Saha Dukkha Constitution
Saha Dukkha Constitution
Preamble: Foundational Orientation
Saha Dukkha is constituted as a community grounded in the recognition that suffering arises dependently and is shared across conditions rather than owned by isolated individuals. Governance, therefore, must reflect relational interdependence, collective discernment, and non-dominating structures of coordination.
This Constitution establishes a polity that integrates consensus-based deliberation, flat relational structures, and transparent, decentralised execution mechanisms.
Article I: Identity and Purpose
1.1 Name
The organisation shall be known as Saha Dukkha.
1.2 Purpose
Saha Dukkha exists for one purpose: to end suffering for all sentient beings.
1.3 Non-Ownership of Insight
No individual or subgroup may claim exclusive authority over doctrine, interpretation, or direction.
I.4 Teleological Constraint
- No decision, action, or allocation of resources may proceed if it sustains, defers, obscures, or redistributes suffering rather than contributing to its cessation.
- Where uncertainty exists, proposals must default toward harm minimisation and reversibility.
Article II: Foundational Principles
2.1 Shared Suffering
All suffering arises within conditions and is not attributable to isolated selves.
2.2 Collective Discernment
Truth and right action are approached through communal processes rather than individual assertion or majority rule.
2.3 Non-Domination
No structure or role shall confer enduring power over others.
2.4 Transparency
All decisions, processes, and resource allocations must be visible to the community, except where confidentiality is required for care.
2.5 Provisionality
All decisions remain open to revision in light of new insight or changing conditions.
Article III: Membership and Participation
3.1 Open Participation
Participation is open to any individual who engages in good faith with the principles of Saha Dukkha, including a commitment to do no harm.
3.2 Responsibilities
Participants are expected to:
- Engage respectfully in discernment processes
- Articulate objections constructively
- Share responsibility for the wellbeing of the community
3.3 Circles
Participants organise into small, self-governing groups (“circles”) for deliberation and mutual support.
Article IV: Deliberative Process
4.1 Consensus Model
Saha Dukkha adopts a consensus-based model inspired by the practices of the Religious Society of Friends.
4.2 Sense of the Meeting
Decisions are not made by vote but by the emergence of a shared “sense of the meeting”, articulated by a designated facilitator.
4.3 Objections
Objections must:
- Identify conditions of concern
- Contribute toward integration or refinement
Unresolved objections may delay but not indefinitely block discernment; structured processes for continuation shall be defined.
4.4 Silence and Reflection
Deliberation must include intentional pauses for reflection as a formal component of process.
Article V: Structural Organisation
5.1 Flat Structure
No permanent hierarchical authority shall exist.
5.2 Nested Circles
Circles may form larger coordinating bodies through delegation:
- Delegates carry the discerned position of their circle
- Delegates are recallable at any time
5.3 Stewardship Roles
Roles exist for function, not authority. All roles are:
- Time-limited
- Clearly defined in scope
- Accountable to the community
Examples include:
- Process stewards (facilitation and discernment integrity)
- Technical stewards (infrastructure and systems)
- Care stewards (community wellbeing)
Article VI: Decision Typology
6.1 Foundational Decisions
Require full consensus across the community:
- Amendments to this Constitution
- Core principles and purpose
6.2 Operational Decisions
Delegated to relevant circles or stewards within defined mandates.
6.3 Experimental Decisions
May be enacted as time-bound trials with explicit review points.
Article VII: Conflict Transformation
7.1 Nature of Conflict
Conflict is understood as arising from differing conditions, not opposing identities.
7.2 Processes
The community shall maintain:
- Mediation circles
- Facilitated dialogue processes
- Mechanisms for pausing decisions when necessary
7.3 Care Obligation
All participants share responsibility for responding to harm in ways that restore relational integrity.
Article VIII: Resources and Transparency
8.1 Collective Stewardship
Resources are held and managed for the benefit of the whole community.
8.2 Transparency
All financial and operational records shall be openly accessible.
8.3 Ethical Use
Resources must be used in alignment with the principles of Saha Dukkha.
Article IX: Decentralised Infrastructure
9.1 Use of Distributed Systems
Saha Dukkha may utilise decentralised technologies, including Decentralised Autonomous Organisation frameworks, to support governance.
9.2 Role of Technology
Technology serves to:
- Record decisions transparently
- Execute agreed actions reliably
- Distribute coordination without central authority
9.3 Constraints
Technological mechanisms must not replace or override consensus-based discernment.
Article X: Accountability and Review
10.1 Role Review
All stewardship roles are subject to periodic review and recall.
10.2 Process Review
Governance processes shall be regularly evaluated and adapted.
10.3 Community Oversight
Any participant acting in good faith may call for review of a decision or process.
Article XI: Amendments
11.1 Amendment Process
This Constitution may be amended only through a full consensus process involving the entire community.
11.2 Reflection Period
Proposed amendments must undergo a defined period of reflection and iterative refinement before adoption.
Closing Statement
This Constitution is not a fixed authority but a living framework. Its purpose is to support a community capable of discerning wisely, acting collectively, and remaining responsive to the conditions from which suffering and its alleviation arise.