The Principles of Shekinashram

Commitment to Truth
‘Commitment to Truth’ basically means wanting Truth more than you want your personal story. This path is not for everyone at this time, and it is up to the individual whether this path is for them or not. Having commitment to Truth means being willing to perpetually surrender, releasing the contraction of self-identification. It means being open, being empty, being courageous and leaping into the mystery in pursuit of that which satisfies beyond imagination. It means facing fear and being willing to die in every moment rather than witnessing life at a safe distance and not daring even to become alive enough to know what it means to die. Commitment to Truth does not mean that you have to be totally established in mastery or perfectly functional in a personality sense, you simply have to be willing to go for the final Truth no matter what comes up, no matter where it leads you, nor what it takes to realise. For those individuals who choose to live this way the advice is to maintain your deepest intention and stay with it regardless of what challenges may arise. It does not matter how many times you stumble or fall along the way, what matters is how many times you pick yourself back up again and face the day.

Commitment to Conflict Resolution
As members of the community we are here to realise, or deepen our realisation of the absolute Truth and serve the greater vision of the Ashram. In order to do this we must understand the need to move beyond attachment to, and identification with personal stories and ego generated opinions so that we may enter into an honest heart communion with others where we transcend the need to act upon selfishly motivated tendencies, and instead be open and offer truthful reflection. We learn to embrace challenge when it arises, to be open to it, and rather than assuming that we are always correct, we are receptive to others and willing to learn from them and the play of our interaction. We are committed to being together and to support one another with Love, to realise the absolute Truth. By continually honouring this commitment we earn the trust of one another to be honest and authentic. We recognise that others are doing their best at all times, and allow ourselves to be vulnerable in their presence which may mean being ‘wrong’. We are totally committed to being nothing other than Truth so when conflict arises we honour one another by agreeing to meet in Love without armour. There is no battle, no one to fight and nothing to fight for. Whilst we take full responsibility for ourselves and our feelings, we deal with issues as they come up, and do not allow them to build up and grow out of all proportion. Where possible we deal with conflict straight away in a harmonious and responsible manner. Running away and avoidance is not an acceptable way.

Ethical Action
This precept guides the individual toward recognising that our actions have consequences on ourselves and others, either harmful or beneficial. Ethical action is an endeavour toward choosing to do the right thing at the right time, walking a compassionate path, being conscious and absolutely honest with ourselves and others about our motivation and consciously choosing to steer into Truth rather than illusion.

1. Non-violence
All community members are to be committed to living a compassionate and non-violent lifestyle. Therefore where possible we will not knowingly support institutions, business ventures, and multi-nationals which abuse, manipulate and disrespect the right of each individual to live in freedom, be it human, animal, vegetable or mineral. For this reason those living and staying at the Ashram will adopt and respect a vegetarian diet and all Ashram patronage will be supporting ethical enterprises. Our commitment to non-violence includes avoiding violence toward ourselves and others through unconscious submission to dysfunctional behaviour patterns, and as a part of our commitment to Truth each member is encouraged to be impeccably honest with themselves with regard to this and to take responsibility for working toward achieving clarity and harmonious resolution of their internal (and reflectively external) environmental reality.

2. Right Communication
All community members are pledged to support one another totally through truthful reflection, which essentially includes all forms of communication. Speaking the Truth is therefore an important aspect of our being together, and this means avoiding gossip, blame, harsh criticism, speaking negatively about people behind their back, useless speech, using language to deceive, manipulate or withhold the Truth. Each member is to take responsibility for refraining from using these types of communication themselves whilst also not engaging, encouraging, or feeding energy to others who choose to relate in this way, rather without judgement, one could approach the situation by encouraging right and direct communication means.

3. Living Free from Intoxicants
All community members are required to be actively working toward freeing themselves from mental, emotional and physically addictive patterns and therefore reflectively removing the use of intoxicants such as caffeine, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol etc, so that the individual is able to be present authentically as him/herself at all times. Through abstaining from these substances one is fully accountable and acts with compassionate regard for him/herself with clarity of mind, and compassion toward the subtle and physical bodies. It is essential to develop self-discipline to challenge and transcend these addictive impulses if the individual is to progress beyond a relative point of development toward a totally Truthful and free existence. The occasional alcoholic beverage is acceptable, though regular use is not. The smoking of tobacco is acceptable in designated areas, though users will be encouraged to move beyond dependence on it. Absolutely no illegal or mind-altering substances such as marijuana, hallucigens, narcotics nor long-term reliance upon prescribed depressants or stimulants will be acceptable.

4. Spiritual Practice
Community members are expected to apply some form of daily spiritual practice whether this is coming together for group meditations or applying oneself to a personal practice. It is acknowledged that undertaking these precepts (members code of ethics) in themselves is a spiritual practice. The level to which these precepts are adhered to is monitored by the individual him/herself, though it is absolutely essential that the individual is clear about their own wishes to use these precepts as a template for their own self-development rather than feeling that this is something imposed upon them. This is a voluntary process agreed upon and undertaken by the individual as an integral part of being at the Ashram. All members therefore implement these precepts with a sense of self-responsibility, consciousness, and integrity. By actually utilising the above precepts each individual genuinely takes responsibility for themselves at all levels and thereby in addition to self-development begins to alleviate the suffering of those around them. Because of the nature of the Ashram and each members commitment to the Truth, any who fall either consciously or unconsciously into dysfunctional patterns will receive truthful yet loving reflection from other community members, and therefore will be given an opportunity to progress with community support. Each individual is encouraged to develop deep relationships within the Ashram established in trust of one another’s integrity whereby truthful reflection is agreed upon and expected as a part of true service between one another. Mentoring is optionally available. This is for those who recognise the benefits available from cultivating profound relationship in this context and who are receptive to direct guidance and willing to go for freedom no matter what.