The Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI) began its training program in 2018 and has since successfully graduated over 250 counselors worldwide (US, Canada, India, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Philippines).

The Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT) course is open to applicants from all backgrounds worldwide and provides foundational knowledge and training for volunteer or paid vocational practices in the emerging field of Hindu spiritual care and Chaplaincy. 

The CHT course is offered online in six mandalas (or modules) over 9- months and requires a 250-hour engagement. The CHT graduate population ranges in age from 30 to 75, about  65 %  are women and 65% possess a Master’s or doctor’s degree. All applicants have a serious interest in the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and giving back to the community at large. 

Need for Spiritual Care and Support: HSCI programs address the need for spiritual care and support in the global Hindu diaspora through the continuum-of-care model. This model trains counselors and chaplains to serve families, corporations, hospitals, and universities. The CHTs serve people from diverse religious backgrounds in various situations and life stages. 

Learn to Serve Curriculum: The CHT course curriculum prepares scholars to confidently deliver knowledge-based spiritual care to the community. HSCI uses the latest service-learning pedagogy and the optimal use of learning technology. Designed for practice in the field, the course includes individual conversations, role-play, individual research, and reflection papers. 

HSCI Plans to graduate 1008 CHTs and 108 Hindu Interreligious Chaplains by 2030: HSCI plans to achieve this goal  in close cooperation with the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), This joint effort, referred to as  the  Hindu Chaplaincy pathway, addresses  the under-representation of Hindu chaplains in institutional chaplaincy worldwide.

Admission Requirements 
● An accredited bachelor’s degree or higher in any field of study
● English language proficiency at the college level 
● Interest in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and community service 
● An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program

Course Fees 
There is a mandatory registration fee of $1,000. Some specialization programs may have additional fees associated with them. 

You can pay by PayPal.me/hinduci or by check to “Hindu Spiritual Care Institute” at 1540 Dennis Avenue, Milpitas, CA 95035, USA. 

Supporting Documents 
Each applicant must submit before the Orientation Day on October 15, 2025.
1) a current photo validated through a passport or driver’s license, 
2) a short bio of 50-100  words, and 
3) a copy of the certificate of the highest degree earned. 

Please upload these on your online/Google Drive and share them with [email protected]. 

Academic Schedule                                       
The course is designed around six Mandalas (a Sanskrit word used with the same meaning as “modules”), combining the lectures into coherent themes. Each self-contained mandala will run for six weeks.

Each Mandala contains 8-10 hours of pre-recorded lectures posted on the learning management system (Moodle). These lectures may be arranged in three or more logical sub-groupings or upa mandalas. 

Each Mandala requires video conversations in a role-play format with peer groups, ex-students, and faculty and a reflection paper about the insights and takeaways. The HSCI TrayaCare platform enables delivery of knowledge as well as services.