dharma.org.au
An Australian Network for Insight
Meditation and Dharma Practice

Expected
teacher standards,
procedures for addressing issues with
teachers and giving constructive criticism
This
website is independent and has no
association with any organisation of
teachers. In recent years there has been a
panel of three senior teachers, Subhana
Barzaghi, Patrick Kearney and myself, who
make a call as to whether newer teachers get
listed here.
The intention of the website is to publicise
activities of teachers who maintain high
standards of integrity. This includes acting
in supportive and compassionate ways, not
being conceited, acting with refined ethics
and treating people respectfully.
It may be the case that someone wishes to
offer feedback or constructive criticism
concerning a teacher listed on this website.
To accommodate this, and to ensure
confidence that the standards mentioned
above are being taken seriously, we invite
you to let us know of any issue you feel
should be communicated. We offer a number of
options to facilitate this.
1. Take it
up with the teacher directly
We encourage direct communication with the
teachers when there are issues of concern or
constructive criticism of that teacher’s
behaviour. This could be done face to face
or if you have or can see the teacher’s
email address, you can email them directly.
2.
Approaching the teacher panel
Emails to the email address
will automatically go to the three teachers
on the panel: Patrick Kearney, Subhana
Barzaghi and myself. As well as issues or
constructive criticism relating to other
teachers you can also address issues related
to one of us.
When this email

is used for issues related to other
teachers, you can opt to:
(a) Have your email
forwarded to the teacher concerned with your
name and contact details. You can ask for a
response or advise that you don’t need a
response;
(b) Have the contents of
your email forwarded to the teacher
concerned without your name and contact
details;
(c) Not have your email
forwarded but have it simply to point out an
issue.
We would like students to not feel alone
with issues they are concerned about.
Feedback would provide an opportunity for
individual teachers and/or the panel to hear
your concerns.
Victor von
der Heyde
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