IMS Online Program Etiquette

Follow these 9 rules to help you get the most out of your IMS “Livestream” program:

1. Connect to your session 10 minutes before the start to ensure you have enough time to troubleshoot any connectivity issues and resolve any audio or video problems before the session begins.
2. Attend all sessions in their entirety as each program session builds on the previous teachings.
3. If you are attending a “Meeting Format” program where attendees are visible, leave your camera on but mute your microphone before the session starts. IMS teachers prefer that all participants remain visible throughout the sessions to ensure that the container of the Dharma is being held by everyone in attendance. However, it can be very disruptive to have attendee microphones on, so please mute yourself as soon as you log in.
4. Limit distractions in your physical environment so that you and your fellow attendees are free from unnecessary disruption during the teachings. If you must move around during a live teaching, turn your camera off until you are settled.
5. Leave extra electronic devices, books, journals, and other diversions outside of the room, just as you would if you were attending a retreat at IMS. Do not “multitask” during sessions and please do not stream other content simultaneously.
6. Approach each program session as if you were entering the physical space of a mediation hall and refrain from moving in and out of your practice space during the session. To help support your fellow meditators, it is recommended that you maintain a fully engaged presence, rather than watching passively.
7. Do not use the “Chat” or “Q&A” functions unless specifically invited to do so by the teacher(s). Exception: If you are having a technical issue, please alert the moderator via “Chat.”
8. Remember that other people can see you during a “Meeting Format” session. Even if you have chosen personal settings that limit who you see (e.g. “Speaker View’), you are still visible to others on their screens. Avoid any activity or sound that could distract or otherwise interfere with the experience of another attendee.
9. Meet whatever arises with kindness and compassion. Occasional issues with technology, or other obstacles and challenges to your practice, may arise. Hold it all lightly, and engage all experience as an opportunity to practice.

Follow these 4 rules to help you get the most out of your IMS “On Demand” program:

1. Enjoy the freedom to go at your own pace but consider setting an intention to complete each session in its entirety and to finish your program by a desired date. This will assist the learning process and the potential for deepening your practice.
2. Limit distractions in your physical environment so that you are free from unnecessary disruption during the teachings. 
3. Leave extra electronic devices, books, journals, and other diversions outside of the room, just as you would if you were attending a retreat at IMS. Do not “multitask” during sessions.
4. Meet whatever arises with kindness and compassion. Occasional issues with technology, or other obstacles and challenges to your practice, may arise. Hold it all lightly, and engage all experience as an opportunity to practice.