Our Mision
Karuna Care Education equips students with the basic tools they need to offer persons in crisis competent, well-informed emotional support and spiritual care. We provide introductory-level training for persons of faith who wish to enhance their interpersonal awareness and skills in order to become a compassionate presence in the lives of others.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every faith community has at least one Karuna Care Chaplain to journey with and support its members through the many life-cycle challenges each of us are destined to face while living in the material world. Attaining pure love for God is a gradual process that is enhanced by the fellowship of caring, supportive companions. Karuna Care Education wishes to help its students learn the science and art of creating cohesive, caring communities one heart at a time – whether those communities are large or have as few as two people.
Our Team
Rambhoru Brinkmann
Director/Founder Karuna Care Education
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 has been a member of the ISKCON Prison Ministry since 2015, and has corresponded with and provided Srila Prabhupada’s books to prison inmates since that time.
In 2017, Rambhoru took a leave of absence from her directorship at St. Camillus Center and relocated to Northern Virginia to care for her elderly parents. After her 92-year-old father died on New Year’s Day in 2019, she began to serve at the ISKCON of DC temple in Potomac, MD, counseling congregational members, writing blog posts for the ISKCON of DC website, assisting the ISKCON of DC book table and harinama parties, and providing spiritual care and counseling to airport staff and passengers at the Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC on behalf of ISKCON.
Rambhoru has served as a part-time contract chaplain training supervisor, both in-person and online, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care in Los Angeles, and the Institute of Clinical Pastoral Training (www.clinicalpastoraled.edu).
Why Rambhoru established Karuna Care Education
For a long time, Rambhoru wrestled with how she might use her many years of study and practice to serve her spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founding spiritual master of and visionary for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In 2017, after taking a leave of absence from her directorship at St. Camillus Center, 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 Education gradually evolved.
Rambhoru seeks to serve the ISKCON Vaishnava community by training qualified, second-initiated devotees as lay ministers, or chaplains, equipping them with the tools to work in settings such as hospitals, hospices, prisons, assisted living homes, orphanages, and within ISKCON communities, as compassionate caregivers and servants.
Dhira Krsna Dasa
Karuna Care Chaplain
Dhira Krsna Dasa (Damber Kumar Gurung, Ph.D.) has been a public health professional for over 20 years with significant experience in the US and abroad (Africa, India, Nepal). Dr. Gurung is recognized for his extensive work in program development, implementation, and operations with effective skills in quality improvement and management. During the 1990s he served as an Assistant Professor at Clemson University, where he taught various courses in Economics, Statistics and Healthcare Systems and supervised applied research.
Dhira Krsna Dasa is a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga in the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sanatana Dharma tradition as a Kadamba Kanana Swami’s disciple; a staunch advocate for mental and emotional health and wellbeing; is a Places of Worship Advisory Board (POWAB) chaplain in the District of Columbia and a Karuna Care Chaplain. Dr. Gurung aspires to provide chaplain compassionate listening care wherever he finds people in crisis and is undergoing the process of becoming an ordained Vaishnava Brahminical Minister within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is fluent in English, Nepali and Hindi.
Madhuri Mukhi Dasi
Karuna Care Chaplain
Mādhurī mukhī dāsī became a certified Karuna Care Chaplain in 2022. She met the devotees in her native country, Hungary.
In the past 20 years she’s served in various roles, mainly as a teacher and teacher trainer in England, China, Thailand and in the past five years in Mayapur. She holds a degree in Social Work and is a certified grief companion.
Ramananda Das
Karuna Care Chaplain
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 Chaplain 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.
Alan Zeko
Karuna Care Chaplain
Alan Zeko 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.
Vrajalila Dasi
Karuna Care Chaplain
Vrajalila discovered Krishna Consciousness in 1979 and has been studying and practicing ever since. Vrajalila is a certified Karuna Care Chaplain. 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.
Lalita Sundari
Karuna Care Chaplain
Lalita Sundari became a certified Karuna Care Chaplain in 2022. She joined ISKCON in Ljubljana, Slovenia, through her brother. She did various services like book distribution, university preaching, altar services, and providing hospitality for guests and traveling preachers.
She has a Masters degree in Education and did a training for a Waldorf teacher. She used to teach Mathematics and few other subjects in public and international schools in Slovenia. This year (2023) she’s a facilitator in training for Karuna Care Chaplain training. Her husband is a Hindu Professor in a University in the USA.
