Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Preamble

Throughout history, people have sought to bring meaning to their lives and to awaken to their true natures through a variety of spiritual practices. Some of these practices, such as prayer, meditation, and yogas, are integrated into daily life. Some, described here as "primary religious practices," are intended to bring about certain beneficial, exceptional states of consciousness - such as the direct experience of divinity or of unity - and are engaged in less frequently. 

Some people feel called to assist other individuals or groups along their spiritual paths. In various traditions, people who serve in this capacity are given a title in the community such as priest, rabbi, minister, pastor, curandera, shaman, or master. In this document, the word "guide" is used to identify an experienced spiritual practitioner who has some familiarity with the terrain and who takes on the role of facilitator in the spiritual practices of others. A guide need not have exclusive or definitive knowledge of the terrain. 

Spiritual practices, and especially primary spiritual practices, are not without risk. Therefore, when an individual chooses to practice with the assistance of a guide, both take on special responsibilities. In an effort to integrate the yearning for spiritual discovery with present-day societal concerns, the Council on Spiritual Practices proposes the following Code of Ethics for those who serve as spiritual guides. 

CSP Code of Ethics

1. [Intention] Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom. 
2. [Serving Society] Spiritual practices are to be designed and conducted in ways that respect the common good, with due regard for public safety, health, and order. Given that the increased awareness gained from spiritual practices can catalyze desire for personal and social change, guides shall use special care to help direct the energies of those they serve, as well as their own, in responsible ways that reflect a loving regard for life in all its forms. 
3. [Serving Individuals] Spiritual guides shall respect and seek to preserve the autonomy and dignity of each person. Participation in any primary religious practice must be voluntary and based on advance disclosure and consent given individually by each participant while in an ordinary state of consciousness. Disclosure shall minimally include discussion of any elements of the practice that could reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. In particular, participants must be warned that primary religious experience can be difficult and dramatically transformative. Limits on the behaviors of participants and facilitators are to be made clear and agreed upon in advance of any session. Appropriate customs of confidentiality are to be established and honored. Guides shall make reasonable preparations to protect each participant's health and safety during spiritual practices and in the vulnerable periods that may follow. 
4. [Competence] Spiritual guides are to assist only with those practices for which they are qualified by personal experience and by training or education. 
5. [Integrity] Spiritual guides shall strive to be aware of how their own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations affect their work. During primary religious practices, participants may be especially vulnerable to suggestion, manipulation, and exploitation; therefore, guides pledge to protect participants and not to allow anyone to use that vulnerability in ways that harm participants or others. 
6. [Quiet Presence] To avoid any harmful consequences of personal or organizational ambition, spiritual practices are usually better allowed to grow through attraction rather than by active promotion. 
7. [Not for Profit] Spiritual practices are to be conducted in the spirit of service. Spiritual guides shall strive to accommodate participants without regard to their ability to pay or make donations. 
8. [Religious Tolerance] Spiritual guides shall practice openness and respect with people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to their own.