Teacher-Student Relationship

What constitutes a teacher-student relationship?

A formal teaching relationship begins the moment that a person attends a formal teaching event or engagement. An informal teaching relationship begins the moment someone in a teaching role begins offering advice or practical contemplative guidance to someone else. In more simple terms, one enters a teaching relationship when they assume the role of teacher. The role of teacher can be ended by the teacher and/or student.

After the relationship has explicitly ended, there is a waiting period before one can form an intimate relationship with integrity set forth by this ethical statement. This waiting period is flexible depending on the duration and type of training the student has participated in (e.g. retreats are different than a workshop). It is highly suggested that teachers check in with the Guiding Teacher if there is a transition from teacher/student to a different type of intimate relationship.