Our Story
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Founded in 2018 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI) is the first-of-its-kind service-learning institution designed to serve the global Hindu diaspora. HSCI is a US non-profit 501(c)(3) founded by professionals as a strong platform for service- learning founded on Hindu tradition and wisdom.
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HSCI is a California non-profit 501(c)(3) founded by professionals driven by a need to develop much-needed community service solutions. HSCI provides a strong platform for training and universal community service founded on Hindu tradition and wisdom.
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The founding group recognized the need for an institution to train Hindu Counselors and Hindu Chaplains to serve the highly accomplished and affluent global Hindu diaspora. They also felt it critical to imbue future generations with the spirit of giving back to the community. HSCI has been run “by the community, for the community” in keeping with the founding motivations
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Vision
Rooted in the values of the Hindu tradition, HSCI aspires to establish:
- A system for Hindu spiritual care as a shared asset (loka samgraha)
- A Learn-Serve model for the global family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam)
- An institution that is run with excellence (karma yoga)
Mission
To build and grow a volunteer-run service-learning institution to:
- Provide education and training in Hindu and interreligious spiritual care
- Put the Hindu tradition to work in improving the quality of life for all
- Develop and sustain leadership for future generations
- Bring entrepreneurship and technological innovations to spiritual care
- Foster strategic partnerships with academic, interfaith, and service organizations
Values and Beliefs
- Hindu tradition: Tradition is a use-it or lose-it proposition. Therefore, the rich Hindu tradition needs to be nurtured and its sweetness made available to future generations globally.
- Society and Spiritual Care: A well-functioning society must provide “emotional air-conditioning” through compassionate mutual support (dharayati iti dharma). Spiritual Care can be an effective vehicle for uniting humanity.
- Institutions: Only lasting institutions can maintain a sustained impact. Institutions must rise above individual interests and identity.
- Service: Service to others is an essential human act. Under the right conditions, most humans will exercise their latent desire and capacity to serve. Everyone can, and must, learn to serve.
- Collaboration: The open sharing and adoption of best practices and knowledge brings value and also improves harmony among various traditions.
HSCI Program Offerings
HSCI offers innovative and critically needed community services programs.
Training of Hindu Counselor and Hindu Chaplains
Open to all, HSCI’s Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT) 9-month weekend course is the flagship program. It prepares individuals for 1) volunteer service to their communities and 2) qualified post-graduate degree holders for admission to the Interreligious Chaplaincy Program (ICP) at the prestigious theological university GTU (www.gtu.edu). It should be noted that this is the first clear pathway for a Hindu to attain chaplaincy credentials. Vertical Divider
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Free Dial-in Volunteer Services
Available to all, HSCI’s trained volunteers offer free phone guidance on matters relating to Hindu tradition for life events (such as the passage of life, last rites, celebrations), and non-obligatory referrals in areas of wellness such as elder care, yoga, meditation, and nutrition. Vertical Divider
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Free Yoga and Meditation Classes
HSCI offers several daily free programs online for yoga and meditation with popular teachers from around the world. We also have an active 60+ virtual forum. Our distinguished panel of mentors and SMEs are available to answer your questions. Vertical Divider
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