The Buddha taught that ethical training (Sila) is essential for both individual and relational spiritual practice. He taught that the five basic trainings, or precepts, are a foundation for spiritual growth.
The Five Trainings, also known as the Five Precepts, in the original Pali and an English translation:
Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi — We undertake the training-precept to abstain from harming breathing beings.
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi — We undertake the training-precept to abstain from taking what is not given.
Kāmesumicchācāra veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi — We undertake the training-precept to abstain from misconduct concerning sense-pleasures.
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi — We undertake the training-precept to abstain from false speech.
Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi — We undertake the training-precept to abstain from substances that create heedlessness.
As a community, centered on interpersonal meditation practices, we pay special heed to upholding ethical integrity. We recognize that our relationships, and thus our practice, occur within systems of inequity and disproportionate harm. Humbly we bring the inevitable blindnesses and biases of our individual and cultural conditioning to a relational practice that is dedicated to freedom and to our awakening together.
The ethical guidelines for the Insight Dialogue Community are divided into Ethics for Daily Life, Ethics for Formal Relational Practice and Ethics for the Community of Teachers and Event Coordinators. A printable version of the complete ethics statement can be found here.