The Spiritual Care Centre offers a sanctuary for people facing life’s most profound challenges. Our model of spiritual care integrates wisdom drawn from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, and is grounded in kindness, presence, and respect for each person’s unique spiritual path.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and belief systems who are seeking spiritual support during times of illness, loss, bereavement, disability, caregiving, or at the end of life.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to create a peaceful, inspiring place where wisdom and compassion come together to support wellbeing, meaning, and inner resilience, to provide a sanctuary where people can rest, find peace, and reconnect with what sustains them at the deepest level.
The Spiritual Care Centre operates as a “home from home.” It is not a medical or clinical facility and does not provide nursing, medical treatment, psychotherapy, or healing interventions. Care is offered through presence, hospitality, and spiritual companionship rather than through treatment or therapy.
Our model of spiritual care is holistic, relational, and compassion-based. Rooted in contemplative wisdom and contemporary care practice, it offers a respectful and inclusive approach to supporting people through some of life’s most challenging moments — not by fixing or treating, but by accompanying, listening, and caring.
Sogyal Rinpoche gave the Spiritual Care Centre the Tibetan name “Dechen Shying”, which means “realm of great bliss” or “pure land,” and refers to Sukhavati, the western pure land of the Buddha Amitābha. In Sukhavati, sentient beings experience neither physical pain nor mental suffering and the causes for their happiness are limitless.
What We Mean by Spirituality
We understand spirituality as a deeply personal and subjective experience. For some, it may be expressed through religious faith or prayer; for others, through meditation, nature, relationships, creativity, or a search for meaning and connection.
Spirituality is understood as an intrinsic dimension of being human — concerned with meaning, values, belonging, hope, and inner life. Our approach honours each guest’s own spiritual understanding and never seeks to impose beliefs or practices.
Understanding Spiritual Care
Spiritual care responds to the needs of the human spirit that often arise during times of difficulty or transition. These may include:
- The need for meaning and understanding
- The need to be listened to with care and respect
- Emotional and spiritual support during illness, loss, or dying
- Support for faith, ritual, or spiritual reflection
- The need for connection, dignity, and reassurance
Spiritual care begins with compassionate human presence and unfolds according to what matters most to each individual.
Our approach is informed by the Rigpa Spiritual Care model, which is:
- Non-medical and holistic, recognising that spirituality permeates all aspects of life
- Rooted in contemplative wisdom, particularly The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
- Further developed through applied spiritual care practice, including Facing Death, Finding Hope by Christine Longaker
- Relational, based on compassionate companionship rather than expert-led intervention
- Wellness-oriented, recognising suffering while affirming each person’s inherent wholeness and inner resources
Central to this model is the understanding that every person has their own life wisdom and inner capacity for healing, meaning, and connection.
Four Core Spiritual Capacities
Our model recognises four universal spiritual capacities that support people in living and dying well:
- The capacity to understand and transform suffering
- The capacity for love and authentic connection
- The capacity to find inner refuge or peace
- The capacity to find meaning in life
These capacities are understood as innate and accessible to all, regardless of belief or background.
The Qualities of Our Caregivers
Spiritual care is grounded not only in what is offered, but in how it is offered. Caregivers are trained to embody three essential qualities:
- Compassionate presence – being fully present with openness and care
- Authenticity – meeting others as equals, grounded in shared humanity
- Confidence – arising from an understanding of illness, loss, and death as universal human experiences
Caregivers also contribute to creating a peaceful, dignified, and compassionate environment that supports wellbeing and a sense of wholeness.