“Here’s lookin at you babe” Eros and Perception: Part III: Marc Gafni

The First Path of Hebrew Tantra

The great myth master, the Maggid of Mezritch, was very young and had just begun his teaching path.142 He was sitting one day minding his own business when a “loose woman” comes walking by, her breasts revealed in a way that was simply impossible to miss. Apparently, the master had a momentary sexual response, a fact which agonized his soul. A great revulsion began to rise in him. He started visualizing the lowly, physical origin of the woman. Reminding himself that from the earth she was made and to the earth she will return. He repeated the mantra, “From dust to dust,” frantically conjuring up images of the process of formation and decomposition until with this visualization he broke through the sexual attraction. He even started throwing up in utter disgust.

Clearly at this stage in his life the sexual was for the Master, like for the Buddha, Jesus and virtually all the saints at some point in their path, a trap to be avoided at all costs. The good news is that this is not the end of the story.

marc gafni
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