James Ray Death Lodge

Two people are dead and dozens more were hospitalized Thursday after collapsing from the heat of a sweat lodge at a James Ray spiritual retreat in Sedona, Arizona.

The sweat lodge experience was the culmination of a five-day nearly $10,000 “Spiritual Warrior Event” advertised as a retreat to “accelerate the releasing of your limitations and push yourself past your self-imposed and conditioned borders.”

More than 60 participants entered a makeshift structure where hot stones created intense heat. Rituals in sweat lodges are a common Native American purification practice intended to raise the body temperature to somewhere between 102 to 106 degrees. Given the intense heat, supervision is required -- and in most sweat lodges, attendance is limited to 8 to 12 people. Participants should leave when the heat becomes too intense. However, after a week of brainwashing about pushing past “self-imposed” borders, human instinct was overridden by orders from a so-called great leader.

James Ray is one of the hottest new self-help gurus – featured on Oprah, Larry King Live, and The Secret – who has only become more popular during the last year’s economic uncertainty. Ray preaches that it is our negative attitude and negative energy that holds us back from true wealth.

Let me be clear: The 60-plus people in that sweat lodge weren't stupid. They weren't lemmings. They trusted a well-known, well-loved inspirational leader who had been given the popular culture seal of approval. The attendees are the victims here because they trusted a leader who claimed to have expertise in a potentially dangerous practice. The idea that we trust our leaders isn't anything new -- and the idea that this trust can be misplaced and used to harm us or others isn't new either. (Remember the famous Milgram experiments dealing with how receptive people are to authority?) But this recent tragedy is a terrible way to re-learn those lessons.

The obvious question is: Why did these men and women stay in such a hostile environment, even as their lungs burned from the heat and they felt themselves slipping into unconsciousness? Why? Because James Ray told them their limitations aren't necessarily where they think they are, to trust him and push past them.

Indeed, just hours before the deaths, James Ray posted this to Twitter: ''Still in Spiritual Warrior ... for anything new to live something first must die. What needs to die in you so that new life can emerge?''

We often think of self-help as harmless and silly, but the charismatic leadership that these gurus wield is a powerful psychological force. Just because a ceremony is New Age or from a native tradition doesn't mean that it's benign. As with all powerful experiences, training and supervision is crucial. And when a leader encourages his followers to override their own bodily signals -- encourages them to trust him over themselves -- there are terrible consequences.

 

Follow Christine Whelan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/christinewhelan

Comments

[Helloamanda]

i had an interview for his assistant position last year. needless to say i didnt get the job, thank GOD! I wrote a bit about my view and how the world works in mysterious ways... very thankful :)
http://www.helloamanda.com/?p=3171

[The living poet]

This is not a personal criticism of Mr. Ray, merely a consideration for him to ponder. All of the participants were adults, were informed of the risks, signed the appropriate waivers. Yet their consent was implicit in their trust of the Teacher/Shaman's ability to guide them in honoring and discovering their natural, healthy self expression, which would be unique and distinct for all the participants. Like all of us living on this blue green marble, no matter how developed any of us thinks we are...no matter how smart or itelligent we think we are...all of us are still learning and each of us will make more than a few mistakes.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-whelan/james-ray-death-lodge_b_315934.html

[balancedsolution]

YOu don't need a teacher to get closer to the spirit.

YOu just need to look within.

These guys are generally charlatans for $$$

Sad.

It's an entire network of people who do these things.

[Jack Sokol]

The first thing about sweat lodges is that you use them at the START of a Vision Quest, not at the end.

I engaged in a vision quest about 30 years ago with two other people and we followed the Native American way, which is to purify first and then fast. Mr. Ray had everything ass-backwards, and then proceeded to use the sacred sweat lodge in a very profane and ego-centric way, as a trial, an ordeal.

Well it's never been used like that, and you can see the results, oxygen deprivation, hyperthermia resulting in death!!

I used the sweat lodge way quite a number of times, and no one ever had ill effects as we always respected everyone's choice to leave when they felt they had enough. We always had water avaialable, never overcrowded a sweat and never went over 20 minute! After reading Beverly Bunn's account I was astonished at the epic tragedy that unfolded due to hubris and colossal ego.

