The Cambridge Insight Meditation Center (CIMC) — as a community of practitioners and as an institution — endeavors to follow the Buddha’s path of ethics, tranquility, wisdom and compassion. It is recognized that problems, misunderstandings and frustrations can arise within the community (sangha).
The Board of Directors (the Board) is committed to providing a safe and respectful place for all participants. To support this aspiration, the Board has developed two options that are available when individual efforts to resolve a problem or grievance are not successful:
- The Reconciliation Process is designed to support individuals in resolving conflicts and grievances.
- The Formal Grievance Process that may be implemented where serious
ethical breaches are raised.
CIMC’s Board also appointed a Board Ethics Committee and an Ethics and Reconciliation Council (EAR Council) to promote the values and practices of sangha health and harmony.
The Board’s intention, above all, is to foster an environment of responsibility and integrity and to treat all parties involved in these processes with fairness, compassion, and respect.
Reconciliation Process: The Ethics and Reconciliation Council (EAR Council) is available to any community member who would like support in dealing with interpersonal conflicts, grievances, or ethical concerns that occur at the Center. The Council can serve as a sounding board, help facilitate deep personal reflection, assist in finding clarity and offer suggestions on resolving issues. The process offers confidentiality and can help preserve relationships within the sangha. Click here for information on CIMC’s Reconciliation Process.
Formal Grievance Process: This process may be implemented where any CIMC participant believes that they have been subjected to, or who is aware of, any form of serious ethical misconduct or harassment involving a CIMC teacher, staff member or community member. Click here for information on CIMC’s Formal Grievance Process.
The following are examples of when each process might be used.
| Reconciliation Process | Formal Grievance Process |
| Interpersonal conflicts at CIMC
Concerns about unethical behavior at CIMC General grievances related to CIMC staff, teachers or other community members
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Inappropriate sexual behavior or harassment by a CIMC teacher, leader, staff or community member
Verbal or physical abuse at CIMC Grievances not satisfactorily resolved through the Reconciliation Process |