Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides

[Guest guest]

People have long sought to enrich their lives and to awaken to their full

natures through spiritual practices including prayer, meditation, mind-body

disciplines, service, ritual, community liturgy, holy-day and seasonal

observances, and rites of passage.

 

" Primary religious practices " are those intended, or especially likely, to bring

about exceptional states of consciousness such as the direct experience of the

divine, of cosmic unity, or of boundless awareness.

 

In any community, there are some who feel called to assist others along

spiritual paths, and who are known as ministers, rabbis, pastors, curanderas,

shamans, priests, or other titles. We call such people 'guides': those

experienced in some practice, familiar with the terrain, and who act to

facilitate the spiritual practices of others. A guide need not claim exclusive

or definitive knowledge of the terrain.

 

Spiritual practices, and especially primary religious practices, carry risks.

Therefore, when an individual chooses to practice with the assistance of a

guide, both take on special responsibilities. The Council on Spiritual Practices

proposes the following Code of Ethics for those who serve as spiritual guides.

 

1. [intention] Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate

awareness, empathy, and wisdom.

 

2. [serving Society] Spiritual practices are to be designed and conducted in

ways that respect the common good, with due regard for public safety, health,

and order. Because the increased awareness gained from spiritual practices can

catalyze desire for personal and social change, guides shall use special care to

help direct the energies of those they serve, as well as their own, in

responsible ways that reflect a loving regard for all life.

 

3. [serving Individuals] Spiritual guides shall respect and seek to preserve the

autonomy and dignity of each person. Participation in any primary religious

practice must be voluntary and based on prior disclosure and consent given

individually by each participant while in an ordinary state of consciousness.

Disclosure shall include, at a minimum, discussion of any elements of the

practice that could reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological

risks. In particular, participants must be warned that primary religious

experience can be difficult and dramatically transformative.

 

Guides shall make reasonable preparations to protect each participant's health

and safety during spiritual practices and in the periods of vulnerability that

may follow. Limits on the behaviors of participants and facilitators are to be

made clear and agreed upon in advance of any session. Appropriate customs of

confidentiality are to be established and honored.

 

4. [Competence] Spiritual guides shall assist with only those practices for

which they are qualified by personal experience and by training or education.

 

5. [integrity] Spiritual guides shall strive to be aware of how their own belief

systems, values, needs, and limitations affect their work. During primary

religious practices, participants may be especially open to suggestion,

manipulation, and exploitation; therefore, guides pledge to protect participants

and not to allow anyone to use that vulnerability in ways that harm participants

or others.

 

6. [Quiet Presence] To help safeguard against the harmful consequences of

personal and organizational ambition, spiritual communities are usually better

allowed to grow through attraction rather than active promotion.

 

7. [Not for Profit] Spiritual practices are to be conducted in the spirit of

service. Spiritual guides shall strive to accommodate participants without

regard to their ability to pay or make donations.

 

8. [Tolerance] Spiritual guides shall practice openness and respect towards

people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to their own.

[Guest guest]

Thank You Chrism.  I will strive to live by each one of these.  Blessings

Helen

 

 

 

 

________________________________

<>

 

Wed, April 14, 2010 3:34:25 AM

Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides

 

 

 

People have long sought to enrich their lives and to awaken to their full

natures through spiritual practices including prayer, meditation, mind-body

disciplines, service, ritual, community liturgy, holy-day and seasonal

observances, and rites of passage.

 

" Primary religious practices " are those intended, or especially likely, to bring

about exceptional states of consciousness such as the direct experience of the

divine, of cosmic unity, or of boundless awareness.

 

In any community, there are some who feel called to assist others along

spiritual paths, and who are known as ministers, rabbis, pastors, curanderas,

shamans, priests, or other titles. We call such people 'guides': those

experienced in some practice, familiar with the terrain, and who act to

facilitate the spiritual practices of others. A guide need not claim exclusive

or definitive knowledge of the terrain.

 

Spiritual practices, and especially primary religious practices, carry risks.

Therefore, when an individual chooses to practice with the assistance of a

guide, both take on special responsibilities. The Council on Spiritual Practices

proposes the following Code of Ethics for those who serve as spiritual guides.

 

1. [intention] Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate

awareness, empathy, and wisdom.

 

2. [serving Society] Spiritual practices are to be designed and conducted in

ways that respect the common good, with due regard for public safety, health,

and order. Because the increased awareness gained from spiritual practices can

catalyze desire for personal and social change, guides shall use special care to

help direct the energies of those they serve, as well as their own, in

responsible ways that reflect a loving regard for all life.

 

3. [serving Individuals] Spiritual guides shall respect and seek to preserve the

autonomy and dignity of each person. Participation in any primary religious

practice must be voluntary and based on prior disclosure and consent given

individually by each participant while in an ordinary state of consciousness.

Disclosure shall include, at a minimum, discussion of any elements of the

practice that could reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological

risks. In particular, participants must be warned that primary religious

experience can be difficult and dramatically transformative.

 

Guides shall make reasonable preparations to protect each participant' s health

and safety during spiritual practices and in the periods of vulnerability that

may follow. Limits on the behaviors of participants and facilitators are to be

made clear and agreed upon in advance of any session. Appropriate customs of

confidentiality are to be established and honored.

 

4. [Competence] Spiritual guides shall assist with only those practices for

which they are qualified by personal experience and by training or education.

 

5. [integrity] Spiritual guides shall strive to be aware of how their own belief

systems, values, needs, and limitations affect their work. During primary

religious practices, participants may be especially open to suggestion,

manipulation, and exploitation; therefore, guides pledge to protect participants

and not to allow anyone to use that vulnerability in ways that harm participants

or others.

 

6. [Quiet Presence] To help safeguard against the harmful consequences of

personal and organizational ambition, spiritual communities are usually better

allowed to grow through attraction rather than active promotion.

 

7. [Not for Profit] Spiritual practices are to be conducted in the spirit of

service. Spiritual guides shall strive to accommodate participants without

regard to their ability to pay or make donations.

 

8. [Tolerance] Spiritual guides shall practice openness and respect towards

people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to their own.