Mr. Ray apparently has no clue that he has screwed the pooch! The first thing he should do is accept responsibility for his actions. He has behaved in a very cowardly and foolish way before, during and after the event. So what does that say about his philosophy, world view and movement? Castles build on sand ...

[WldHair]

I won't go so far as to say the people were mindless. Apparently, the ceremony was geared to push your limits. They were doing what they thought was right for them. HOWEVER, I've participated in these new agey type things before, and I've all but do my own thing now. There unfortunately so much b.s. connected to it and people's ego.

Sorry, but Ray is full of it. I don't care if he has done for seven years without incident. Maybe in the beginning he was more careful. First of all, $10K is outrageous. I've done sweatlodges with a bonafide Yaqui medicine man and brough an offering of tobacco. I also gave an offering of $20. This man was living in poverty! He didn't do it for financial gain. He truly cared about the well-being of all of us. He alerted us to the health risks, asked about our health before we came, we took breaks and was told to drink water. It was a large lodge, but there were less than 15 people altogether. He didn't take large groups.

If you have very hot sweats, then you need to have less people in there, you must be accustomed to that kind of heat and have breaks. Sixty people is automatically going to affect the heat level AND the amount of oxygen. Obviously, certain precautions weren't followed since, not just because two people died, a large number of people became sick enough to go to the hospital.

[GetAbike]

Great Post- thank you.
What you have posted NEEDED to be said by someone other than commentors, as sometimes those critical comments get deleted.

something kinda weird though-
Did you know that James Arthur Ray is a blogger here on HuffPo?

Read his whole bio at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-arthur-ray

[weatherwaxx]

While you're thinking up catchy titles, why not call it "Satan's Sauna?" This is no more a sweat lodge than a Twinkie is a home-made madeleine.

I have been in real sweat lodge ceremonies with teachers from different traditions, and one thing that is emphasized is looking out for the brother or sister beside you. It is not too dark to know if someone needs help.

If you look at genuine spiritual leaders, from any tradition, you will seldom find anyone who has a lot of material wealth--gifts of money usually come in and go right out to help those in need. If there's any good to come from this tragedy, it might be the reminder that a great big price tag should set off the mental alarm bells.

[RandyMacker]

If you write about sweat lodges, at least know their purpose before making judgments on them and Ray. Sweat Lodges don't have the same purpose as eg. walking on hot coals. They've been used by native American Indians for inducing visionary experiences. That's the life changing point of the sweat lodge Ray and many others have touted. The idea is by inducing different types of extreme stimuli we're unaccustomed to, we can experience awareness of other realities than we normally experience. The stimuli can be something as common and tame as alcohol or marijuana or as uncommon and profound as sweat lodges, LSD, or DMT (a chemical which occurs naturally in our brains and is thought to cause our dreams). Ray had been doing Sweat Lodges at this location for 7 years without incident until now. Sweat Lodges have been used since the 5th Century BC.

Reading these comments, I really understand why these sorts of spiritual practices have since ancient times been vigilantly hidden from common view and only revealed to a select few who have been gradually initiated into these practices and understand them. Those seeking initiation into ancient Egypt's secret practices had to undergo 20 years of study first.

I don't automatically exonerate James Ray from culpability here. After the police investigation is done and all the facts are in, it may be evident he was culpable for these deaths and injuries. He may not be. Let's wait until the facts are in before saying anything more.

[Imago]

"In 2005, preceding the tragic events of October 2009, a serious injury involving hospitalization was reported at the Angel Valley Ranch during a "Spiritual Warrior" retreat led by Ray. Verde Valley Fire Chief Jerry Doerksen's department responded to an emergency call that a 42 year old man had fallen unconscious after exercises inside the sweat-lodge."

from Wikipedia

Other people have been severely injured at his retreats and one woman fell to her death (in a shopping mall, of all bizarre things, dressed as a homeless person per instructions).

There have been plenty of warnings.

And anyone with an ounce of common sense, especially someone who claims to have experience/training in lodges, knows better than to put 60 people in a 400 foot space after 36 hours w/no food or water followed by a large breakfast. And, oh yeah, the god games.

He was there, he was insisting people not leave, bottom line, he was responsible.

