Mordechai Gafni

It's so very unfair to hear recent sad news about Rabbi Mordechai Gafni. There were stories on the web before, but this late development seems to go beyond "something to consider". As Wilber himself commented, "I do not believe that somebody with an acknowledged emotional illness or sexual pathology is competent to be a public spiritual teacher. Therefore, at this time, Marc will not be involved in public teaching or presentations of any sort at Integral Institute." In a way, it's so weird that this should happen now and with someone who gave so much intellectual flavour to I-I's programs. Of course, I could rethink some occassions when I noticed something in the way he touched his hair or nod his head or things he said now and then, and it would be stupid to do this in retrospect as we often do, but still - he is a brilliant speaker for the postmodern spirit. And I hope he'll be back with us in near future, more integrated. May merits generated through our prayers and blessings go to the people he has hurt and him equally in these most difficult times.

On other hand, from what I see, Gafni has made several terrible and very stupid mistakes, apart from those for which he'll be prosecuted. It's obvious he wasn't sincere or frank with his friends, colleagues and protectors, not to mention his students. Such behaviour creates serious disturbances in relationships for a long time. Trust is the key word, and that has been broken.