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A new position of the Center for World Spirituality concerning the question of sexual relationships between spritual teachers and their students
Since the very controversial discussion about the ethics of responsibility for spiritual teachers that we and others have held with Marc Gafni, Ken Wilber and many others during the past months, there have been new developments. Marc Gafni, Initiator and one of the leaders of the Center for World Spirituality, has rethought the position he has held up until now and has changed it. What the Integrales Forum has called for in terms of ethics of responsibility, he now accepts under the term „statesman position“. Whereas before in an official statement he had not ruled out sexual relationships between spiritual teachers and their students, he now modifies this position as a result of this discussion. The “formal guideline” of the Center for World Spirituality now states that sexual relationships between spiritual teachers and their formal students should not happen. This official statement is therefore in accord with the explicit recommendation that we, the extended board of directors of Integrales Forum, have made for this function and any persons that perform such a function in the context of a leading role in an organisation for world spirituality.
- The extended board of directors of the Integrales Forum, March 29th, 2012
Link to the complete statement on the homepage of the CWS:
www.ievolve.org/2011/12/a-brief-note-of-closure-in-regard-to-the-blogosphere-explosion/
Ken Wilber's response to the IF statement from January
My statement asked that each and every person—and organization—search their conscience and come to their own decision about Marc and CWS. I am deeply gratified that that individuals connected with IF have done exactly that, and although we came to somewhat different conclusions, I deeply respect and honor the decision reached by IF and its members. This is exactly the type of personal decision that I hoped individuals would indeed come to. The fact that they did shows a strong Integral ethics and conscience that bodes well for the future of Integral. Allow me to congratulate all the members of IF for reaching this deeply ethical conclusion. I am very proud of each and every one of you.
-- All love, Ken Wilber 2012-01-17
Postscript 1: Ken Wilber agreed to publish this statement.
Postscript 2: We (the IF board) are aware, that our statement is not a statement for all IF members, but is rather a reflection of our own position. We respect and honor if people come to different conclusions and decisions. Nevertheless, our statement is also the result of ten years of co-creation of and within the integral movement, as well as the continual discussion with a lot of people. That is why we would like to thank all the participants here, who further integral theory and practice, inside and outside of the IF. In this way we understand the congratulation by Ken Wilber as including all, even if we are not of the same opinion, and are very grateful for it.
-The IF board 2012-01-17
Integrales Forum Statement Concerning Further Cooperation with Marc Gafni
After renewed allegations were presented against the spiritual teacher Marc Gafni in the fall of 2011, Ken Wilber took a three month period of time for reflection in order to state his own opinion in the matter. This statement (end of December) is now available [link]. In the statement Ken Wilber explains his further support and cooperation with Marc Gafni in the continuing development of the Center for World Spirituality (CWS) which was founded and is being led by Marc. At the same time Ken Wilber noted that this is his own personal decision and each and every individual should develop his own responsible position with respect to the situation. All members of the board of Integral Forum, including the working group for Integral Spirituality, have done just that.
After intensive discussions with members of the Integral Forum, partners, friends and also critics of Marc Gafni, we have come to a different decision than Ken Wilber. Until further notice, IF as an organization as well as individual members of the board will not take part in CWS and IF will not work together with Marc Gafni as a spiritual teacher. The main reason for our decision is our conviction that the leader of such an organization as CWS should exhibit a high degree of integrational capabilities in order to bring different religious and spiritual movements and personalities of the world together.
In a current statement, Marc Gafni confirmed that he does not exclude the possibility of sexual relationships with women in his circle of teaching in the future.
"Let me state formally that if in the future I enter into a monogamous commitment, then I will honor it and live in it to the fullest. If that is the right path for me then I will enter into it with full delight and even ecstasy. If I do not enter into that path, and choose to love from a different place, then I will enter into that path with full delight and even ecstasy. If that is the case then it is not impossible that at some point I will date women who are in my circle. If that feels uncomfortable to someone in principle that it might not be wise to join my circle of teaching."
We do not see this position as commensurate with the expectations for someone in such a prominent role as the leader of CWS, particularly in view of the many years of critical discussions with respect to his person and behavior [link]. Against the background of the existing spectrum of cultural values, Marc Gafni polarizes people and opinions and for this reason does not meet the criteria we expect in a personality with the ability to lead and integrate such a meaningful global project.
This polarization could also be seen within IF in view of the reaction to the most recent events. Many of us still hold him in high esteem as before, others view him very critically as a person. We are however unanimously of the same opinion that Marc Gafni, as author and integral thinker for the further development of the integral theory with concepts such as the unique self, provides an important contribution and we will continue to provide access to his contributions in our media.
The subject of world spirituality remains on our agenda. We will further promote this within the framework of the School for Integral Spirituality (SIS) in connection with the development of principles and ethical basics of this school.
Our wish is that a constructive and responsible interaction with differences of opinion concerning theory, individuals, methods, and paths will lead to the realization of a truly integral and integrative spirituality.
Integrales Forum, January 2012
Michael Habecker, Sonja Student, Dennis Wittrock, Hilde Weckmann, Rolf Lutterbeck, Erich Carl Derks, Stefan Schoch und Helmut Dörmann
- IF Board and working group School for Integral Spirituality (SIS) in the IF
other perspectives and background information
Robb Smith (CEO, Integral Life)
integrallife.com/member/robb-smith/blog/where-i-stand
Diane Hamilton, spiritual teacher
integrallife.com/member/diane-hamilton/blog/my-bad
Marc Gafni in response to the allegations
http://www.marcgafni.com/?p=3002
John Dupuys opinion on Marc Gafni
integrallife.com/member/john-dupuy/blog/my-opinion-marc-gafni-situation
Ken Wilber on Marc Gafni, October and December 2011