[quicksilverwade]

We, the D/L/Nakota people do not talk about sweat lodge ceremonies or inipi. We have been told to keep our mouth shut, our eyes and ears open. James Arthur Ray has violated everything that we believe. Wade Crowe, Hunkpati Dakota Sioux from Crow Creek, South Dakota

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

All these self help gurus with their prosperity seminars do a majority of the time is rework the premises presented in The Sermon On The Mount in such a way as to induce the seeker into thinking that the Guru is the path to said prosperity (it is only the path to the Guru's prosperity as he leeches the dead presidents from the seekers).The strongest, simplest, and straightest path to true prosperity has already existed for over 2000 years, it doesn't cost a thing, it is available to everyone and you don't have to join anything to acquire it. It's a shame the human race decided to take a mass stupid pill and ignore this treasure for all these centuries in the interim. the lemmings continue to march off the cliff in droves.

[weatherwaxx]

There are many ways to spiritual growth, and the christian religion has its share of profiteers.

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

Yep, they paved the way for the gurus of today and you have totally missed the points , The Sermon On The Mount was spoken by a radical revolutionary way before the time of the Christian Religion being foisted on mankind to control the sheep...Selah

[ninatrans]

The self-help industry is a $14 billion money machine in the endless quest to find someone to lead us to a better life. I had the pleasure of working as a consultant with one of these "guru's" and it was a never ending battle trying to get him to go past his ego and desires.

I find it funny when people invoke the definition of guru and say we don't understand what it means. At its very element, it is someone who dispels darkness with spiritual illumination or light. It says nothing about these "teachers" charging $10,000 for that light.

The true problem here is that we continue to seek easy solutions and false prophets instead of the peaceful ease of walking our own path in life.

James Ray's behavior in refusing to talk to the police and leaving the state are indicative of his true character. The true guru would have been there is help his injured students path to the light of health.

Wonder if he will refund their $10,000?

[GetAbike]

Nailed it.
Personal responsibility- ya that's the ticket !

[Imago]

I read somewhere (Wikipedia, I think?) that he sent a $5,000 refund and a sympathy card to one family.

What do you need to do to get a full refund?

[Theda]

This con man charged each person nearly $10,000....he crammed 65 people into a phony sweatlodge that was four feet tall and 400 square feet wide. Pure insanity. There will be lawsuits and James Arthur Ray might lose the new $4 million home he just bought in Beverly Hills. May the lawyers feast well on this shameless creature who calls himself spiritual.

[harleanc]

In his Oprah and The Secret appearances and in his books, James Arthur Ray exhibited a massive ego and obsession with material wealth and power that was quite disturbing. I was not surprised to hear his name attached to this fiasco. Unfortunately, there are deluded leaders everywhere, and emotionally, spiritually needy people who, sadly, are quite vulnerable to being manipulated.

[islandsgal]

Well said...I have been to several of James Rays events and paid lots of money to do so. He is a charlatan in every way! His ego is only eclipsed by his obsession with material things and he certainly doesn't like to be questioned about any of his "experiences". He is completely uninterested in any one else's travels, education, experiences other than his own. People pay a lot of money to hear his magical mystery school talks...he is a captivating speaker, which makes him all the more dangerous.

[Shawn R]

People make amazing assumptions that they know what happened. Understandably, under Ray's care and facilitation, people died and fell ill. What is the need to create a judgment so fast when in the reporting, it' making massive assumptions? There are many questions that will be investigated, looked at and brought to light. Mainstream, in the box thinkers become joyful because the mighty have fallen. The guy with the mic and the big bank account is a "guru" of self help. People don't even get the word guru and its meaning, so it's used to invoke cult fear and new age fanatical thinking. Whatever. What happened was horribly wrong. Yet, put your tar and feathers down, you might slip and fall.

Give credit to the people who went and had a full choice. They were on a path that felt best for them. Give them respect that they made choices, just like the people who climb Everest or jump out of a plane or join the military in time of war, or become a police office. The people who go really wanted to be there, I know because I have met them. They understood cause and effect, it's a core teaching. Please don't disrespect them by saying they were mindless, uninformed people. They were more than that!

[stressfreeliving]

Very well said Shaun R.

[whalepeace]

They were pretty mindless in taking orders that led to their deaths. Eh? Any sane organism would have gotten out before they expired. Any free man or woman would listen to the dictates of one's own body instead of the dictates of some ersatz self-proclaimed New Age ripoff guru.

