Grounding Principles and Practices
Our Grounding Principles and Practices act as foundations for the community standards necessary to protect the integrity of our training and the lineage of instruction we are responsible to maintain. The nine principles and practices below are not to be treated as separate rules to be routinely followed. Nor are they intended to act independent from one another. Rather, these nine principles and practices root into one another. As a whole they provide vital grounds through which we:
- Maintain the well-being of our cultures and communities.
- Generate compassionate responses through training.
- Flourish together in lineage and liberation.
Additionally, our Grounding Practices act as aspirations to inspire more fertile relationships where we can better flourish together. Woven together, they guide, enhance and liberate greater skillful means. These are adapted from our teacher, Diane Musho Hamilton Roshi.
- Be for Each Other & The Whole: Choose to extend good-will, care and compassion in all directions, even when you feel differently.
- Listen Generously: Receive others’ expressions with greater depth and care.
- Be Direct: Concentrate your expressions around and towards what sincerely matters.
- Praise Liberally: Praise is a vital nutrient we all need, generously express gratitude and appreciation.
- Use Support & Challenge Skillfully: Balance how you give and receive support and challenge.
- Receive Guidance and/or Feedback Appropriately: Be willing to receive instruction and feedback using clear boundaries to maintaining integrity.
- Wholehearted Participation: Sincerely engage with training activities, bringing your full presence and attention.
- Keeping Agreements: Act in accordance with keeping or renewing promises.
- Confidentiality: Share your experiences while keeping other peoples’ identities and/or identifying content private.