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Sweat lodge deaths during Ray retreat
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On October 8, 2009, two participants of James Arthur Ray's "Spiritual Warrior" program died during the five-day retreat in Yavapai County, Arizona. Nineteen other attendees were transported to local hospitals for burns, breathing difficulties, kidney failure, elevated body temperature and dehydration; one is still in critical condition. Although still under investigation, the hastily built, air tight sweat lodge is most likely the cause of the tragedy.
About James Arthur Ray
After acquiring a college degree in business management and behavioral science, James Arthur Ray began his career at AT&T as a sales manager in the early 1980's and built their telemarketing unit in 1987. After a stint at AT&T's Education Center and School of Business, Ray partnered with Stephen Covey's organization, teaching the "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" and other courses. It was here that Ray, a charismatic and effective speaker, learned from Covey's success and began planning his own similar concepts and programs.
Ray is marketed as a corporate speaker to one group and as a spiritual guru to another group. Who is the real James Ray?
James Ray has two websites for two very different audiences. His mainstream website, jamesray.com, sells his books and retreats to spiritual seekers trying to tap into "the law of abundance." It has a bio that mentions his trips to Peru, Egypt and the Amazon, stating that he has been exposed to a wide variety of teachers and teachings, without mentioning exactly what he's learned and from whom. Ray's other website, jamesraycorporateprograms.com also has a bio which doesn't mention the law of abundance, Egypt, Peru or his trips to the Amazon. However, it does discuss his stint at AT&T, et al. This "bi-polar" approach to marketing reminds me of bad politicians who waver back and forth on issues depending upon the audience. Ray is marketed as a corporate speaker to one group and as a spiritual guru to another group. Who is the real James Ray?
The Spiritual Warrior Retreat
Sixty-one people paid James Arthur Ray $10,000 each to learn how to "Create Harmonic Wealth" in all areas of their lives. They traveled to the Arizona desert and spent three days fasting in the wilderness for a vision quest. On the fourth day, the group enjoyed an elaborate brunch followed by lectures and then were led to the makeshift sweat lodge. Both the vision quest and the sweat lodge are Native American spiritual customs. The sweat lodge, however, was not made to Native American specifications; instead of furs and birch branches, Ray's lodge was made air tight with plastic and blankets. Instead of 10 to 12 participants, Ray crammed 60 people in a 415 square foot space. Ray's participants were in the sweat lodge for two hours; Native American sweat lodge ceremonies last less than an hour. The results were tragic. The amount of money Ray received from each participant was more than enough to pay for a doctor on staff and to hire people who know how to build a true sweat lodge (or lodges) made with the proper materials. Investigators believe that Ray's employees built the sweat lodge. However, Ray's representatives claim that they contracted with the Angel Valley Retreat Center to build the sweat lodge.
Lessons Learned from the Tragedy
Anyone attending a retreat, an event, or even just a meeting should never put their health at risk with the promise of spiritual or financial fulfillment. We should never just assume that these events are safe as there is a margin of error in all things human. The tragedy of James Ray's Spiritual Warrior retreat must not prevent spiritual seekers from attending programs and learning from their chosen teachers. But the lessons here are twofold: our teachers have a responsibility to keep their students safe, even if it cuts into the bottom line. Secondly, students must use common sense during these events to protect their health and mental well-being.
For more information:
http://www.jamesraycorporateprograms.com/pdf/bio.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Arthur_Ray
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