Regarding Mariana Caplan and Marc Gafni
And
Rick Archer and Ammaji.Apparently, over ten years ago Mariana Caplan came across a dynamic, attractive, intelligent, sexy "spiritual teacher" and had a child with this fellow. He turned out to be, in reality, a person that many hold to be an awful shit in almost every way. However, before she realized the extent of his dark side she wrote something that tried to frame him positively.
That piece of writing has been rekindled, reused, republished, and quoted, totally out of time frame (presented as if new) and out of context, ever since. This is not and never was fair to Mariana Caplan.
In fact, it is quite likely in part the hard (and perhaps horrible) truths she learned due to her "time" with Marc Gafni that helped her to achieve the "status" that helped her onto Rick Archer's panel in the first place. (Just like, if she were willing, Heather would be a fantastic panelist on a forum regarding spiritual teachers and sex abuse.)
Now, as to Rick Archer and Ammaji, I can't speak for that worthy gent, but from what I've gathered, his feelings about Ammaji are similar to mine. These feelings were recently expressed in a letter to a friend, which I'll quote from here;
Quote
Letter from Traveler
As goes Amma, there was a big stink a few years back when one of her closest disciples (and someone who had totally burned herself out for years in the service of Amma, as was verified by multitudes of witnesses) wrote a very controversial book telling of Amma behind the scenes-- Gail Tredwell (not what Amma called her), and the book was "Holy Hell."
My belief is that when Amma is "on" that she very powerfully channels the energy of the Divine Mother. I've never felt more loved than when she hugged me.
However, once is a while the Kali in the divine mother emerges, and someone gets 'fried' by one of the hugs. This is not her intent, but it's the workings of the divine, of the energy. When Amma is not in 'satsang mode' (not running the Divine Mother energy) then she is pretty much a village-raised woman trying to make sense of things, but one who is treated like a goddess by many and can act at times the spoiled princess (according to Gail Tredwell, with much evidence for this being true).
Does Amma help tens of thousands? Absolutely. Is she perfect? Hell, no. Would I take a hug from her when she's "on"? Yes. Would I pledge her loyalty as a Realized Sage, or expect her in her private time to behave like a female Ramana Maharshi? No way.
SUMMARY:
--Mariana Caplan hasn't recommended Marc Gafni to anyone in over ten years, and even when she did only did so once. To me, to hold or use against her what she wrote years ago regarding a fellow with whom she had a child is simply not fair.
--Rick Archer knows that Ammaji isn't perfect, but also that she does much good for many (and without rape, abuse of minors, and with no dead bodies in her wake).
I, and I hope many of us, support Rick, Mariana and others in their strong effort to bring ethics and compassion to the forefront in "Spiritual Teaching" and the doings of "Spiritual Teachers."