Our Collective Ethos

Spiritual practice is often thought of as something that happens in isolation, on the meditation cushion. But Buddha placed the Sangha as one of the Three Jewels alongside Buddha and Dharma because it is what nurtures and sustains our spiritual practice.

The Sangha provides us with the conditions to receive Buddha’s teachings, forge friendships with others who also find them meaningful and open ourselves to inner transformation.

With a deep appreciation of the role that the Sangha plays in holding us together, we have formulated our Shared Values, and Safeguarding and Accountability Guidelines.

These statements are expressions of our collective aspiration — in the spirit of the Mahayana tradition which we belong to — to create a co-learning space that is safe, supportive, inclusive and free from harm for everyone.

Here are the foundational Buddhist principles that we as members of Atish Dipankar Dhyan Kendra commit to guide ourselves by:

• Practising ethical conduct and observing the Five Precepts in one’s own practice, and in relation to others in the Sangha
• Anchoring all our actions of body, speech and mind in Bodhichitta motivation
• Practising non-violence and refraining from harm at all times
• Practising mindfulness in communication, especially in group and one-to-one interactions
• Practising equanimity in the face of challenges and difficulties

We recognise that spiritual practice is a lifelong process, and committing to these values is the gateway to developing the inner peace and happiness we all search for while also enhancing the well-being of our fellow practitioners.