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SanghaNYC Community Guidelines
for Ethical Conduct

  1. ​Please treat all community members with respect and dignity, regardless of their background, beliefs or opinions.

  2. Please exercise consideration and respect in both your speech and actions, especially when discussing controversial topics. Avoid demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior or speech.

  3. Please be considerate of others’ needs when communicating. Share your experience with others, and leave room for others to share theirs. 

  4. Please practice confidentiality with what community members may share during group discussion, as well as refrain from advice-giving to another member when they share personal material. 

  5. Please be considerate of the importance of diversity and inclusion within the community. Encourage different perspectives and voices to be heard.

  6. Please be truthful and transparent in your communications and participate in an open and authentic way. In doing so, you contribute to the strength and longevity of our group. 

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Unacceptable behaviors within our community:

  • Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person.

  • Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language towards others.

  • Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or disability.

  • Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes sexualized comments or jokes, inappropriate touching, groping and/or unwelcomed sexual advances.

  • Deliberate misgendering or use of ‘dead’ or rejected names.

  • Deliberate intimidation or stalking (online or in person).

  • Sustained disruption of community events, including talks, meditations and/or discussions.

  • Posting or displaying sexually explicit or violent material.

  • Posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”).

  • Inappropriate photography or recording.

  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

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To report a violation of any of the above guidelines, please email contactsanghanyc@gmail.com detailing the incident. We will respond as promptly as we can and conduct an investigation into the matter to the best of our ability.​

Teacher's Pledge

We commit to be of benefit and refrain from causing harm. We understand that every thought, word and deed has an effect on countless beings, and we vow to cultivate compassionate and wise actions for the benefit of all. This includes respect for other people’s rights and dignity, regardless of age, physical limitations, race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

 

We commit to the practice of generosity and refrain from stealing. We will not possess anything that belongs to others. Meditation teachers and community leaders will acknowledge the limitations of our skills and scope of practice and, where appropriate, refer students to seek alternative instruction, advice, treatment or direction.

 

We commit to honesty and careful listening, and refrain from divisive or harmful speech. We understand gossip and malicious speech affect individuals as well as the entire community. We agree to speak that which is true and useful and to hold in confidence what is explicitly told to us in confidence. We agree to develop conscious and clear communication and to cultivate the quality of loving-kindness and honesty as the basis of our speech.

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We commit to practicing respectful and responsible sexual relationships. We understand our roles include protecting the safety and integrity of the individuals, couples and families in our community. We further understand that:

  • Meditation teachers must refrain from sexual exploitation and taking inappropriate sexual advantages from students.

  • Sexual harassment is unacceptable. Sexual harassment is sexual solicitation, physical advances or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, that is unwelcome, and that is offensive or creates a hostile environment.

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We commit to the practice of responsible consumption. We practice good mental and physical health through mindful eating, drinking and consuming. We will not abuse alcohol, drugs, gambling or other products that may potentially cloud the mind. We commit to understanding and respecting the interdependent nature of all beings, including the earth.​

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Adapted from The Interdependence Project

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