Nanda Kumara
Karuna Care Chaplain
Nanda Kumara das became a certified Karuna Care Chaplain in 2022. He joined ISKCON in Kansas city, Missouri, after reading a Bhagavad Gita that his father had bought a decade earlier. He has served in different capacities such as book distributor, bhakta leader, yoga teacher, tour guide, cook, and lecturer.
He has studied different yoga modalities and did a training in non-violent communication. This year (2023) he’s a facilitator in training for Karuna Care Chaplain training.
Sukhavaha Bauer
Karuna Care Chaplain
Sukhavaha became a certified Karuna Care Chaplain 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 the Karuna Care Chaplain training. She is committed to the process of connecting from the heart to promote ongoing healing and growth in the journey we call life.
Hari Nam Dasi
Karuna Care Association Member and Support Group Facilitator
Hari Nam Harris, joined ISKCON Montreal in 1983, moving to New Vrndavan and accepting initiation the following year. Serving for many years in different capacities she became a teacher and consultant with a Bachelors in Child psychology and education. She also completed the training with Iskcon’s Child Protection Office and the Iskcon Resolve training course on Conflict Resolution and Ombudsman as well as her Bhakti Shastri course. Homeschooled two boys and serves in children’s educational programs as much as possible. Passionate about gardening and devotee care, she works with her son in the community flower garden, and offers compassionate listening care to devotees around the world.
Hari Nam joined Karuna Care in 2020, inspired by Rambhoru Devi’s desire to offer the vaianava society trained compassionate care givers. Growing in the process of self discovery, she is very excited to share it with others. Educating and offering reflective listening in groups and individually.
Sri Haripriya Dasi
Karuna Care Association Member
Sri Haripriya is a disciple of HG Bhurijana prabhu. Originally from Israel, is currently living in Australia and an active member of the New Govardhan farm community. Haripriya serves as a Shastra and cooking teacher at the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula among other community services and, together with her husband, is raising a family of four adolescents, currently in between the ages of 15-21. Haripriya and her family lived in Sri Mayapur for 5 years where she was engaged in serving as a facilitator of all kinds of youth programs and activities as well as a Shastra teacher at the Sri Mayapur International School and as Parent Association leader. She was a carer in the Sri Mayapur care and support team and offered practical, physical and mental support to devotees in need. She is a certified Reflexologist and Naturalist. Haripriya is very much inclined to assist and care for the devotees, offering a nonjudgmental and compassionate listening, creating a safe space for self exploration, self discovery and heart connection in an encouraging and uplifting environment in order to strengthen spiritual authenticity, spiritual relationships and spiritual fulfillment in Bhakti practice.
She has completed Level I Pastoral Care Education with Karuna Care Education, Grief Companioning and Life-Cycle/Crisis Counseling and other Karuna care education courses, as well as GBC’s Devotee Care course, Sangita’s Hospice care course, CDM’s Vaisnava life counseling course and Bhakti-shastri.
Krsnangi Dasi
Karuna Care Association Member and Support Group 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
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.
Syamala Priya Dasi
Karuna Care Association Member
Sarasvati Sheikh (a.k.a Syamala Priya) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who enjoys working with children and families. Her specialty includes working with clients who have challenges with overwhelming emotions or behaviors, and difficulties in their relationships due to unresolved trauma, chronic stress, grief or loss. She has trained in Trauma-Focused CBT, Attachment Regulation Competency (ARC) Framework, Trauma -Informed Play Therapy, Mindfulness-Based CBT, EMDR and Yoga-Based Psychotherapy.
Syamala Priya completed Level I of Pastoral Care Education with Karuna Care Education.
Ekavira Das
Karuna Care Association Member
Ekavira Das is a trained Hospice Caregiver, a certified Holistic Health Consultant, as well as a recent graduate from the Karuna Care Education program for pastoral care.
Yogini Dasi
Karuna Care Tech Support
Yogini Borgaonkar is a designer and creative professional with over 20 years of experience in practicing Bhakti yoga. Throughout her journey, she has served the ISKCON Central New Jersey and ISKCON Brooklyn temple in various artistic capacities, including designing and painting devotional murals.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Design and Psychology from Rutgers University, Yogini Dasi possesses a unique blend of creative and analytical skills. She is passionate about creating solutions for digital and interactive platforms.