Windhorse Zen Community Ethical Guidelines

These guidelines were created by sangha members acting as a Committee on Ethics, in consultation with the Sangha Advisory Council. It was approved by the Board of Trustees in August 2025. The full text of the ethics policy is below.

To contact the Sangha Harmony and Reconciliation Committee (HRC), email hrc@windhorsezen.org.

The Four Bodhisattva Vows

All beings without number I vow to liberate

Endless blind passions I vow to uproot

Dharma gates beyond measure I vow to penetrate

The great way of Buddha I vow to attain

STATEMENT OF INCLUSION

    We at Windhorse Zen Community wish to acknowledge, with deep respect, that our dharma center in the mountains of North Carolina stands on the land once occupied by the people of the Cherokee Nation. We bow to these people and their Elders—past, present and emerging.

    We support the rights of all indigenous peoples and all disenfranchised populations within the dominant Western culture. Grounding our teaching and practice in the fundamental wholeness and perfection of all beings, we welcome anyone who wishes to practice with us in the spirit of this dharma community. Our mission, teachings, and practices aim to see into and transform the divisive forms of consciousness that give rise to the oppression of other living beings, and to the destruction of life on this planet.

    Through our practice we are working to address issues of sexism, prejudice, oppression, and violence at their roots, and to evolve a form of Western dharma that works to open the heart of compassion and the clear mind of wisdom.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

We who are given the responsibilities of leadership and teaching within our sangha acknowledge that we are  continuing students of the Great Way. We  acknowledge there are power differentials within our relationships and are committed to  ethical and informed behavior. 

All members and active participants are assumed to be willing to abide by these codes in general, and may avail themselves of the formal complaint procedure, as may non- members who are actively involved. 

Everyone who is in a  leadership position in our community agrees to conduct themselves in accordance with this Ethics Code. 

RAISING CONCERNS

Something may happen within our sangha that causes concern.  Ideally  we can approach one another and speak about such concerns.   If one is unwilling to do this or requires further support, a process is in place to smooth the way towards repair and possible reconciliation.

HARMONY AND RECONCILIATION

The committee for Harmony and Reconciliation (HRC) is a standing committee formed to assist the Board of Directors  in the clarification and resolution of disagreements, conflicts, misunderstandings, or ethical concerns. The HRC is a sub-committee consisting of one Sangha Advisory Council member (appointed by a consensus of the Board of Directors) , one resident or ordained member (appointed by the Teachers), and one additional sangha member.  Sangha Members may apply and then be voted in by consensus by the Sangha Advisory Council. Tenure is for one year and may be renewed for up to three years. After an absence from the HRC for a year, a person may be reappointed. The names of the HRC members are posted on the Windhorse Zen Community website.

The sooner one can consult with the HRC the better in the event that direct conversation with the person(s) involved is not successful in restoring harmony.  Perhaps one meeting with an HRC member can repair a conflict, but matters  involving significant inappropriate behavior, such as inappropriate sexual conduct, abusive behavior, harassment, incompetence or the use of position for personal gain or exploitation should quickly be brought to the  HRC, via the formal grievance procedure below.

Each HRC member will inform the entire Committee of matters of concern which have been brought before them. Details of such matters will be handled with discretion and privacy.  The HRC members will first offer a listening ear and counsel. If indicated, the HRC will facilitate a dialogue between parties. If a dialogue between the parties does not lead to repair, then the HRC will make recommendations as needed.  In the case of an issue with transmitted teachers or any formal complaint, the HRC recommendations will be followed by consultation with the Board of Directors. The HRC is responsible for the recommendations, which are to be decided upon by majority vote within the Committee. If an appeal of the recommendation is desired, it may be made by formal procedure, described below, at which time the HRC members should be present for clarity of understanding but have no vote on the matter. Finally, the Board of Directors may opt to seek appropriate remediative council outside the sangha.

RELATIONSHIPS AND INTIMACY

The teacher-student relationship, as with therapeutic relationships, involves powerful psychic conditions including projection, transference and countertransference. Those in leadership positions have additional responsibilities and our precepts include commitments regarding sexual behavior.  

Any ordained person, residential student or teacher who finds a romantic relationship beginning with a member of the sangha should inform the HRC of this relationship and seek guidance about how to proceed.  If the people involved are in a teacher-student relationship, a choice must be made between either pursuing that personal relationship or continuing the teacher-student relationship. The HRC should help in this decision-making process. A resolution should be achieved with as little delay and as much openness and transparency as possible.

PROFESSIONAL CONFLICTS

Many of our members are psychotherapists, physicians, attorneys, contractors and others who may offer services to other members of our sangha. It is important to be mindful of the complexities that can arise in dual relationships, and while we do not discourage these relationships, we ask all to be mindful of potential abuses. Teachers, psychotherapists, clergypeople and other professionals are expected to abide by the ethical codes of their professions. Teachers and others in authority at Windhorse have a responsibility to anticipate and avoid potential conflicts of interest. 

CONFIDENTIALITY

A central part of our practice is spiritual direction. Confidentiality regarding what is said in dokusan or similar interviews is foundational to our practice. We understand confidentiality to be a reasonable assumption of privacy.  It is not a strict code of secrecy. When complaints are made or significant concerns are expressed, they will not necessarily be held in secrecy.    

RECOURSE

Maintaining the wellbeing of the sangha is the mutual responsibility of all its members. If you have a concern, or simply wish to share your discomfort, please bring those concerns to a member of the HRC. Your questions will be taken seriously and examined according to a principled and confidential process. Again, whenever possible, a direct conversation between the parties is best. When this is not possible, then one should bring concerns to a member of the HRC.  If the matter cannot be resolved informally, or in the case of more serious concerns, a process has been developed outlined below as the "Formal Procedure."

There are many possible outcomes of the grievance process. Healing and reconciliation is the goal, but all parties cannot always be satisfied. Serious violations, particularly  between leaders or teachers and students may necessitate a formal grievance.

FORMAL PROCEDURE

Our formal grievance procedure is available when informal attempts at reconciliation have not worked or are inappropriate. Anyone aware of the following matters should bring them to the HRC immediately: misappropriation of funds, gross and harmful incompetence in leadership or teaching, or anything that a therapist or clergy person would be mandated by law to report, such as suspected abuse or neglect of a child, an elder, or a disabled person. 

Some areas that are appropriate for this formal procedure include situations in which a member wishes to appeal an administrative decision regarding themselves personally or situations where a member feels another member, leader or any teacher has engaged in significant misconduct or unethical behavior. A non-member who is an active participant in WZC activities may also use this process. The HRC can determine whether a complaint by a non-member who is not involved directly in the life of the sangha should be addressed. The HRC has responsibility for determining whether alleged misconduct has occurred, and any recommended reparative actions. 

Any complaint to the HRC under this formal grievance procedure must be made in writing. It may be given to any member of the HRC.  Written acknowledgement of the complaint will be given to the complainant along with a copy of this ethical code.

The complaint should describe the alleged behavior, a history of any attempts to resolve the complaint informally, and a general statement about the desired resolution. The complaint and related documents will be retained by the HRC for a time it deems appropriate.

The HRC should respond to the person who has registered the complaint in writing within 30 days after receipt of the complaint with a statement of its decision and the reason(s) for the decision.  Any misconduct for which there is statutory mandatory reporting in North Carolina will be reported to the appropriate authorities. Anyone may appeal the HRC’s decision to the Board of Directors. However, all are expected to work from an assumption that the HRC has acted in good faith and with due diligence, and should not lightly overturn the findings of the HRC.