Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Organizations
As leaders and officials of a spiritual organization, we commit to:
1. Holding ourselves, our colleagues, and our staff to the highest standards of ethics, right behavior, and professional competency, as commonly recognized by our peers.
2. Performing our organizational and public-facing roles in a caring and compassionate manner in both one-on-one and group interactions.
3. Respecting the rights, dignity, and safety of all who belong to our organization and those whom we serve.
4. Fostering autonomy, empowerment, self-sufficiency, and emotional maturity within our organization and in our dealings with others.
5. Treating questions, concerns, doubts, and experiences raised within our organization and from those we serve, with respect, and never trivializing or dismissing enquiries.
6. Being self-aware, open, and humble about the limitations of our knowledge and experience.
7. Making only honest, realistic statements regarding the benefits of our organization’s offerings.
8. Refraining from giving counsel in matters outside of our areas of training and expertise, and making appropriate referrals as needed.
9. Being honest and transparent regarding business and financial matters relevant to our students, clients, donors, and other stakeholders.
10. Honoring the sanctity of privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of information conveyed to our organization and its representatives in confidence.
11. Abiding by local laws with respect to the disclosure of information in cases of sexual abuse, child endangerment, and the intention to harm oneself or others.
12. Using proper care and caution with techniques that can potentially cause harmful side effects.
13. Acknowledging that, regardless of our spiritual attainment, we and our representatives are human beings with human personalities, limitations, drives, and needs.
14. Not seeking or presuming exalted privileges or glorified status because of our role in the organization.
15. Never manipulating, exploiting, or deceiving another member of the organization or those we serve to satisfy our personal aspirations, needs, or desires.
16. Establishing and maintaining clear and wholesome professional boundaries within the organization and with those we serve.
17. Never abusing the trust of members of the organization or those we serve by exploiting them with unfair, coercive, or deceptive attempts to obtain money or free labor. (This does not include reasonable fees for services, donations of money and time, or volunteer work freely offered.)
18. Being particularly mindful of sexual boundaries within the organization and with those we serve—and honoring them at all times.
19. Cultivating and practicing honesty, integrity, compassion, humility, and empathy.
20. Engaging in continuous self-reflection, learning, and holistic personal growth.
21. Regularly reviewing our motivations and monitoring the integrity of our words and actions both within the organization and with those we serve.
22. Encouraging feedback about our own methods and behavior—and taking that feedback seriously. This includes complaints submitted to the ASI.
23. Addressing promptly any personal issues, concerns, or challenges that might affect our professional competency or our organization’s mission.
24. Placing highest priority on the organization’s legal obligations and ethical commitments to all our stakeholders.
With Love & Light
Master. Supratim Chowdhury
Mail: masterinstructor@kaivalyaashram.org