Code of Ethics

Shining Bright Lotus is committed to the Buddha’s teaching of wisdom, compassion in action, interdependence, and lovingkindness.   At the heart of Buddhist ethical practice is the insight that our lives are deeply interdependent, that our actions can have an impact on others. 

The following code of ethics is based on the seventeen Buddhist precepts of Shining Bright Lotus.

As a community of practitioners and a structured organization we agree to the following guidelines:

  • We hold ourselves and our staff to the highest standards of ethics, right behavior and professional competency.

  • We perform our organizational and public-facing roles in a caring and compassionate manner. 

  • We perform our organizational and public-facing roles in a caring and compassionate manner.   

  • We commit to fostering autonomy, self-sufficiency and emotional maturity in all our endeavors.

  • We recognize and respond to all concerns, doubts, questions and challenges honorably and with respect.

  • We commit to honesty and transparency in all business and financial matters.

  • We honor the sanctity of privacy, maintaining confidentiality in all personal matters. 

  • We recognize that individuals in positions of authority must not misuse their position for their own benefit, must not abuse, exploit, or act deceptively. 

  • We commit to abide by applicable laws with respect to the disclosure of information in cases of sexual abuse, child endangerment, and the intention to harm oneself or others.

  • We recognize that persons in teaching roles have a responsibility to limit sexual or romantic involvement with people for whom they are the primary teacher.  If there is a potential for such a relationship to evolve, both parties will notify the ethics committee. The committee will compassionately evaluate the possibility of limiting or terminating the teacher/student relationship to support appropriate sexual boundaries.  

As a community, we aspire to the following values:

  • Continuously learning and fostering self-reflection

  • Monitoring the integrity of our words and actions.

  • Encouraging feedback with a commitment to listen and to respond to what is offered.

  • Honesty, integrity, compassion and humility

  • Compassionately turning towards the suffering caused by unconsciousness

  • Finding a balance between confidentiality and protecting individuals from injury

  • Maintaining the organization’s legal obligations.

Ethics Reporting Process

Report an Ethics Breach

Please use the form below to report breaches of the SBLMS Code of Ethics.