Gangaji's Pinprick

Ashland’s local enlightened Master, Gangaji, made the front pages of the paper today. It must be hard work being a guru. Spiritual teachers and guides have to smile through the pain. Or, perhaps, they live in a realm above the pain. And, disciples...they have to try and rationalize their teacher’s foibles. It’s probably just a tinge of bad karma but Gangaji and her husband of thirty years the dulcit voiced Eli Jaxon-Bear are in full blown damage control mode. Eli Jaxon-Bear (why can’t new age spiritual guides just have names like Bill and Ethel?) had to publicly admit to a three year sexual relationship with  one of his students.  Jaxon-Bear was also a spiritual teacher with his own organization but he has now stopped teaching, according to the linked article and his foundation, the Leela Foundation, has been folded into Gangaji’s group. Gangaji and her mate have patched things up after a short separation last fall when he confessed his flawed behavior. (Last week he confessed it in a public meeting with Gangji in attendance. Lots of confessing going on as it appears Ms. Ji is holding Mr. Ji’s lotus feet to the spiritual fire of public  humiliation). Marital infidelity is devastating under normal circumstances but is particularly hurtful when it involves enlightened personages to whom their disciples attribute special standing in the cosmos. Gangji has quite a following and although I have yet to bump into her at the Co-op or attend one of her satsangs (meetings) I have seen her on TV and she comes across as a very loving person though I can’t quite figure out exactly what she’s teaching. This chapter from  her new book sounds kind of like Eckhart Tolle. Be in the now. That sort of thing. Suffice to say that Eli Jaxon-Bear is feeling the power of now big time.
So why would Gangaji take him back? Well, she is a forgiving and loving person and in the greater scheme of things her somewhat younger husband fooling around may be just a pinprick in Gangaji’s firmament. But I couldn’t help but notice in their  on line financial statement that Mr. Eli Jaxon-Bear was a pretty good little earner, bringing more cash by far than Gangaji herself. Divorce of financially successful middle-aged folks can be very messy and complicated. Gangaji Foundation and Leela Foundation are doing quite well. I don’t know how big their staff is but almost half of the total revenues of the two foundations are distributed to staff ($995,126). That kind of money allows one to live a very spiritual life indeed.

UPDATE: This article http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/1231/life/stories/05life.htm from the Dec. 31, 04 Medford paper indicates Gangaji had a staff of 12.

Comments

[Yiftoula]

Just to keep the financial discussion within the general realm of accuracy, let me point out that your conclusion is incorrect: the financial statement does not indicate that Eli is bringing in more cash than Gangaji. According to the Gangji.org website, all joint appearances by the dynamic duo are "produced by the Leela Foundation." This means that all income from their many joint workshops, retreats, satsangs, etc., accrues only to the "Leela Foundation events" column. As you can see, that "joint" income is substantial, and not at all attributable solely to Eli's participation, to be sure. Also note the huge expenses that are allocated to Leela Foundation events.

For perhaps a more accurate picture of whose presence brings in what, compare the respective foundations' income from donations.

And by the way, that "staffing expenses" amount you cite would include expenses related to the employment of Gangaji and Eli, as well. So if Gangaji has a staff of 12, as you say, and Eli has a staff of 4, that means the $995K would cover salaries, FICA, unemployment insurance tax, health insurance contributions, and all other employee benefits for 18 people. Not exactly rockstar levels....

[R Blog]

All I can see from the statements is that Gangaji events show as a separate line item since 2002. And, as salaries, expense accounts, retirement benefits aren't detailed, it's hard to know how lucrative these teachings are. Employees could be mostly part-time. But I would agree that my conclusions could be false. The statements as published are incomplete. And, followers of Gangaji
seem to feel they get good value.

[Fernando Beltran]

When Eli was in Costa Rica, he was very angry with a follower, that opined that God is a bad person, for having us in miserable condition on this earth, while HE is having good time in heaven.!
It proves the follower was right!

[prema jaya - Candler School of Theology]

It doesn't prove anything accept that the follower has an extremely infantile view of God and Eli has a bit of an aggressive personality...which he readily admits.

If you read Gangaji' autobiography you will all know that Eli's habit of infidelity is a long-standing issue in their lengthy relationship.

She knew what she was getting into when she accepted his hand.

[Lucinda Ramsey]

Anyone that has invested time and energy in discovering Truth probably has a hearty appreciation for being human. With these noisy cynical egos it's no wonder we are more comfortable analyzing others faults than opening our own pandoras box. Even gurus have weaknesses and blind spots, the question is, who has a taste for truth that goes beyond the superficial and challenging layer of living.

[Lucinda Ramsey]

Oh! and then they die and we die, and who gets the last laugh then.

