MeditativeFriends.org - Code of Conduct

BRINGING MEDITATIVE FRIENDS TOGETHER ALL OVER THE WORLD

CODE OF CONDUCT

[last updated: 2011-11-06, 10:44 EST]

MeditativeFriends^SM (www.meditativefriends.org) is a global community of practitioners of meditation who meet and develop meaningful relationships with those who share common values, interests and ways of living. MeditativeFriends^SM organizes events for its members all over the world. These informal social networking events typically feature meditation and various shared activities. To start meeting other meditative friends visit our Meetup.com page at www.meetup.com/MeditativeFriends and send email to info@meditativefriends.org to join our mailing list. Participation is always free! We cheerfully welcome you to join our global community. While MeditativeSingles^SM events are organized in an ad-hoc, informal, on-demand fashion by MeditativeSingles^SM community members worldwide, we do require agreement and adherence to the following Code of Conduct and that agreement to adhere to this Code of Conduct is implied by any person participating in and/or taking an active role in organizing the MeditativeFriends^SM (hereinafter Community) events:

Members. "Member" or "Members" refer(s) to any person or persons who participate(s) in and/or takes minor active roles in organizing Community events. Members must be 18 years of age or older.
Guiding Members. "Guiding Member" or "Guiding Members" refer(s) to any person or persons who participate(s) in and/or take(s) more involved active roles in organizing Community events and assumes guiding, leadership roles in the Community. Guiding Members are the only members authorized to speak or conduct business officially on behalf of the Community. Guiding Members are appointed by the Community pending submission and approval of the Guiding Member Application Form and remain Guiding Members until their statuses as Guiding Members are terminated, revoked, given up or otherwise expired. Guiding Members must be 18 years of age or older, have no felony convictions, and otherwise must pass the Community's general screening criteria.
Venues: Members and Guiding Members should seek to chose venues where meditation will be permissible by and not disruptive to others. Parks, gardens, mountains and waterfront are often great locations. Private residences and commercial buildings with welcome of the owners, lease-holders are also good venues. In general, the Community seeks more secluded venues so as to not disrupt or offend others. Members and Guiding Members agree to avoid choosing venues which are high-traffic public venues where there would be an increased probability of the gathering being perceived as disruptive to the lives of or offensive in any way to others. With that said, meditation can be performed almost anywhere, including crowded cafes, a bench in a mall, busy city centers... we only ask that members strive to not make it too obvious that they are doing anything unusual.
Dates & Times of events. The Community, through its individual communities all over the world, can organize meeting events on virtually any day or at any time. We suggest that individual communities meet every Sunday at 16:00 (4:00 pm) or at least on the first Sunday of each month at 8:00 (8:00 am) and/or 16:00 (4:00 pm). Alternately, individual communities are free to organize their meetings at any time which fulfills the wishes of the Members. We do suggest, however, that organizing Members of events do some research and try not to schedule Community meetings on dates and times that would conflict or compete with other important local events.
Structure of events. Meetings will start with 30 minutes of quiet meditation. Other time can be spent in introductions, discussion and/or various activities. While the structure and content of the meetings are quite open to variation, we strongly urge adherence to the rule that we start with 30 minutes of quiet meditation, which in itself is undeniably the most powerful force in the manifestation of the essential purpose of the Community.
Participation free-of-charge. Participation in Community events is always free-of-charge and there is no pressure to donate to the Community. Members of the Community who wish to support the Community financially may explore possibilities by contacting the Community newsletter and directory publishing department and/or the donations department.
Physical form/position for meditation. The physical "form" or "position" of meditation is not specifically restricted. Meditation can be performed in any form that any particular participant prefers, including sitting or standing positions. Lotus or kneeling positions are welcome but not required. During the first 30 minute quiet meditation session, we generally require quiet and minimal physical motion.
Clothing: There are no restrictions on clothing – wear whatever you want.
Substance of meditation: The "substance" of meditation is not specifically restricted. Our general suggestions are that during the first 30 minute quiet meditation session members will strive for the purest forms of meditation which involve minimization of activity of the thinking mind and maximizing of the open, free, attentive, aware and enlightened mind.
Late arrivals to events. Any persons arriving late to the meetings during the 30 minute quiet meditation session will be as quiet as possible and join the quiet meditation with least possible disruption.
Religion / systems of belief and practice. All religions, systems of belief, and other practices which involve meditation are welcome. All participants should accept inclusion of other meditation practitioners and not exclude them based on their beliefs or systems of practice. Our way of practice at the meetings is both independent of and yet inclusive of any particular system of thought or belief – it is objective, unbiased, truth-oriented and all-encompassing. No reference to any particular religion, system of belief or practice in itself as being superior to others is to be made at our meetings.
No commercial or political agendas. Our meetings are to remain free from attachment to any particular commercial or political agendas.
No excessive, exclusive or dominate Guiding Member or meditation instructor roles. Guiding Members agree to fulfill a minimal, limited role in guiding and leading other members at Community events, to allow other Guiding Members to also play their roles and to not dominate the activities at the Community events. Community events are not intended as training events for Members who are relatively inexperienced in meditation but rather as informal, friendly gatherings of practitioners of meditation regardless of their levels of experience for social purposes. Members who seek instruction in meditation can find instructors and other resources for learning the art of meditation within or outside of the Community at any time and agree not to expect that such instruction will take place at Community events. Furthermore, Members and Guiding Members agree not to provide excessive guidance and instruction regarding meditation at Community events.
Singles and nonsingles. MeditativeFriends also produces MeditativeSingles, a sub-community of the MeditativeFriends community focused on bringing together singles who practice meditation. Singles and nonsingles alike are welcome to participate in all MeditativeFriends events.
Newsletter and Directory. The Community's newsletter will serve as a means for reporting activities, expressing views and sharing insights of the Community. The newsletter will always be available free-of-charge to anybody who wants to receive it. It will contain news, details regarding meetings, creative writings, announcements submitted by Members and advertising which will serve to support the newsletter production. The Community's Directory will serve as a means for listing commercial and noncommercial entities of Community members. Participation in Community events is always free-of-charge and there is no pressure to donate to the Community. Members of the Community who wish to support the Community financially may explore possibilities by contacting the Community newsletter and directory publishing department and/or the donations department.
Respect and Nondisclosure. Members agree to have respect for other Members' privacy. Members agree to not disseminate non-public information regarding other Members to any third parties. Members agree not to publish details regarding Members' private lives on the internet or via any other electronic or print media.
Tobacco, Alcohol, Controlled Substances: The Community forbids use of tobacco and alcohol at its events if use of these substances would serve to put the health and well-being of other Members participating in the events at risk. By no means is the use of tobacco or alcohol at its events permitted should it be prohibited by law, ordinance or any venue rules and regulations. By no means are any illegal controlled substances permissible at any of the Community events.
Law: Community members agree to abide by all applicable laws at Community events and in relation to other Community members at all times.
Indemnity: Community members agree to indemnify and not hold Community nor any of its Guiding Members responsible for any outcomes of the Community events, including any outcomes regarding any relations entered into with any persons whom they meet at Community events.

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