Editorial and Safety Policy

What this section is

Gujhya Gyan is a public educational library. It supports informed appreciation of Indian spiritual traditions through historical context, clear concepts, respectful imagery and ethical reflection.

What it is not

It is not initiation, personalized spiritual direction, medical care, psychotherapy, legal advice, prophecy, divination or a promise of supernatural results. Publication of a term or symbol does not grant authorization to perform a lineage practice.

Source hierarchy

Editors should distinguish:

1. primary scripture or inscription in a named edition/translation;
2. traditional commentary or lineage teaching;
3. peer-reviewed or specialist scholarship;
4. museum and university interpretation;
5. Meenananda Foundation's own devotional and institutional statements;
6. editorial synthesis.

Claims should identify their level. Foundation facts require Foundation-approved sources. Lineage claims should not be universalized.

Restricted and hazardous material

Do not publish operational instructions for secret mantras, nyāsa, sexual ritual, animal/blood sacrifice, intoxicant use, aggressive rites, spirit invocation, dangerous fire practice, prolonged fasting, severe sleep deprivation, forced breath retention or kundalini forcing. These topics may be described historically and ethically at a high level.

Consent and safeguarding

No spiritual authority overrides consent, bodily autonomy, child protection, employment law, financial accountability or access to healthcare. Content must not romanticize coercion, exploitation or secrecy used to evade scrutiny.

Health claims

Do not claim that mantra, meditation, ritual, objects or blessings cure a disease. Encourage appropriate licensed care. When discussing altered states, avoid confirming supernatural explanations as fact.

Image policy

Use dignified, non-sexualized imagery. Captions must distinguish historical object, generated illustration and living idol photograph. Generated images are interpretive, not documentary evidence. Do not fabricate readable Sanskrit or imitate a specific living person's face without permission.

Review cadence

Each page should display lastReviewed internally and be reviewed at least annually, or sooner after substantive scholarly correction, Foundation change or safeguarding concern. The public site should provide a correction/contact route.