Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice
for Spiritual Leaders
In keeping with ASI’s mission to encourage spiritual teachers, leaders, and guides to approach their work in the most competent and ethical manner—and to help safeguard the sacred teacher-student relationship—all members are expected to commit to the following principles.
In the tenets below, the word “teachers” represents all the professional capacities in which our members might serve, and the word “students” represents all whom they serve
This Honor Code will be continually reassessed and periodically revised. We also acknowledge that many guidelines touch upon highly complex and nuanced issues. Additional documents may also be created to reflect new insight and analysis. We welcome honest feedback, open discussion, diverse perspectives, and discerning analysis. Please Contact Us with your thoughts and ideas on the Honor Code of Ethics for Spiritual Leaders.
ASI Honor Code of Ethics for Spiritual Leaders Tenets with Educational Videos
1. Holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, right behavior, and professional competency, as commonly recognized by our peers.
2. Performing our roles as teachers in a caring and compassionate manner, in both one-to-one interactions and groups.
3. Respecting the rights, dignity, and safety of all students and fellow practitioners.
4. Fostering autonomy, empowerment, self-sufficiency, and emotional maturity in our students.
5. Treating students’ questions, concerns, doubts, and experiences with respect, and never trivializing or dismissing their enquiries.
6. Being self-aware, open, and humble about the limitations of our knowledge and experience.
7. Making only honest, realistic statements regarding the benefits of our teachings, practices, courses, and other offerings.
8. Refraining from giving counsel in matters outside of our areas of training and expertise, and making appropriate referrals as needed.
9. Being honest and transparent regarding business and financial matters relevant to our students, clients, donors, and other stakeholders.
10. Honoring the sanctity of privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of everything conveyed to us in confidence.
11. Abiding by local laws with respect to the disclosure of information in cases of sexual abuse, child endangerment, and the intention to harm oneself or others.
12. Using only with proper care and caution any techniques that can potentially cause harmful side effects.
13. Acknowledging that, regardless of our spiritual attainment, we are human beings with human personalities, limitations, drives, and needs.
14. Not seeking or presuming exalted privileges or glorified status because of our role as spiritual teachers.
15. Never manipulating, exploiting, or deceiving a student to satisfy our personal aspirations, needs, or desires.
16. Establishing and maintaining clear and wholesome professional boundaries with all students, employees, and associates.
17. Never abusing the trust of students by exploiting them with unfair, coercive, or deceptive attempts to obtain money or free labor. (This does not include reasonable fees for services, donations of money and time, or volunteer work freely offered.)
18. Being particularly mindful of sexual boundaries with students—and honoring them at all times.
19. Cultivating and practicing honesty, integrity, compassion, humility, and empathy.
20. Engaging in continuous self-reflection, learning, and holistic personal growth.
21. Regularly reviewing our motivations for serving as teachers and monitoring the integrity of our words and actions.
22. Encouraging feedback about our own methods and behavior—and taking that feedback seriously. This includes complaints submitted to the ASI.
23. Addressing promptly any personal issues, concerns, or challenges that might affect our professional competency.
24. Offering support to our colleagues and fellow ASI members, to the extent that we are able and available.
You are welcome to download and print the ASI Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Spiritual Leaders.
Please note: We would like to have the ASI Code of Ethics translated into many languages. If you would like to volunteer to translate the code into your native language, please contact us.
Curious to learn more about membership?
The ASI is a voluntary, inclusive, international organization of spiritual leaders, teachers and guides. Membership is open to anyone in a position of spiritual leadership who agrees to abide by the ASI Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice.
We have an additional code for those who represent a spiritual organization or venue. Please take a look at our Honor Code for Organizations.