In a traditional sweat, the ceremonial leader monitors and holds in prayer and consciousness every participant in the lodge. Normally, this leader is so attuned that if any person is having difficulty, the flap will be opened or water will be passed or the person allowed to leave. Normally, the healing of the sweat ceremony is not for sale.

This Ray guy is a white man who is ripping off the land and the spirituality of the native Americans for gross profit. He cared only about the money. If he cared about the people, there would have bene no death or injury. People died because Ray was greedy, reckless and negligent and because he was not qualified to be runing a sweat lodge. The man is bogus, a charlatan, getting rich off of the spiritual and material anxieties of neurotic people.

The sweat lodge is for healing. This man used it for greed and to kill. One hopes that the full force of the law reins him in.

[weatherwaxx]

Thank you. I have been in ceremony with real leaders and what you say about being aware of the people in the lodge is absolutely right.

[The living poet]

Sweat lodges are sacred events between the individual and The Creator...a true Shaman is deeply mindful and aware of all under his care. I've participated in traditional sweats with Ojibway Elders, in Canada and we had cool cedar tea available at anytime. The Elder regularily checked in with us by asking each person to describe how they were feeling and reminded us that anyone could leave at anytime as the purpose is to honor, trust and know our experience of this life. I've never heard of a sweat with this many people in the particular structure that was used and it is the facilitators responsibility to ensure the safety of those who entrust themselves to his greater knowledge and experience...a student is an aspirant reaching for his or her own personal best...and should not be seeking to be the same as the teacher a true teacher recognizes this fully. Caveat Emptor is a statement that actually means "Be More Aware." Still we must all honor and respect each and every person who participated in this event for each in their own way believed this was important enought to invest their time, their money and their bodies in a very challenging process of personal development...our memory of those departed should reflect this understanding. To the families of the departed..­.Peace...t­o those still living...Peace.

[gra8ful]

Paths of courage step into areas that frequently are uncomfortable. Shawn's point should be well taken and are not expected to be understood by those experiencing life on a different path. Some people travel the US, some people travel the world and some people travel through their experiences in life with open eyes as others don't. James Ray offers a path that proves how full life can be when we get out of our own way.

Beyond the tragedy are teachings of health of body, mind and spirit that brought the ones together in spiritual warrior. They do deserve respect not mocking by those who do not understand the great courage it takes to release beliefs that do not serve.

[LateBoomer2]

"Release beliefs that do not serve"? Serve whom? A charlatan who wants to get rich quick and doesn't care if he makes others ill or die in the process? If those poor folks were embracing beliefs that "served" themselves, they would have gotten the heck outta that hell-hole, before it did any damage. The lucky ones survived. Three of them were not so lucky (the two that died and the one still in critical condition). I'm sure all of them learned a lesson about "beliefs [in gurus] that do not serve."

[Rubyfoo]

We haven't changed much since P.T. Barnum said that there's a sucker born every minute. Charismatic individuals know how to override our natural checks and balances to convince us to part with our money and good sense. This guy pushed it a bit too far, and I hope he gets to spend some time in jail.

Yes, what his teachings are basically true, but overcoming one's issues is much more complex than paying $10K to become a spiritual warrior for a week. If you survive the week, you'll leave with your subconscious conditioning pretty much intact, waiting a bit to re-emerge and reconstruct the barriers that keep you from you being Donald Trump (is that what you want?).

[Mims Keiser]

Hopefully The Native Americans will not take the abuse (criticism of their cermonies) due to a white man's lack of poor judgement and "stealing" of rituals for profit and quick fix solutions.
The true sweat lodge NEVER has a price attached--Never promises a healing or life changing event- never packs a multitude of people in a plastic container so they may suffocate like trapped animals and never encourages people to stay inside to "Brave it out". Although the ceremony may be extremely hot, there are breaks and water given between "doors". The True Leader of Sweat Lodge ceremonies has a handle on the people inside and knowledge from generations past on how to conduct a safe yet spiritual ceremony. Not all Natives had sweat ceremonies but because they have become a POPULAR new age modality we find various Whites and Indigenous people jumping on the band wagon and promising a quick fix for desperate souls.