Q&A with Lt. Jeanette Shin, U.S. Military's First Buddhist Chaplain

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Posted by Emma Varvaloucas on 04 Oct 2011

Continuing Tricycle's Q&As with Buddhist bloggers series, today we have an interview with Lt. Jeanette Shin, the U.S. military's first Buddhist chaplain (there are more now, all of them except Lt. Shin serving in the Army). Commissioned by the Navy in 2004, Lt. Shin, an ordained priest in the Nishi Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, has been providing Buddhist services at the Marine Corps Base Camp in Pendleton, California as well as in Afghanistan. She also runs the blog Buddhist Military Sangha, a forum for Buddhists serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Not sure what military chaplains do in the first place? Read on to find out and hear Lt. Shin's thoughts on being a female Buddhist in the armed forces.

Why did you first join the military and what inspired you to apply for chaplaincy? I first joined the military (U.S. Marine Corps) in 1988 and served for four years. It was during my time as a Marine that I was introduced to the teachings of Shinran Shonin at Ekoji Buddhist Temple, in Fairfax, Virginia. After I was discharged I went back to school and worked for the federal government for awhile, and eventually decided to go to the Jodo Shinshu seminary in the U.S., the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, CA. My intentions were to become a Shinshu minister in the U.S. but then I learned that the military chaplaincy option was available, and became a Naval Reserve chaplain after ordination in 2003. In 2006 I became an active duty chaplain. I felt it would be a natural fit after my prior experience in the Marines.

You’ve written on Buddhist Military Sangha that military chaplaincy is one of the least understood professions in our society—what are some common misconceptions about it, and what is chaplaincy in reality? I stated that military chaplaincy is one of the least understood professions, but I believe this could also apply to all forms of chaplaincy. I’ve met many individuals, not only Buddhists, who were unfamiliar with the word “chaplain” or who did not know what chaplains do—to provide spiritual ministry, care, and counseling outside the confines of a traditional place of worship. I think one misconception is that military chaplains function as missionaries or that they preach killing. However, most chaplains really are concerned with ensuring that individuals, whether in the military or hospital or prisons, have access to services and sacraments of their respective faith. Military chaplains exist because of the U.S. constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion. I think that if a chaplain were to engage in such behavior they would have very little credibility with other Marines and Sailors and therefore be very ineffective in their jobs.

Do you often find yourself defending your career path and your choice to enlist in the Marines to other Buddhists? How do you respond to criticism in regards to Right Livelihood and keeping the first precept? I have encountered some Buddhists who object to the practice of military chaplaincy due to the First Precept and Right Livelihood; however, my response is that Buddhists do exist in the military, they are citizens of this nation, so therefore they should have a chaplain of their faith background available. Also, America is not the only country to have Buddhist military chaplains—they are also present in the armed forces of nations with predominantly Buddhist populations like South Korea and Thailand. Buddhists, like other people, make individual choices about their practice of Dharma; it is not for me to judge how they interpret doctrine—my only concern is that they are able to practice without discrimination.

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/qa-lt-jeanette-shin-us-militarys-first-buddhist-chaplain