Association for Spiritual Integrity: Lessons from a Young Organization Making a Difference
Publication information:
O’Keeffe, Jac, Philip Goldberg, and Rick Archer. 2023. “Association for Spiritual Integrity: Lessons from a Young Organization Making a Difference.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
Abstract: The Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI) was created as a nonprofit in 2018 in response to the long series of power abuses within the alternative spirituality domain. Its aim is to help change the paradigm of spiritual leadership by empowering seekers and promoting ethical standards and ongoing personal development among spiritual teachers, guides, mentors, and the like. In this presentation, ASI founders and board members share the lessons learned and takeaways drawn from the organization’s nascent initiatives: establishing an Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice for spiritual teachers and organizations; running a pilot program to develop small peer support groups for spiritual teachers and leaders; and making available a formal process by which students who feel abused or exploited by spiritual teachers can file a complaint and engage in an open and honest restorative process with the teacher involved.
Presenter bios: Jac O'Keeffe is a theology graduate from the Pontificate University of Ireland with post graduate studies in adult education. Working as an independent spiritual teacher for more than 15 years she guides people in the unfoldment of their own spiritual journey. In her books, teachings, talks and retreats she supports the empowerment of individuals who are done with bypassing, done with hiding, done with outsourcing their spiritual awakening to gurus. Her books include Born to Be Free and How to Be a Spiritual Rebel. Jac is a founding member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), an organization with a mission to bring high levels of integrity to the culture of spiritual leadership. https://www.jac-okeeffe.com/
Philip Goldberg is an author, public speaker, meditation teacher, and interfaith minister whose numerous books include the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West; Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path: Living at the Heart of Paradox; The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. An adviser to the Museum of American Religion and a board member of Association for Spiritual Integrity, he hosts the Spirit Matters podcast and leads tours to India. https://www.philipgoldberg.com/
Rick Archer is the creator and host of the interview show Buddha at the Gas Pump. Since the Fall of 2009, he has interviewed nearly 700 “spiritually awakening” people, from the well-known to the unknown, from a variety of backgrounds and traditions. A former Transcendental Meditation teacher for 25 years, Rick instructed hundreds of people and spent years on long meditation retreats. He has practiced meditation daily for over 54 years. He is also one of the founders of the Association for Spiritual Integrity and spoke regularly at the Science and Non-Duality Conference. https://batgap.com
Presenter affiliation: The Association for Spiritual Integrity (https://www.spiritual-integrity.org/)
Presenter bios: Jac O'Keeffe is a theology graduate from the Pontificate University of Ireland with post graduate studies in adult education. Working as an independent spiritual teacher for more than 15 years she guides people in the unfoldment of their own spiritual journey. In her books, teachings, talks and retreats she supports the empowerment of individuals who are done with bypassing, done with hiding, done with outsourcing their spiritual awakening to gurus. Her books include Born to Be Free and How to Be a Spiritual Rebel. Jac is a founding member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), an organization with a mission to bring high levels of integrity to the culture of spiritual leadership. https://www.jac-okeeffe.com/
Philip Goldberg is an author, public speaker, meditation teacher, and interfaith minister whose numerous books include the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West; Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path: Living at the Heart of Paradox; The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. An adviser to the Museum of American Religion and a board member of Association for Spiritual Integrity, he hosts the Spirit Matters podcast and leads tours to India. https://www.philipgoldberg.com/
Rick Archer is the creator and host of the interview show Buddha at the Gas Pump. Since the Fall of 2009, he has interviewed nearly 700 “spiritually awakening” people, from the well-known to the unknown, from a variety of backgrounds and traditions. A former Transcendental Meditation teacher for 25 years, Rick instructed hundreds of people and spent years on long meditation retreats. He has practiced meditation daily for over 54 years. He is also one of the founders of the Association for Spiritual Integrity and spoke regularly at the Science and Non-Duality Conference. https://batgap.com
Presenter affiliation: The Association for Spiritual Integrity (https://www.spiritual-integrity.org/)