Terms of Service

Last updated: 08/08/2025

General provisions

These Terms of Service govern your use of vipassana.ca, a website dedicated to sharing mindfulness, meditation wisdom, and Vipassana practice resources. By using our website, you agree to these terms in their entirety.

Definitions:

  • “We”, “Us”, “Our” — the operators of vipassana.ca
  • “You”, “User” — any person using the website
  • “Website” — vipassana.ca and all associated domains
  • “Content” — all meditation resources, articles, and information on the site
  • “Services” — meditation guidance, courses, and community features

Acceptance of terms

  • Using the website constitutes full agreement to these terms
  • If you disagree with any terms, please discontinue use
  • Terms may change without prior notice to reflect evolving meditation practices
  • Updated terms take effect upon publication

Website usage

Permitted uses:

  • Accessing meditation content for personal spiritual development
  • Sharing links to meditation resources with proper attribution
  • Participating respectfully in community discussions
  • Subscribing to meditation newsletters and updates
  • Using resources for personal meditation practice

Prohibited uses:

  • Copyright infringement: copying meditation content without permission
  • Harmful activity: spreading viruses, spam, or disruptive content
  • Inappropriate content: hate speech, discrimination, or content contrary to meditation principles
  • Commercial exploitation: unauthorized commercial use of our meditation resources
  • Automated access: bots or scrapers without explicit permission
  • Misrepresentation: claiming our content as your own meditation teachings

Registration and accounts

User requirements:

  • Minimum age: 16 years (or with parental consent for younger meditation students)
  • Accurate contact information for community participation
  • Secure password protection and account responsibility
  • Commitment to respectful engagement with our meditation community

User responsibilities:

  • Protecting the confidentiality of login credentials
  • Reporting suspicious account activity
  • Keeping contact information current
  • Following community guidelines for meditation discussions

Account termination:

  • You may delete your account at any time
  • We may suspend accounts for violations of the meditation community standards
  • Some data may be retained for legal and educational purposes

Intellectual property

Our rights:

  • Copyright: all original meditation content, articles, and teachings
  • Trademarks: vipassana.ca name, logo, and branding
  • Design: website layout, meditation graphics, and visual elements
  • Methodology: unique presentation of meditation techniques and guidance

Your rights:

  • Personal use: reading, studying, meditation content for spiritual development
  • Sharing links: with proper attribution to vipassana.ca
  • Fair quotation: brief excerpts with full source citation for educational purposes

User-generated content:

  • You retain rights to your original meditation experiences and insights shared
  • You grant us the license to use content for website functionality and community building
  • You guarantee that you have the right to share any content posted
  • You’re responsible for ensuring content doesn’t infringe third-party rights

Community guidelines

Meditation community standards:

  • Respect and compassion: treating all community members with kindness
  • Constructive engagement: helpful and relevant contributions to meditation discussions
  • Truthful sharing: authentic experiences without misleading information
  • Topic relevance: keeping discussions focused on meditation and mindfulness
  • Non-commercial intent: avoiding promotional activities without permission

Content moderation:

  • We maintain the right to moderate content to preserve the meditation community’s harmony
  • Content not aligned with meditation principles may be removed
  • Users who repeatedly violate community standards may be suspended
  • Moderation decisions prioritize the wellbeing of our meditation community

Meditation guidance disclaimer

Educational purpose:

  • Content provided for educational and informational purposes about meditation
  • Not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or spiritual counseling
  • Individual results from meditation practice may vary
  • Consult healthcare providers for medical or mental health concerns

Practice responsibility:

  • Users assume responsibility for their meditation practice
  • Listen to your body and mind during meditation
  • Discontinue practices that cause discomfort or distress
  • Seek qualified guidance for intensive meditation retreats

Limitation of liability

Service disclaimer:

  • Website provided “as is” without warranties about meditation outcomes
  • No guarantee of uninterrupted website access or spiritual results
  • Information may contain errors or be updated based on evolving understanding
  • Not responsible for content from linked meditation resources or external sites

Damage limitations:

  • Our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by Canadian law
  • Not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • Total liability doesn’t exceed amounts paid to us (if any)
  • Some jurisdictions don’t allow such limitations

Privacy and personal information

  • Your privacy is governed by our comprehensive Privacy Policy
  • Cookie usage is detailed in our Cookie Policy
  • We protect personal data according to Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA)
  • You have rights to access, correct, and delete your personal information

Service termination

User-initiated:

  • May discontinue use at any time without affecting your meditation journey
  • Account deletion results in loss of access to personalized features
  • Some data is retained for community continuity and legal requirements

Our initiative:

  • May discontinue services for technical, legal, or operational reasons
  • Will provide advance notice of permanent service closure
  • Violations may result in immediate account suspension

Changes to terms

  • Terms updated to reflect evolving meditation community needs and legal requirements
  • Significant changes communicated through website announcements
  • Continued use indicates acceptance of updated terms
  • Recommend regular review for updates

Governing law

  • These terms are governed by the laws of Canada and the province where we operate
  • Disputes resolved through Canadian courts or alternative dispute resolution
  • In case of translation differences, the English version takes precedence
  • Invalid provisions don’t invalidate the remaining terms

Contact information

General inquiries:

  • Email: life@vipassana.ca
  • Website: vipassana.ca
  • Phone: +1 (647) 614-0707

Legal matters:

  • Email: legal@vipassana.ca
  • Response time: Within 10 business days for most inquiries
  • Dispute resolution: Prefer mediation for community harmony
  • Legal proceedings: Available as a last resort

These terms are effective from 08/08/2025 and apply to all users of vipassana.ca on their journey toward mindful awareness.