Community Code of Ethics
A significant aspect of Buddhist practice is sila, the Pali word for ethics. One expression of sila is following ethical guidelines that focus on choosing actions that are not harmful to oneself or others.
The Five Precepts address several areas where we can practice avoiding harmful actions and encouraging compassionate ones. To contribute to a safe and harmonious environment, please observe the Five Precepts when practicing at Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia, both in-person and online. It is important to note that the ethical precepts discussed below are guidelines that we practice with to the best of our ability, and there isn’t universal agreement on how to abide by them as lay people in the modern world. For example, the first precept leads some people to choose to follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, but others don’t.
- I undertake the precept to refrain from killing and to practice compassionate action,
- I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given and to practice generosity,
- I undertake the precept to refrain from using sexual energies unwisely or uncaringly and to practice responsibility in all my relationships,
- I undertake the precept to refrain from harmful speech and to practice kind speech, and
- I undertake the precept to refrain from the misuse of alcohol and drugs and to practice caring for my body and mind.
Teacher Code of Ethics
Because of the positions of trust and responsibility held by leaders in spiritual communities, we feel that it is necessary for teachers and leaders of the Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia community to observe an expanded scope of these five precepts to make them explicitly appropriate to our role as teachers of the Dharma in the community. This includes teachers who lead meditation sessions and offer classes and retreats, as well as those who serve the community in our outreach efforts.
1) We undertake the precept of refraining from killing.
In undertaking this precept, we acknowledge the interconnection of all beings and our respect for all life. We agree to refine our understanding of not killing and non-harming in all our actions. We seek to understand the implication of this precept in such difficult areas as abortion, euthanasia, and the killing of pets. While some of us recommend vegetarianism, and others do not, we all commit ourselves to fulfilling this precept in the spirit of reverence for life.
2) We undertake the precept of refraining from stealing.
We agree to not take that which does not belong to us and to respect the property of others. We agree to bring consciousness to the use of all of the earth’s resources in a respectful and ecological way. We agree to be honest in our dealing with money and not to misappropriate money committed to Dharma projects. We agree to offer teachings without favoritism in regard to students’ financial circumstances.
3) We undertake the precept of refraining from false speech.
We agree to speak that which is true and useful and to refrain from gossip in our community. We agree to hold in confidence what is explicitly told to us in confidence. We agree to cultivate conscious and clear communication, and to cultivate the quality of loving-kindness and honesty as the basis of our speech.
4) We undertake the precept of refraining from sexual misconduct.
We agree to avoid creating harm through sexuality. A sexual relationship is never appropriate between teachers and students. This applies to current and former teachers and students. All teachers and practice leaders in the IMMC community agree not to use their teaching or leadership roles to exploit their authority and position in order to assume a sexual relationship with a student.
5) We undertake the precept of refraining from intoxicants that cause heedlessness or loss of awareness.
It is clear that substance abuse is the cause of tremendous suffering. We agree that there should be no use of intoxicants during retreats or while on retreat premises. We agree not to abuse or misuse intoxicants at any time. We agree that if any teacher or practice leader has a drug or alcohol addiction problem, it should be immediately addressed by the community.
Click here for more information about Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia’s Healing, Ethics, and Reconciliation Guidelines.