Oxbow Zen Ethics Statement

February 28 2026

Inclusivity

Oxbow Zen is a community of Zen practitioners in the greater Northampton, Massachusetts, area. We offer a welcoming and inclusive space for people at all stages of life to participate and study Zen meditation. Our wish is to nourish a Sangha and to support and deepen our practice together.

We welcome people of different cultures, colors, abilities, ages, identifications, and beliefs to join for meditation and harmonious practice at Oxbow Zen. We appreciate and explore our differences in order to build understanding, harmony, and openness for the whole community.

Structure

Oxbow Zen is an affiliate of the Village Zendo. This relationship means, among other things, that Oxbow Zen has access to the wisdom, counsel, and resources of the Village Zendo in case there has been a breach of this Ethics Policy. As outlined in the “Resolution” section below, sangha members may consult with Village Zendo teachers by contacting them through the online interview process on the VZ webpage or in writing. If needed, the Village Zendo will support Oxbow Zen during the resolution process.

Power relations

Oxbow Zen is committed to providing an environment of equality and respect for all those who come to practice. We seek to maintain a container where all can feel invited to participate fully and authentically in a variety of ways.

Recognizing and valuing the importance of diversity, no individuals or forms of practice are privileged or given special status. This is especially true in regard to those who are ordained, for whom the dangers and pitfalls of power projection can run high. Any seniority is based solely on the maturity of spiritual practice. All members of Oxbow Zen, especially teachers, senior students and ordained members of the community are encouraged to observe a high standard of ethical conduct. We expect them to pay close attention to personal boundaries especially in the areas of sex and money, and to avoid other forms of control over others.

We also seek to maintain as much transparency as possible in regard to the structure, operations, finances, and decision-making of the organization.

If anyone experiences or perceives a violation or abuse of power, we strongly encourage them to speak up. This is vitally important not only to the individual involved but to the whole community. The procedures for addressing such abuse are described below.

Student-Teacher Relationship

In Zen, the uniquely intimate nature of student-teacher face-to-face meetings can give rise to questions about confidentiality. We treat these meetings with a reasonable assumption of privacy, not a strict code of secrecy. A core aspect of our practice is spiritual direction. While there is a right to a reasonable sense of confidentiality regarding what is said in these meetings, Dharma teachers consult with one another and hold confidential information among themselves rather than alone.

Students are also expected to hold private interview interactions in confidence unless they wish to lodge a complaint. It goes without saying that any perceived slight should be discussed with the teacher in question first. Idle talk about interview is inappropriate and harmful to everyone’s practice.

Whenever a teacher and a student are relating to each other in capacities or contexts outside their respective teacher/student roles, a dual relationship is created. For example, a teacher who is a psychotherapist may be asked by a student to become a client/patient. Or a student who is an attorney may be asked by a teacher to provide legal services. These and other such situations give rise to a dual relationship. We recognize that not all dual relationships are inherently unethical. We are, however, mindful of the complexities and risks in these circumstances, and therefore it is the practice of Oxbow Zen that teachers, dharma holders and ordained members of the sangha shall neither provide nor seek professional services from members of the sangha.

Oxbow Zen teachers and dharma holders acknowledge their responsibility to maintain the clarity, integrity and respect of the teacher-student relationship. Teachers and Dharma holders will not seek or initiate a sexual relationship with any member of the Oxbow Zen sangha, nor will they reciprocate if any member of the sangha seeks or attempts to initiate a sexual relationship with them.

At the same time, we recognize that all of us are human and that sometimes feelings develop between a teacher and student that the two may wish to explore outside of the teacher-student relationship. Should this happen, the teacher/Dharma holder will immediately make this wish known to a senior teacher at Oxbow Zen and/or the Village Zendo who will determine the most appropriate response. As below, at a minimum, that student may not work with that teacher. Should a relationship between teacher/Dharma holder be reported by someone outside of this relationship and verified through investigation, the teacher/dharma holder will immediately be required to step down from their role. A priest who wishes to explore a relationship with a sangha member must likewise make their wishes known to a teacher so that appropriate steps can be taken.

Resolution

Conflict can be a healthy feature of a community when it is recognized as a facet of being human and is critical for our growth and spiritual evolution. Accordingly, when conflict arises, we attempt to address it skillfully, rather than to avoid or deny it. We seek to respond to conflict in a way that promotes greater individual and collective self-awareness.

However, ethical violations are a grave form of conflict that have the potential to cause great harm. Our procedures for resolving ethical violations involve the following steps:

1. 1. examination of one’s own role in the situation;
   2. when appropriate, direct efforts at communication and reconciliation between the parties involved;
   3. when Step #2 is inappropriate or does not lead to resolution, recourse to an Oxbow Zen or Village Zendo teacher to seek advice;
   4. when Step #3 does not lead to resolution, recourse to the Village Zendo Omsbudsperson who may intervene or facilitate resolution;
   5. when Step #4 does not lead to resolution, recourse to the Village Zendo Board of Directors and the Omsbudsperson (with any Board member recusing themself if involved in the conflict).

The Village Zendo Ombudsperson is Roshi Eisho Peterson. Her contact information is ombudsperson@villagezendo.org and (646) 258-2490.