Code of Conduct
Persons who wish to serve the Master and the Mission as Preceptors should possess certain characteristics, which would include those below:
- Preceptor candidates should be prepared to undergo an oral and / or a written test to demonstrate their knowledge of the system, and it's working, prior to being accepted as Preceptors, and at any time thereafter.
- Preceptors are made by the President to assist Him in spreading the Mission, and work under His sole authority and instruction at all times. If any Preceptor is unwilling to acknowledge the President as the sole authority, or fail to conform to this code of conduct, he / she is liable to endanger his / her status as a Preceptor.
- Preceptors must at all times deal with abhyasis with love, humility, and an attitude of service.
- The Preceptor's life must be such as to serve as a role model for abhyasis, and must serve to attract potential abhyasis to the Mission.
- Preceptors must possess a fundamental understanding of the philosophy of the Sahaj Marg system, and the teachings of the Masters, and must be able to communicate this understanding to those who wish to join the system, or to abhyasis who wish to understand the system better.
- In order to be able to do the above, the Preceptor has to read the relevant literature of the Mission, particularly the Preceptors' Manuals, and familiarize himself/herself with the techniques prescribed.
- Persons who wish to serve the Mission as Preceptors volunteer their services. Preceptors will not, however, be compensated for their services monetarily.
- Preceptors are conduits serving the Master, and are strongly advised to restrict their roles to performing as such. They are advised against interfering in any manner in the personal lives of abhyasis, or indulging in any form of counseling, without the express prior written instruction of the President. In all such cases, or when in doubt, the Preceptor must refer the matter to the President for His intervention.
- Any communication or correspondence between the Preceptor and the abhyasi is to remain strictly confidential and may be shared only with the President.
- Preceptors must give sittings to abhyasis without fail, since this is their primary duty, and one they have volunteered for.
- In cases where the abhyasi asks for sittings at a greater periodicity than is recommended, the Preceptor may point out this fact to the abhyasi after giving him/her the sitting.
- Preceptors who travel to other centres are required to follow the guidelines below:
- Preceptors are required to intimate the Secretary of the Mission of their travel plans, along with the duration of stay, prior to their departure, with a copy to the local administrator of the centre/s they intend to visit.
- During their stay, the local administrator should request the visiting Preceptor to conduct group satsangh, as a matter of courtesy, should one be held.
- Should the Preceptor introduce any new persons to the Mission, introduction forms must be filled out and handed over to the local administrator for follow up.
- Preceptors are expected to concentrate only on the spiritual aspect of their work, except where they have been specifically instructed by the Master to also look into Mission administration.
- Preceptors will be evaluated on their work, and must be reconciled to the possibility that their appointment as a Preceptor will be subject to renewal and, possibly, termination, as Master decides. The appointment of a Preceptor and her / his continuation to do the work are at the sole will and pleasure of the President.
- Since Preceptors are abhyasis first and last, they are expected to do their abhyas in a conscientious manner at all times.
- The function of the preceptor in the Mission is to impart spiritual training under the direct guidance of the President. Preceptors are to refrain from counseling abhyasis. If an abhyasi requires counseling, he / she should be directed to a licensed or trained professional.
- Preceptors are to remind abhyasis that medical advice received from a qualified medical practitioner must always be strictly followed.
Preceptors are requested to follow the above guidelines in their work at all times.