Our Mission
General populace
KCA provides introductory-level training and education for
individuals seeking to increase their self-awareness and
interpersonal skills; to understand themselves and others as a
means to provide compassionate, non-judgmental presence (safe
spaces).
Professional Certification Track*
KCA also creates foundational courses relevant to Pastoral Care
that are credible to count towards educational equivalency for those
pursuing board certification with the Association of Professional
Chaplains. KCA is also the endorsing body for
ISKCON members pursuing board certification with the APC.
*To see the requirements to become a Board Certified Chaplain, go to: https://www.apchaplains.org/bcci-site/becoming-certified/
Our Vision
Karuna Care Association sees its programs as an investment in both
youth and leader development by providing cutting edge tools that
create cohesive, caring communities – one heart at a time.
Our Team
Rambhoru Brinkmann
Director/Founder Karuna Care Association
Training Supervisor
M.Div; MA; BCC
ACPE Certified Educator
Rambhoru was initiated in 1974 in Cologne, Germany, by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. She spent the next twenty-six years assisting her husband, Prithu Dasa, to establish and manage ISKCON temples in Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, and India. During that time she and her husband had two sons, Madan Mohan (Madi) Dasa and Nila Madhava (now Sri Madhava Mahotsava) Dasa. In 1999, Rambhoru returned to Guilford College to complete her BA in Religious Studies, and spent the next ten years studying interfaith dialogue, practical theology, pastoral care, and religious education. She also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Claremont School of Theology, completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona, and earned a masters degree in Patient Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she worked as an adjunct faculty member at the Allied School of Health. In 2007, Rambhoru began training to be an ACPE Certified Educator (www.acpe.edu) at Virginia Commonwealth University, and served as resident senior chaplain there.
In 2008, Rambhoru became a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (www.professionalchaplains.org), a fourth-level Healing Touch Practitioner, and a therapeutic harpist while ministering bedside to suffering persons at the Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital. In 2010, Rambhoru became the Director of the St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care: Urban Interfaith Chaplaincy program in downtown East Los Angeles, which serves patients at the Los Angeles County Hospital and University of Southern California Medical Center, Eastlake Juvenile Prison, Homeboy Industries, and other inner-city hospitals, hospices, and projects. Rambhoru became certified as an ACPE Educator (doctorate equivalent) in Clinical Pastoral Education in 2015. Rambhoru was a member of the ISKCON Prison Ministry [2015-2022] corresponding with and providing prison inmates with books on topics such as Vaishnavism, Bhakti Yoga, and spiritual growth.
In 2018, Rambhoru led St. Camillus Center Urban Interfaith Chaplaincy through the process of becoming a fully accredited CPE Center which was granted in May 2018.
Rambhoru has remained the Director of the St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care: Urban Interfaith Chaplaincy until the present [2025].
Why Rambhoru established Karuna Care Association
For a long time, Rambhoru wrestled with how she might use her many years of study and practice to serve her spiritual teacher, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founding spiritual master of and visionary for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In 2017, Rambhoru strategized how she might use her education as an offering to Srila Prabhupada. Through an ongoing process of prayer, consultation with ISKCON leadership, and experimentation with distance-learning programs, Karuna Care Association gradually evolved.
Rambhoru seeks to serve the ISKCON Vaishnava community by equipping its members and associates with the training and tools they need to engage with others as a nonjudgmental, empathic listening presence while accompanying them during times of life crises and transition
Vrajalila Dasi
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Vrajalila discovered Krishna Consciousness in 1979 and has been studying and practicing ever since. Vrajalila is a certified Karuna Care Pastoral Care Provider. Her other certifications include Conflict Resolution/Mediation, Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Brain spotting BIPOC (phase 1), and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). She is also a member of the Grhastha Vision Team (GVT).
Vrajalila supports individuals and groups in Cultivating Emotional Health Awareness in order to joyfully enhance everyday Krishna Conscious practices. Vrajalila loves reading and writing workshops to facilitate group learning.
Sukhavaha Bauer
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Sukhavaha became a certified Karuna Care Pastoral Care Provider in 2022. She got her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare in March 1974 and moved to New Vrindaban five months later to become a fulltime devotee. Over the years some of her services included cleaning, accounting, fund raising, and managing a NY center (the now Bhakti Center). While in NY she also took many leadership and training courses including intensive immersions in Compassionate Communication.
Sukhavaha has three children and three grandchildren who continue to expand her understanding and perspective. She has recently authored three books and is currently acting as a supportive facilitator in Karuna Care trainings. She is committed to the process of connecting from the heart to promote ongoing healing and growth in the journey we call life.
Krsnangi Dasi
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Krsnangi started practicing Krishna Consciousness in Australia. She lived in a Farming Community in New Zealand in 1990, engaging in prasadam distribution and temple services, and also preached in New Caledonia. Returning to Australia she served in the local Temple of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha, doing Deity service, teaching Vedic Scripture in Primary and Secondary Schools , and coordinating a Vaishnavi Outreach Program which included a study group, singing and the Community Radio Program “Inspirations”.
Krsnangi undertook studies in Counselling and Pastoral Care with the intention to be of service in supporting devotees, which has extended to the broader community with volunteer chaplaincy roles in a General Hospital, Mental Health Hospital Aged Care Facility, and compassionate caring skills in her Yoga teaching. She holds a Diploma in Holistic Counselling & Life Care.
Yamuna Jivana Das
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Yamuna was first introduced to Vedic philosophical teachings and the Bhagavad Gita when he was 15 years old in Nigeria. Apart from a hiatus during his wild college years in Spain and St. Louis, he has had a strong eagerness to learn and grow spiritually. In addition to his day job as a Senior Manager of Electrical Engineers at Aprilaire, he is an ordained priest in the Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu tradition, an experienced Spiritual Educator, and has spent the last 14 years reaching out to college students to share ancient practices of meditation and bhakti yoga. He currently volunteers his time as the Director of Outreach at ISKCON Chicago, and provides pastoral care from his 320 hours of training in life-crisis and grief counseling. Yamuna is also a trained mediator, and avid champion of team & relationship building within organizations. He lives with his wife Sri Radhika dd, and 2 boys, Gopinatha and Sri Jiva, just north of Chicago city.
Ekavira Das
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Ekavira Das is a trained Hospice Caregiver, a certified Holistic Health Consultant, as well as a graduate from the Karuna Care Association program for pastoral care.
Advaita Acharya Das [Alan Zeko]
Karuna Care Association member, Pastoral Care Provider, and Course Facilitator
Advaita Acharya Das graduated from the academy of arts and sciences in Split Croatia with an M.A. in history of art, specializing in restoration, and conservation.
He is also an operations specialist and a project logistics manager.
In the last 20-plus years, he has traveled, lived, and worked in different parts of the USA, such as Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Florida, etc., and internationally in Mexico and India. He has also volunteered as a teacher, animal rights activist, and advocate for causes central to Sanatana dharma. He enjoys being a digital content creator, animator, etc. He is also actively involved with campus ministry at the University of Florida and is a leader in chaplaincy education and pastoral care initiatives.
Ramananda Das
Karuna Care Association Member, Pastoral Care Provider
Ramananda Das is from London, UK, and had his first “devotee experience” at Bhaktivedanta Manor while volunteering on the farm as a WWOOFer. Ramananda Das became a certified Karuna Care Association Member in 2022.
Where Ramananda Das finds his joy is in trying to practice compassionate communication (NVC) with himself and others, so that we can truly connect with ourselves and Krishna on a heart level.