Sangha Agreements for Facilitating at Vashon Insight

As a sangha meeting facilitator, your role is to help create a supportive and nurturing environment that allows all participants to engage in practice and discussion with confidence, openness, and mutual respect. The basis of the following agreements is our shared commitment to non-harming, as expressed in the Five Precepts, or the Five Mindfulness Trainings.

We intend to practice inclusivity, welcoming those who are new and making sure that diverse views and practice experiences are respected, even if they differ from our own.
We intend to practice wise speech — avoiding gossip and divisive or harsh speech, and modeling kind and respectful speech (which does not exclude directness or humor).
We intend to bring an attitude of service to the role, supporting the sangha rather than leading it. We are clear that we are not there to offer spiritual guidance or to teach, or promote our own personal beliefs, preferences, or agendas.

We intend to protect the privacy of sangha members and not share sensitive information or personal disclosures with others outside the sangha without permission, and respect each person’s ‘right to pass’ if they would prefer to remain quiet in a discussion.

Thank you for helping to maintain a safe and vibrant sangha for all.

The above is excerpted and adapted from the Code of Conduct for Buddhist Meeting Facilitators by the Buddhist Recovery Network.