佛教在香港醫院靈性關懷服務的發展及影響-以佛教院侍部為例=Development and influences of the Spiritual Care and Heath service in Hong Kong hospital by Buddhism - Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit
本研究採用民族誌、質性研究方法，田野調查深探佛教在香港醫院靈性關懷服務的發展及影響；把佛教團體在醫院進行的服務，從歷史演變至今的情況整合及研究﹔在服務者與受惠者的訪問中，分析靈性關懷服務對他們的影響及意義。 在過往30多年來只聞基督教及天主教在醫院進行靈性關懷服務，佛教則鮮為人知。實質上從1970年佛教醫院成立時，已有法師在院內進行靈性關懷服務﹔ 多年來亦有不同佛教團體、法師或義工在醫院進行服務﹔ 這成為了佛教在醫院進行探訪的最初階段﹔第二階段是2008年佛教覺醒心靈關顧服務的團隊進駐伊利沙伯醫院開展服務﹔ 而2011年大覺福行中心成立的佛教院侍部正式獲醫院管理局委任進駐瑪麗醫院提供服務， 與天主教及基督教取得同等職稱，就是第三階段。佛教院侍部的成立，為佛教界在香港醫院靈性關懷服務奠定了一個非常重要的基礎。現時香港醫院靈性關懷服務，不但有天主教和基督教，還有佛教。2023年佛教團體已進駐了23間（53%）公立及1間（8%）私營醫院。 曾進駐醫院提供服務的佛教團體，有覺醒心靈成長中心、大覺福行中心、香港佛光道場及香港佛教聯合會﹔而以個人名義或義工身份進行探訪服務的佛教團體，如佛教慈濟基金會香港分會、慈山寺佛法心靈輔導中心等等。佛教院侍部必需有院侍或善士，亦有義工進行相關服務。 透過訪問及分析，院侍和義工參加這個服務是各有不同經歷及原因，他們都曾經歷病苦，甚至喪親之痛﹔在服務過程中帶來不同的感受及改變。接受靈性關懷後的病人及家屬，從擔憂、憤怒、不安、哀傷及不捨，漸漸變得平穩及釋懷，靈性關懷服務確實可以幫助病人及家屬，對他們有很大的意義。人口老化、癌症個案日增，靈性關懷服務的需求更顯得迫切。 靈性關懷服務不局限於病患或臨終時，當生活上有重大改變，靈性關懷服務亦顯現出重要性，多個佛教團體已在社區、學校推廣生命、生死教育，讓大眾早日了解人生的意義及真理，活好當下，為來生作好準備。 This study adopts ethnographic and qualitative research methods, and bases on the field research to explore the development and influence of Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit in spiritual care services in Hong Kong hospitals. It mainly integrates and studies the evolution of services provided by Buddhist organizations in hospitals. Analysis the impact and significances of spiritual care services on them from the fruitful learning during interviews with service providers and beneficiaries, In the last 30 years, we have only heard of Christianity and Catholicism providing spiritual care services in hospitals, but hardly heard of Buddhist services. In fact, monks from The Hong Kong Buddhist Association have visited the hospital and provided spiritual care services since 1970 when the Buddhist Hospital was established. Over the years, different Buddhist organizations, monks or volunteers have also provided services in the hospital. It became the milestone of the spiritual care service in the hospital by the Buddhist. The 2nd phase started from year 2008 when the Awakening Spiritual Growth Center settled in Queen Elizabeth Hospital for more services. The Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit of The Center for Spiritual Progress to Great Awakening was officially awarded the honorary appointment by the Hospital Authority and settled in Queen Mary Hospital in 2011. The services were acknowledged the same professional title as Christian chaplains and Catholic pastors. And this was also known as the 3rd phase of spiritual care service in the hospital. The establishment of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit has laid a significant foundation for the Buddhist community on providing spiritual care services in Hong Kong hospitals. Currently, in Hong Kong hospitals, not only Catholics and Christians, but also Buddhists provide services in many hospitals. By 2023, Buddhist groups have provided spiritual care services to 23/43 (53%) public hospitals and 1/13 (8%) private hospitals. The Buddhist organizations that have set up Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit to provide services in hospitals including The Awareness Spiritual Growth Center (ASGC), The Center for Spiritual Progress to Great Awakening (SPGA), Fo Huang Vihara Hong Kong (FGVHK) and The Hong Kong Buddhist Association (HKBA); and the Buddhist groups are also provide visiting services in their own name and volunteers, such as the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tau Chi Foundation Hong Kong (BCRTC), Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Spiritual Counselling Center, etc. Buddhist Chaplaincy Unit must have Buddhist Chaplains, as well as volunteers to perform related services. By means of interviews and analysis, we found that Buddhist Chaplains and volunteers have different experiences and reasons for participating in the services. One of the main reasons is that they or their family members have serious illness experiences or even bereavement. During the service process, they have shared their sensation and some of them also make changes. There are too many worries, angers, anxieties, sadness and reluctance from the patients and their families while visiting and servicing. After obtaining t
