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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 14, 2006 Spiritual leaders' split leads to consolidation of groups By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings Gangaji & Jaxon-Bear Marital problems between two leaders of prominent Ashland spiritual organizations have caused disturbances in both the Leela and Gangaji foundations. Eli Jaxon-Bear, the former head of the Leela Foundation, publicly admitted to a three-year sexual relationship with one of his students, who later became a teacher in the organization. Jaxon-Bear's affair during his marriage to Antionette Varner, also known as Gangaji, has affected her organization, as well. "What was initially seen as a matter between two adults is now recognized to be a betrayal of the teacher/student relationship and an abuse of power," said a letter posted on the Leela Foundation Web site. The letter was written by Barbara Denempont, the Executive Director of both foundations. "The repercussions of this betrayal are reverberating in ways that were never imagined, but are very painful." Jaxon-Bear stopped teaching and has resigned from the Leela Foundation. The Leela Foundation has merged with the Gangaji Foundation as a result of the affair, Varner said, though the letter on the Leela Foundation Web site does not mention this. Varner added that she expects there will be more fall-out from the affair to come. "People are shook up, as they would be in any relationship or family," she said. "The staff is upset because they didn't know. It's been referred to as a family secret. I expect some people will leave and some people will stay." The Gangaji and Leela Foundations help people live more spiritually enriched lives, according their respective Web sites. Varner said, "Our mission is to support people in discovering peace in their heart." The two foundations moved to Ashland two years ago from Novato, Calif. They couple has taught together for 16 years and have been married for 30. Jaxon-Bear admitted the affair to his wife in October of 2005. The two separated for three months before resolving their differences. In January of this year they not only mended their marriage but also merged the two organizations. "We were duplicating functions," Varner said about the organizations. About rekindling their marriage, she said, "He got that this was a betrayal of himself." Varner and Jaxon-Bear have decided to publicly address their marital issue within their own communities, and within the greater Ashland community too. On Wednesday night they held a public meeting at the Southern Oregon University Rogue River Room to address the public's concerns. "A lot of people are upset with me," Jaxon-Bear said. "I'm human. I make mistakes. This has been hugely humiliating, but I am willing to stand and face that." He said he hopes that people learn a lesson from his mistake, as he has. "I feel like this itself is a teaching for people," he said. "It's a great test for everyone to see what is true within their own hearts. My prayer is that people don't discard the teaching because of the flaws of the teacher." Jaxon-Bear said he met his mistress some three years ago during a book signing in Portland. She invited him over for dinner and, instead of accepting the invitation he gave her a scholarship to attend a conference, he said. Within a year their relationship had become romantic, and they had fallen in love with each other. Jaxon-Bear said he still loves the woman, but no longer in a sexual way. He would not say who the woman was. "She is going through her process and doesn't want me to be a part of that," he said. Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x. 226 or [email protected] Current Comments: Anyone else besides me who really doesn't care about the internal squabbles and messy love affairs of cults, even if they are local homegrown ones? What a waste of a talented reporter, editorial time, and internet bandwidth. Steve - Japan - October 14th, 6:34 PM I'm with you on this one, Steve. When the gurus of cultamania can't keep their pants on and somehow haven't evolved to a point of spiritual leadership, why bother the rest of us. Maybe several years in the desert would cure their stupidity. Enough of the New Age Drivel. Thomas - Ashland, OR - October 14th, 7:45 PM I agree with Steve...what's next, a local gossip page on pretentious New Age affairs? Tod - Medford - October 14th, 8:08 PM Cult is right, "prominent spiritual organization - is way off base. Spiritual is a word derived from the latin "spritulis" which implies actions powered by "the breath of god." There is nothing about these cults that relates to god. Its pure, good old fashioned, Ashland cult idolatry. K' inich Yax K' uk' Mo' - Ashland, Oregon (another Universe?) - October 14th, 10:01 PM Dear Ashland Devotees; Please send healing light to my heart and second chakra, as I, the discarded mistress of Eli, am devastated by the loss of my beloved. He promised me enlightenment through Tantra Yoga AND a partnership in the Leela Foundation. Antionette, he swore, was going to be a shadow of the past. Eli and I bore a daughter, Little Bear. Little Bear and I want to be a part of the new merged organization. Maybe Eli, Gangaji and I can be a threesome? Julianna WolfMoon ( [email protected] ) - Portland, OR - October 14th, 11:36 PM I agree with all of you. In addition, a "mistake" is when one leaves the rest room with their pants unzipped, not dropping their drawers all together, much less, repeatedly. Mary - Ashland - October 15th, 1:33 AM When's the next chapter due out?I couldn't put this racey love story down.Danielle Steele has competition. Since the Tidings was taken over by the Medford Tribune,the policy has been to print anything about Ashland that is "Freeky-Deeky" in nature; promoting the stereotype of A-town as "ten square miles of land surrounded by reality".I'm sure other areas of the valley have much better stories to tell,depending how far down in the gutter the TD reporters want to go. Are we hurting for news guys? Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 15th, 7:28 AM I agree, Steve. This is gutter drivel, not journalism with integrity. On September 30, on the 150th anniversary of the forced removel of native people from our valley, nearly a thousand people gathered in downtown Ashland to honor native people and dedicate an astonishing sculpture, "We Are Here.' Did either the Tidings or the Tribune cover this major cultural event? Not a peep. Instead, we get this. Thomas D. - Ashland, Oregon - October 15th, 4:36 PM Perhaps the voices describing the Gangaji and Leela groups as a cult would say what they think a cult implies. Only one program in the Leela foundation has membership. There are no members in the Gangaji foundation. There is no pressure by authority figures or the participants for people to attend meetings, nor condemnation if they leave. People come and go as they please to hear the teaching. Attendees can directly criticize the teachers in public. Have any of the above heard Gangaji? Gigi - Ashland - October 15th, 6:41 PM A couple of times I've tried to hear her on the local TV but actually she whispers so quietly I haven't been able to make out a single word yet. But some how I felt glad and changed the channel. C - Ashland - October 15th, 9:10 PM Gigi - fair enough, I'll retract "cult" but maintain that the Tidings doesn't need to devote space to spacy devotees and their gurus, not that my wishes count... Anyway, what's wrong with "cult"? Wasn't Christianity considered one for a couple of centuries? Steve - Japan - October 15th, 10:31 PM In the interest of intellectual fairness I listened to some of Gangaji's talks via the Web. Well, she's not the first to reinterpret Indian philosophy for middle-class Americans, and not the best either. But she and the hubby have the right (and the responsibility) to keep their private anguish off the front page unless they have a reason, commercial or other, for wanting it there. (I ordered the Quickest Way to Enlightenment CD Set but now I'm fearful it will take too long to get here... help!) Steve - Japan - October 16th, 8:36 AM The sooner these type of people leave this community the better off we will all be. There are no such things as healers, spiritual or not. When the pants come off who is healing who?? Go back to Navato. AND. WHY IN HELL IS THE TIDINGS REPORTING ON THIS CRAP. Darin - 97520 - October 16th, 10:02 AM Since I don't know anything about these two foundations, I can't comment on whether, and to what extent, they may be cultish. But it does seem to me that some of you doth protest too much. Surely, traditional religion cannot and has not met the spiritual needs of lots of folks. Eastern philosophy and religion are worth examining. My guess these people are harmless and may do some good. However, like most of you, I think the affair itself is not newsworthy. James R. Ruston - Fresno, CA - October 16th, 12:37 PM "He got that this was a betrayal of himself." It was a betrayal of more than himself. I guess justification crosses all philosophies...cult or otherwise. Now these "spritual leaders" want to air their dirty laundry to the entire community? I see no value in that---except they got free advertising. Oh, look how wonderful they are since they are coming 'clean' and reconciling?? Is that the point of this? Frankly I don't care what they do. Isn't there something newsworthy in Ashland? Lisa - Ashland - October 16th, 12:59 PM Thomas D you are wrong the sculpture is a disgrace. This is not an itellectual print. This is a perfect example of what has screwed this town up the last few years. Its like the moron walking around naked on 1st Friday. Can you believe our mayor, police force and people of our town think its OK for a 6 year old girl to stand by his painted side? Its time the cultist find another town. Its OLD SCHOOL. Remember the 60's. It was all tried before. The belief system is not reality. darin - ashland - October 16th, 3:43 PM Many people in Ashland have an interest in Eastern flavored spirituality. There are other gurus in the area. How about some religious tolerance? Don't fault the Tidings because you're not interested in a particular article. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. I'm not interested in sports, but I haven't written to the editor to suggest he axe the section. I found the article very interesting. It is local news which the Tidings would have been negligent to ignore. Ron Elterman - Ashland OR - October 16th, 10:34 PM I am dismayed by the lack of empathy displayed here. Jaxon-Bear lightness of being has merely boinked another. He was knowing her with his conscious being and exploring his lovers inner light. Can we fault him? Julianna WolfMoon said it right when she stated that �he promised me enlightenment through Tantra Yoga.� This enlightenment combined with gifts from the heart from the Castle Mega Store are all a great example to the rest of us of his love. I want to hear more about this story. John Spanking-Bear - Medford - October 17th, 8:57 AM Ron, what else would you categorize as local news? I might support this article appearing in the weekly religion section, but not as front page "news". I do know that there are other gurus in the area. So? Steve - Japan - October 17th, 4:38 PM Steve, when you have an Ashland-based group that has some national prominence, and that is a spiritual organization whose leader gets caught with his pants down, so to speak, that's news. The guru angle is interesting because such people are attracted to Ashland; that's why they're here. In a way, Mike Ruppert's troubles were analogously newsworthy - Ashland based, but of far-flung interest/influence - an example of what I'd categorize as local news. This article serves our new age residents. Ron Elterman - Ashland OR - October 18th, 12:48 AM Good point Ron. Maybe,as nasty as this business is, people do need to know how creepy and phony these people are.Otherwise, easily led and easily manipulated members of the flock may follow them blindly and without question;causing them great harm at some point(spiritually).They�ve been reporting on Catholic priests for years.Okay,yeah.I'll buy it.Need to know out-weighs the rule of common decency here. Maybe Plain's writing style was just a little too much like a steamy love story than news? Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 18th, 10:45 PM Hello everyone, I was considering contacting the newspaper myself when I found out about this two weeks ago. The Gangaji foundation may not have much of a following in your area but it is a nation-wide, indeed an international organization. With hundreds if not thousands of people intrested in Gangaji's message. So although perhaps not many local people may know or care about this revelation. It is I think a very responsible piece of reporting. But there is more. Daniel Hicks - New York, NY - October 19th, 11:18 AM I am really amazed at how opinionated people can be without actually knowing a thing about what they are talking about. Kellly - Ashland, OR - October 22nd, 12:56 PM Great article. Enlightenment does not change the passions. Any enlightened person would never wish it on another. It has no utility. The great questions are not answered. frankzak - hon, hawaii - October 23rd, 10:28 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.