Rigpa U.S. Addendum to the Code of Conduct
Rigpa U.S. will foster an environment that inspires the arising of wisdom, awareness and compassionate actions for the benefit of all beings, within an open and inclusive spiritual community in which every member feels valued, has a way to participate, and feels a sense of responsibility for one another’s well being.
Everyone who participates in Rigpa U.S., at every level and in all activity, has a personal responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner aligned with our values and Code of Conduct. All will strive to assure that anyone who engages with Rigpa U.S. will be held in a safe, loving, and compassionate environment, free from harm. All of our activity will flow from this core perspective and purpose.
Rigpa U.S. participants, teachers, instructors and students adhere to the Shared Values and Guidelines of the Rigpa Community and the Rigpa Code of Conduct. In addition, they all agree to these ethical rules:
When engaged in Rigpa activities, all participants are required to abide by city, county, state and federal laws.
Sexual, racial or other forms of harassment; psychological, verbal, physical abuse, and unwanted sexual advances are not permitted at any time, in any situation.
It is always the responsibility of the teacher or instructor to refrain from initiating a sexual relationship with their student regardless of whether a relationship is desired by the student. Pre-existing relationships between a teacher or instructor and student will be disclosed to course or event participants.
When a Rigpa instructor holds professional counseling credentials or is a member of any other profession in which multiple relationships are discouraged or prohibited, they shall not refer their clients to their classes, or take on students as clients.
All Rigpa students are encouraged to refer to and follow the Rigpa Grievance Process, to express their concerns and report unethical behavior.
It is recognized that this is a living and collaborative document that will need to be amended and updated from time to time. The Rigpa U.S. board welcomes your feedback and questions.
November, 2018
You can sign the Rigpa Code of Conduct Addendum for the U.S. here.
For the Rigpa Community’s Shared Values and Guidelines, Code of Conduct and Grievance Process, please click the links below.
Definitions:
Teacher: Lama, Visiting Lama, Senior Instructor
Instructor: Rigpa course facilitator
Student: All Rigpa participants except the Lama
Role Holders: Paid and unpaid Rigpa staff, instructors, teachers, and volunteers
Abuse: To treat a person with cruelty or violence. It includes physical abuse such as hitting or punching; verbal abuse, and psychological abuse – a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting, or exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma.
Harassment: A form of discrimination which may occur when a student experiences inappropriate or improper behavior that creates an intimidating or hostile environment or violates local, state or federal anti-discrimination or anti-harassment law.
Prohibited behavior may include, but is not limited to the following:
Visual form including cartoons, posters, calendars, notes, letters, offensive screen savers, internet usage, e-mail or text messages
Verbal form including unwelcome or derogatory comments or jokes; use of foul or obscene language; derogatory references; gossiping; unwanted and unwelcome questions about another’s personal life or characteristics; or repeated unwanted and unwelcome personal communications including requests to meet for personal purposes.
Multiple (Dual) Relationships: A current or previous therapeutic, business, or financial relationship, in combination with a student/teacher relation, when dual relationships are discouraged or prohibited by law.
Disclosure: Disclosure of pre-existing relationships is simply a proper introduction among course or event participants, as a matter of courtesy.
References: