core intentions
This document was developed over a series of community-based town halls and wisdom circles. The Recovery Dharma Global Board has adopted them. Other Recovery Dharma Sangha Groups in the worldwide community are invited to also consider adopting these as guiding intentions.
- Create and maintain safe, supportive meetings and organizational structures.
- Respect the confidentiality of all who attend and what is shared at our meetings.
- Offer peer-to-peer support, given freely in the spirit of generosity.
- Employ the services of professionals when necessary for the functioning of our organization.
- Ensure that activities, retreats, and conferences are peer-led. We may utilize Dharma and meditation teachers and offer donations at our discretion.
- Choose meeting formats, literature, meditations, and teachings while remaining true to our program.
- Make decisions through a process in which each member’s voice is respected and considered.
- Operate independently of any other organization, agency, teacher, or group.
- Accept donations and raise funds only when consistent with our goal to be non-affiliated and self-directed.
- Demonstrate integrity, accountability, and transparency in our decision-making and financial operations.
about the core intentions process
With the formation of our new organization, one of the first ideas was about how to set standards for how our global sangha operates. There was a call to community members to come together to discuss these issues. This led to the creation of the Core Intentions Circle. These were written to be followed by every part of the Recovery Dharma community – local groups, inter-sanghas, regions, and the staff and Board of Directors of the nonprofit organization.
The Core Intentions Circle started meeting regularly in August 2019 to develop the Core Intentions. Nine community meetings were held to elicit feedback and editing. In an early part of the process, members of the Inclusion Circle reviewed drafts to ensure that the language and tone were welcoming to all. The Core Intentions Circle continued to meet for countless hours to bring the document to where it is now, relying on the feedback of our community and the generosity of the members of the Circle.