited, Year-long Training Programs:

Recognized as true pioneers and leaders in the Buddhist Chaplaincy field, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care is creatively transforming pastoral care by being both the first and only Buddhist organization to be a fully-accredited, by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, as an CPE Clinical Chaplaincy Training Center in America. NYZCCC integrates Buddhist contemplative practices into the professional training, creating a dynamic program that is interfaith and experience-based, geared toward developing professionals and those seeking to deepen their spiritual, caregiving practice.

NYZCCC also offers a year-long Foundations in Contemplative Caregiving Training Program, which provides the groundwork for your contemplative care practice. Students fulfill the program requirements through class participation, 100 hours of contemplative care volunteering, rigorous reading and writing exercises and an end-of-year project.

Master Level Buddhist Studies

New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care along with New York Theological Seminary are providing a Buddhist track of studies within NYTS Master of Pastoral Care and Counseling degree program.  Students are able to matriculate into this program and have the choice to audit or attend classes for credit.

We are happy to extend this offering with NYTS to those interested in integrating Buddhist studies and practice into their professional or non-professional training path.  To learn more about the current classes and offerings, click here.

Direct Care:

Our Senior Chaplains, our Chaplaincy students, and Contemplative Care Volunteers are trained caregivers who provide direct care to the sick, dying and suffering. Beth Israel Medical Center, one of New York City’s largest premier hospitals, has integrated NYZCCC’s group of Clinical Pastoral Education Chaplain Interns and our Contemplative Care Volunteers into their Integrative Medicine Department where we work directly with those in need. NYZCCC also provides Contemplative Care Volunteers to organizations such as Visiting Nurse Service of New York’s Hospice, with one-year placements at their local residencies as well as in individual patients’ homes. The Center’s staff chaplains also volunteer with outreach programs at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing and similar care-giving organizations.

Year-round Educational Programs:

NYZCCC’s educational programs, trainings and retreats are attended by hundreds of participants every year. From professional one-day training programs at meditation centers and hospitals to extended retreats at Garrison Institute, our programs attract the widest variety of like-minded people. Refining caregiving skills, stress reduction, meditation development, contemplative practices, deep inquiry, spiritual care, and open dialogue champion our program goals.

One patient at a time, NYZCCC manifests its mission of treating those who are suffering with the wisdom, compassion and equanimity of the Buddhist teachings.

Since August 2007:

• 43,478 individuals received contemplative care in the face of death, cancer, AIDS, and other illnesses
• 15,681 family members, couples and friends received contemplative care as they dealt with grief, mourning and loss
• 30,299 hours of compassionate care have been given by our volunteer chaplains
• 11,784 staff people in hospitals, hospices, and prisons received spiritual care, including doctors, nurses, social workers and officers
• 3,094 Contemplative care and meditation groups were run by our volunteer chaplains, with over 10,903 people attending.
• 5,315 men and women from the general public have received education in topics such as death and dying, Buddhist approaches to death, addictions and spirituality, and contemplative practices.