[keptpig]

I find this "Gangaji" person to be a perfectly silly clown whose shortcomings as a guru in the neo-advaita movement make her success akind of new-age "A Confederacy of Dunces" story. One would be hard pressed to be more ego-driven than this person. Perhaps if she delivered the message more lucidly one might find it easier to look past her absurdly deliberate vocal affectation of making her mic way too hot and speaking as quietly as possble in order to project inner-peace and enlightenment; it would help also if she could somehow stop the revolting lip-smacking, sticky-mouth, denture shifting noises that also result from the setup. Only an enlightend fool would take so much care and effort to present herself physically with special attention to hair, makeup, wardrobe, etc. only to tell those in attendance to let go of their egos. This sex scandal would make anothere great chapter in the "Satsang of Dunces".

[Sonnetto]

I don't know any of these people personally, but I have spent 20 years living in spiritual and reliqious centers around the world.
So what is the big deal exactly? I assume the student was over 18 years old and able to have sex with whoever they wanted to? And also, in the article it says the "student' was also a "teacher", not just some poor naive kid - so doubly I have to ask, "What's the problem"?!!!
I know of several teachers who have sex with their students and sometimes I think it helps and sometimes I think it doesn't.
Sounds like some kind of PURITANICAL mania here - typical of many groups/religious institutions..

[ANTHONY]

Its not so about Gangaji the person,its about the message she brings that "you are That" which cannot be explained,but can be known by self inquiry.
I think Gangaji does a very good job of explaining the unexplainable as far as is possible with speech.But there is more to her than appearance,that look in her eyes,even on tape can change you forever,it can wake you up to who you really are,its Grace....if your willing to surrender to that which you already are,and not to be side-tracked by the mind.
Be free of the minds lies!

[Adolfo (Spain)]

¿What thing is in the mind of anyone to consider, or even paying the slightest attention to the story of "some individual who had an affaire with an student"? ¿What does it have to do with the Truth (resembled by Advaita, neo-advaita, or whatever other branch-reflection of Philosophia Perennis available on Earth)? Really, who cares. And you, whoever you are that cares for that, that is the point in wich you are, that is the point in wich you have installed yourself. These mind tricks are so comic and beautiful...

[Alicia Jones]

It saddens me to read this blog chain. I attended a workshop on the Sacred Enneagram using Eli Jaxon-Bear's book as the course text in 2001. This course changed my life in substantial positive ways. I still go back and re-read the book periodically. I enjoy watching excerpts of Eli's talks and interviews; he is a warm and charismatic person. I am saddened though by information of marital infidelity and luxurious living – Not because I place him and his wife on a pedestal, or that I expect him live an error-free life; But rather because such behavior violates the teachings to their core. If the teacher puts his own sexual and material comfort first, what hope do we as students ever have? Furthermore, how effective can the teachings really be if their creator cannot benefit from them? And so the cynic in me concludes that this is mostly “feel good” new age rhetoric promulgated by intelligent charismatic and likable people. Is it simple or hard? Is it reality or delusion? Who cares? We don’t need all this abstract imagery. It’s A LOT simpler than that. Want a meaningful life? Live a simple and healthy life, share it with others, and follow the perennial principles of any religion or philosophy (e.g. 8 limbs of yoga). And remember, you won’t feel good all the time. Sometimes you’ll be sad, angry, lonely, confused. And one last thing – life is hard work, but it’s worth it.

[Chi Dharma]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Or to put it another way, what you see is what you get. I recently showed a Gangaji video to a friend and before Gangaji could get three words out my friend was attacking (in a similar style to someone else on this board) her hairstyle, her voice. . . If you're looking through lenses of hatred and judgement and ill will, then that's what you'll find. From my own experience, the second I stumbled upon Gangaji on public access 7 or so years ago, her words and her presence resonated with me immediately. She is a genuine teacher and if you are willing to face your own hatred, fear, judgement... then she can be quite a powerful teacher for you. But you have to want it--and of course many don't.

[Chi Dharma]

I would also say to Alicia--I empathize with your loss of hope in Eli and Gangaji specifically and teachers in general. And believe me, I don't work for them and I'm not overly concerned as to their perception of success or failure. But I do want to remind you that they're not teaching people how to be successful in relationships and how to be a better wife or husband. What I have always received from their teaching is to examine what has always been here--with our without our faults, our infidelity, our shortcomings or moral decay or triumph. My teacher a few years ago gave me my spiritual name and what he explained about the purpose of the name was this: That when we sit together in meditation or satsang we're honoring our higher selves, our selves that are truly flawless. And then also, not excluded from that name is Alicia or Bob or Joe who is just as prone to error, bad judgement as anybody else. From my perspective Eli and Gangaji are true teachers, and while they may give us every excuse to tear them down, focus on their light, their beauty their transmission, and everything else is just really none of our business.

[nissanauto]

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