About the Lifeflow Meditation Centre

• Objectives of the Lifeflow Meditation Centre
• How the Lifeflow Meditation Centre is managed
• Finances
• Teachers Code of Conduct
• Privacy
• History

Objectives of the Lifeflow Meditation Centre
The Lifeflow Meditation Centre is a wholly Australian, non-profit, educational organisation. We maintain two retreat properties, Tara Hills, which is in the Adelaide Hills, and Kurlana, which is in the Riverland. We provide regular retreats for the public and members at Tara Hills, whilst Kurlana is reserved for advanced meditation retreats only. In addition we provide a full range of classes and courses in the City throughout the year.

The main objectives of the organisation are:
	To promote the teaching, study and practice of meditation and its integration with everyday life
	To provide an environment that supports the practice of meditation
	To establish and maintain ethical and practical standards for the teaching of meditation
	To develop the profession of meditation teaching by training teachers of integrity to a high standard of expertise.

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How the Lifeflow Meditation Centre is managed
The Lifeflow Meditation Centre is the registered trading name of the SA Meditation Centre Incorporated. The Board of the Association is responsible for overall management and direction. The Board is made up of Full Members as Office Bearers, an Associate Members' Representative and (optionally) co-opted individuals.

Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the Director of Centre, General Manager and the Membership & Retreat Manager. In addition to the Chair of the Board, Treasurer and Secretary, we have a number of Office Bearers and managers: Tara Hills and Kurlana Property Managers, Librarian, Kurlana Publishing Manager, Public Officer etc. These positions are fulfilled on a voluntary basis by members of the Centre.

The Teaching Program is determined by the Association's Teaching Committee, which is made up of all of the Teachers. This group is responsible for reviewing current teaching programs and curriculum, implementing new courses and for ongoing teacher training and development.

View a pdf copy of our constitution.

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Finances
The Centre is a non-profit association; as such the Association operates accounts solely for the maintenance and development of our properties and teaching resources. A financial report is tabled at all Board meetings and at the AGM.

Our teachers are paid a modest honourarium each year. All other official positions within the Centre are filled on a voluntary basis. Many members are happy to donate their time and expertise to running the Centre in acknowledgement for the enormous benefits that the Lifeflow practices have brought to their lives.

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Teachers Code of Conduct
All of the Lifeflow Meditation teachers are required to follow the Teachers Code of Conduct as detailed below:

Here the "Centre" refers to the "SA Meditation Centre Incorporated" trading as the "Lifeflow Meditation Centre". "Members" refer to members of the Association. "Teacher/Student relationship" as used below applies equally to the relationship between Teachers and Formal Students as well as between Lifeflow Teachers and members of the public attending our classes, retreats or private sessions.

Consistent with the Centre's Code of Ethics, Teachers are to act in accordance with the following code:
1.	The personal behaviour of Teachers must be such as shall not bring discredit to the Centre or to fellow Teachers and Members.
2.	Teachers will not undertake work beyond their capacity or competence and will protect and enhance the dignity and integrity of the Centre in its Objects, and the work of meditation.
3.	Teachers will distinguish clearly between statements and actions made as private individuals and as Teachers or Members of the Centre.
4.	Teachers will not exploit Teacher/Student relationships for personal gain or profit and will not:
		Use a Teacher/Student relationship to create a sexual relationship; or
		Use a sexual relationship to create or foster a Teacher/Student relationship.
5.	Teachers will not under any circumstances enter into or maintain a sexual relationship with a Student during the continuance of a Teacher/Student relationship. In the event that a sexual relationship arises between a Teacher and Student, the Teacher shall immediately cease teaching the Student and transfer the Student to another Teacher.
6.	Teachers will not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political persuasion, or other condition or status.
7.	Teachers will treat their colleagues and Students with respect, courtesy, fairness and good faith. Grievances will be dealt with by way of Grievance Procedures (available on request from the Centre)
8.	In the first instance Teachers shall bring grievances between Teachers to the Director of Centre and Teaching Committee, the Chair of which shall immediately notify the Chair of the Board.
9.	If the grievance is between a Teacher and a Member, then the Teacher shall notify the Director of the Centre and the Chair of the Board of its existence
10.	Teachers will respect the privacy rights of Students and Members and the confidences shared by colleagues in the course of their relationships and transactions.
11.	Teachers will be responsible and vigorous in discussion and critical review of themselves and their own and others work.
12.	Teachers shall be bound by both legal and ethical aspects of confidentiality.

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Your Privacy
Any information collected about members or students attending Lifeflow courses and retreats remains strictly confidential with the Lifeflow Centre. No personal information is disclosed to any third party organisations or individuals. If you require access to your information, please contact us.

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History
The history of the Lifeflow Meditation Centre has been one of steady perserverance towards a common goal: translating the knowledge, skill and wisdom of the meditation tradition (principally two of the Buddhist traditions - see Where do the Lifeflow Meditations come from) into a form that is relevant and applicable to contemporary Australian life. The association owes its existence to the effort and dedication of the Director, Dr Graham Williams, and the many members who continue to contribute time and energy to the organization, nearly all on a voluntary basis.

Dr Williams first encountered the meditation teaching when he was studying music in Paris in the early 1970s. During that time he became a student of the Canadian Namgyal Rinpoche. Rinpoche was part of the Karma Kargyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche had also trained extensively in the Burmese tradition of meditation as well, and so was able to teach across both traditions. Dr Williams spent ten years training under Namgyal Rinpoche.

Upon his return to Adelaide, Dr Williams began teaching at the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide. It was during this time that many of the students at the Conservatorium became interested in meditation and what it could offer. Gradually, Dr Williams began teaching meditation, organizing and running retreats and guiding people in their meditation work. As membership increased, an Incorporated Association was formed in 1981 to ensure accountable management of funds and resources.

Tara Hills Retreat Centre was purchased in 1982. At the time of purchase, there was only the main house (where the Teachers now stay during retreats and courses) and a garage (which has now been converted into the Common Room). Prior to this time, all classes had been held in Adelaide, but gradually the teaching efforts focused more on retreat work and classes at Tara Hills. The Retreat Accommodation building was constructed in 1990 and the main teaching hall in 1992. Funds for these acquisitions and buildings were raised entirely by donations and bequests. In 1994 and 1995 we replanted trees and shrubs at the bottom boundary of the main of the property.

Kurlana Mallee Sanctuary, the association's second retreat property, is used only for advanced retreat practices. Kurlana came into being thanks to the generosity of the dairy farmer, John Thorn, who owned the cottage and surrounding mallee scrubland. He offered the unused cottage to Dr Williams for retreat practice. From these early days, the Centre's use of the property gradually increased, and it was eventually purchased in 1990. As part of the purchase, the 1000 acre mallee scrub block was converted to a Natural Heritage area, which protects the scrub from any further clearing of its native vegetation. In 1998-99 and in 2003 we completed an extensive revegetation program. This involved replanting a large area of cleared land behind and in front of the scrub with trees and bushes indigenous to the location. Our revegetation efforts have sparked the interest of neighbouring farmers, who have now begun similar Landcare projects. We have also undertaken extensive maintenance of the original farm cottage, which was one of the very first built in the area (about 1910).

In the late 1990s, it became clear that the association needed to establish a teaching venue in the city to make the teaching more available to a wider range of people, and to set high ethical and practical standards for the teaching of meditation in the wider community. This move was lead by John Burston, and has resulted in the formation of our successful city program (and adopting the name of The Lifeflow Meditation Centre) which now offers a range of courses from 7-week introductory courses to a five-year part-time program of study.

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