ODMC Guiding Principles and Organizational Guidelines 

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to support the Open Door Meditation Community and Sangha Steering Circle (SSC) by providing vision, context and intention. These guidelines supplement the Open Door by-laws and will be a place for documenting all future decisions made by the Sangha Steering Circle. Any changes or additions should be consistent with the by-laws.

Mission: To create and support a welcoming, thriving, diverse, and inclusive Buddhist Insight Meditation community (Sangha) in Southern Maine

Vision Statement: To be completed later 

The Teachings: Open Door’s lineage comes from the 2600-year-old Early Buddhist teachings of the Buddha, who demonstrated the path of liberation from suffering and the possibility of full awakening for all sentient beings. This path includes the “three gems”: the Buddha (teacher), the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (community). Open Door offers these teachings through our weekly on-line and in-person sits, study groups, retreats, and the resources on our website. When designing programs or offerings, Open Door seeks to reach a broad and diverse audience by making the programs relevant, accessible and affordable. 

Creating Community: The Buddha stated that Spiritual Friends are the whole of holy life. Open Door works toward cultivating a welcoming community where people can embody their understanding of the Dharma, share deeply, maintain nurturing spiritual friendships, support each other through difficulties, and celebrate accomplishments and milestones. This includes ways for people to contribute to and advocate for love, peace, and justice in the community and in the world. We encourage community members to live mindfully with awareness of the consequences of their actions for the Sangha and the planet. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Open Door’s goal is to create a thriving community of Dharma practitioners which feels safe and supportive for all. We understand that to accomplish our goal, any barriers that stem from cultural conditioning around race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, religion, ability, and age need to be seen, understood, and healed. Open Door is committed to this work in an ongoing way and seeks to promote the fruition of this goal by employing a range of teachings and practices from the Early Buddhist traditions and contemporary understandings on oppression, privilege, and equity.

Working Together: As we grow our community and build sangha, we value input from as many voices as possible. Our focus is on the health of the sangha, and we come together with this shared intent. We strive to create offerings, programs, and structures that meet the needs of the community, are self-sustaining, and adaptable. The sangha and its offerings will not depend on the presence of any single person and will be able to withstand the natural turnover of the Steering Circle, committee members, and teachers.

Dana/Generosity: The concept of Dana is foundational to the Buddhist tradition. We appreciate the work done by all those who support the sangha. Our tradition recognizes that to give generously enriches the hearts of all who give. For these reasons, and more, Open Door operates on a Dana basis.  

Conflict Resolution: We value harmony in our Sangha and seek to honestly and respectfully recognize and address conflict when it arises, understanding that harmony can exist in the midst of disagreement. In the resolution of conflict, individual needs are also considered in light of what will best support the health of the Sangha. Our guide on this issue includes the Dharma teachings on Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech and Right Action. 

Non-Discrimination: Open Door will not discriminate against any person because of race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other arbitrary or illegal basis.

Organizational Guidelines

We value the clarity that comes with a structure that provides organizational stability and promotes accountability at all levels. Within that structure we value the inclusion of mindful decision making that is transparent, efficient and considerate of people's needs. To accomplish these goals, Open Door has a Sangha Steering Circle (SSC), an Executive Committee, and three standing Committees.  To learn more about Open Door’s organizational structure and processes, click here. To learn more about the Committees and how to become involved, click here. To learn more about the categories of teachers/leaders at Open Door, click here.

Financial Support: One step toward our goal of encouraging diversity is to ensure that Dharma Teachers and Dharma Leaders receive appropriate financial support for their teaching. To this end, Open Door will provide Dana to Guest Leaders and Teachers in the amount of $150 for each session they lead. We will also encourage Sangha members to support teachers through Dana at each sit. Open Door will reimburse teachers not local to the Portland area for mileage to and from the sit at the rate of $.45 per mile. (Note: This applies only to weekly sittings, not day-long retreats or classes.) 

Note: All Dharma Teachers and Dharma Leaders may apply or be recruited to teach online or in-person. They are required to fill out an application form which is reviewed by the Program Committee (PC). A member of the PC meets with the applicant and makes a recommendation to the full PC, which then makes the final decision about how to proceed. 

Finances: We actively cultivate an open-hearted practice of Dana, recognizing that generosity is a foundational and transformative practice on the path of awakening. Open Door is committed to offer most activities, including sits and retreats, free of charge, based on the belief that teachers and students foster a community of mutual support through this practice. There will be an annual appeal to support the operating expenses of the Sangha. 

Quorum and Voting: The by-laws state: Two thirds of SSC members at any one meeting (virtual or in-person) will constitute a quorum. Proposals presented and voted on at the SSC require a two-thirds majority to pass. All voting shall be by voice or hand raise unless ballots are requested by any SSC member. If requested, ballots shall be provided and one of the directors shall appoint two people to count the vote and report the results which will be recorded by the Secretary or designee in the minutes of the meeting. Each member gets one vote.

As much as possible, members of the SSC strive to make decisions by modified consensus (everyone agrees or “can live with it”). If it is not possible to reach consensus and a formal vote is needed, the SSC will follow the process outlined in the by-laws.

Annual meeting: Takes place at a time between the first scheduled board meeting in April and the last scheduled board meeting in May. 

May our work together bring freedom and happiness to all beings everywhere without exception. May we uphold the possibility of liberation for all beings everywhere without exception.