Nagaloka Buddhist Center Teacher Agreement [2024]
“Teacher” refers to anyone in a teaching, administrative, or support role at Nagaloka.
“Council Chair” refers to the Chair of Nagaloka’s Executive Council or Nagaloka’s Safeguarding Officer, if one has been designated.
• Individuals who wish to host a new type of event at the Center or put messages in Nagaloka communications are to contact the Chair, who will decide if full Council approval is needed.
• Teachers commit to exemplify Nagaloka’s Ethical Guidelines, including the Buddha’s five precepts (ten precepts for Order Members). They strive to benefit those with whom they work and do no harm.
• Teachers who handle money, property or other resources for Nagaloka take care of them and avoid their deliberate misuse or misappropriation.
• Teachers at Nagaloka seek to promote accuracy, honesty and truthfulness in their teaching. They do not intentionally misrepresent themselves, their knowledge, or their position.
• Teachers work only in areas within the boundaries of their competence based on their education, study, experience, and knowledge.
• Teachers are expected to adhere to Nagaloka policies approved by the Executive Council as well as the expectations for Triratna-affiliated centers. In order to achieve commonality of practice across Triratna centers, what is taught and practiced shouldbe compatible with Sangharakshita’s particular presentation of the dharma. Likewise, teachers are expected to draw primarily from materials created by Triratna authors. Significant deviations from this should be discussed with Order members on the Council.
• Teachers understand that students and other sangha members have diverse personal histories and may have vulnerabilities that are not apparent, and teachers therefore strive to communicate with care and sensitivity.
• Teachers respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to self-determination. They do not use coercive means with respect to the decision-making of those they are teaching.
• Teachers do not exploit others in their role as teachers. They do not misuse persons they are teaching for personal financial gain.
• Teachers are aware that as a person starts to explore the liberation that Dharma practice can provide, it is easy to confuse strength of feeling for the Dharma with an attraction to the individual serving as their main point of contact with Triratna and the Buddhist tradition. Consequently, teachers agree to specific limitations on sexual and romantic involvement with those they teach and others new to Buddhism and/or Nagaloka:
- Being mindful of the potential impact of sexual and romantic comments or overtures, teachers refrain from sharing amorous or sexual feelings, flirting or suggestive language, and intimations of future romantic and sexual relationships, most especially during retreats and formal teaching.
- Teachers refrain from entering into a sexual or romantic relationship with a person for whom they are a primary contact nor with a person who is in a course or retreat the teacher is leading. This is especially true until such a person has formed other relationships and contacts in the sangha.
- Teachers who wish to enter a relationship with someone relatively new to the center will discuss this openly with Order members, including someone on the Council. The Council Chair is to be informed if a relationship develops. Ideally, records of such discussions be recorded for the benefit of all concerned should questions later arise.
- Visiting teachers are expected to refrain from any sexual or romantic involvement with local students for the duration of their visit.
- If applicable, see the 2017 College “Statement about relationships between preceptors and those they ordain (here).
• Teachers — when they are speaking to someone reporting a concern — are encouraged to stay calm, listen patiently, reassure the person they are doing the right thing by speaking up, clarify issues of confidentiality early on (e.g., discuss with others
on a need-to-know basis, preferably with their consent), explain the grievance reporting process (e.g., the need for written notice to ensure action). Likewise, teachers are to try to avoid appearing shocked, horrified, disgusted or angry; pressing the individual for details; or making comments or judgments other than to show concern. A teacher’s responsibility is to take the person seriously, not to decide whether what they are saying is true or promising to keep secrets. Teachers understand that our first concern must be the safety and wellbeing of this person rather than to be distracted from this by loyalty to the person who has been accused or a desire to maintain the good name of Triratna or a Center. Finally, teachers are to inform the Chair of the communication.
Violations of this teacher agreement are taken seriously. Anyone aware of possible ethical breaches about a teacher should report their concern (see Grievance Reporting Policy).
Teachers with questions or concerns about this agreement are to speak with an Order member on the Council.
This document is to be made public. Nagaloka’s Chair is responsible for directing teachers’ attention to the document.
Approved by the Nagaloka Executive Council on 3/9/24