Zen in their bedside manner
The Rev. Robert Chodo Campbell, center, a Buddhist chaplain at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, listens as medical personnel plan their morning rounds in the hospital’s palliative-care unit. Chodo, who goes by the name given him when he took his vows to become a Buddhist priest, co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Bob Allen, a Buddhist chaplaincy student at Beth Israel Medical Center, visits with Annette Freeman on the hospital’s oncology floor. They chatted about her health and family, and the hospital’s food. “We focus on listening,” Allen said. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Bob Allen leads Victoria Exconde in Christian prayer after talking with her about her approaching breast cancer surgery. “Thank you, Father,” said Exconde, a Roman Catholic from the Philippines. “You don’t have to call me Father,” Allen replied good-naturedly as he got up to leave. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Buddhist chaplains Robert Chodo Campbell, left, and Koshin Paley Ellison go over which patients to visit in Beth Israel’s palliative-care unit. Like Chodo, Koshin goes by the name given him when he took the vows to become a Buddhist priest. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
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Buddhist chaplain Koshin Paley Ellison, foreground, leads a meditation session at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing in New York. Clockwise from upper left are Bonnie Everhart, Hanniel Levenson, an unidentified man, Elizabeth Dowling, Dr. Martin Ehrlich and Koshin. Even members of the public can attend the session. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Koshin Paley Ellison keeps his iPhone on the table along with other Buddhist items before leading a 10-minute meditation session at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing. “We’re really trying to create a cultural shift,” he said. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Robert Chodo Campbell leads a meditation session at the Robert Mapplethorpe Residential Treatment Facility, part of Beth Israel’s AIDS treatment program. During the session, he massaged patients’ heads and described a scenario where they imagined themselves as birds that could dive into water and bring up a pearl. The patients included George Smith, left, and Anthony Jackson, right. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
Robert Chodo Campbell dances with Joyce Gonzalez as Trina Jackson plays the drums and Kevin McDonald listens after a meditation session at the Robert Mapplethorpe Residential Treatment Facility. (Nicholas Roberts / For The Times)
