James Arthur Ray: Self-Help Guru Under Criminal Investigation in Sweat Lodge Deaths

An odd story ran across the TV screen earlier this week that set me to doing some checking around.  It seems that "self-help gurus" and 'financial advisors" can develop a cult-like following much like those found among religious sects with the leader perhaps succumbing to his or her "power." 

James Arthur Ray is under investigation by Arizona authorities for the deaths of 3 seminar participants at at his five-day seminar near Sedona, AZ in October.  Here's the story from Fox in Phoenix:



Ray has several books for sale, his current one being "Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want."   I thought to myself: Sedona ... "harmonic" ... ah, yes -- this is some of that New Age stuff.  First, I found a video clip of him on Google -- an excerpt from the movie "The Secret" (by Rhonda Byrne), based on the book.

"You know, the universe is this great genie and your conscious mind is Aladin -- it formulates the intention of what you choose for your life. Whatever you put out there consistently, and you think, feel and act upon, it's coming to you."

I remembered hearing of this book "The Secret" a while back on Oprah.  In her inimitable way, Oprah gushed about this book, fawning over her panel of "experts."  (I remember thinking to myself the whole time "this is just some of the same old "get rich quick because you deserve it" crappola.  "If you believe it hard enough, it will come" mumbo-jumbo.)

I went to Oprah's site and did some snooping around.  I found that, indeed, he had been one of the guests to discuss the principles of "The Secret."  Here's a clip from her website:

"The Secret" is described on the site as being "defined as the law of attraction, which states that like attracts like.  The concept says that the energy you put into the world -- both good and bad -- is exactly what comes back to you.  This means you create the circumstances of your life with the choices you make very day."

The above image states that, according to Ray, there is scientific evidence to back up the spiritual practices and laws defined in The Secret.

"Science tells us that everything is energy, and so your thoughts are energy.  Your body, your cash, your car -- everything you think is solid, if you put it under a high-powered microscope, it's just a field of energy and a rate of vibration," he says.  "And so are we.  So if you think you're this meat suit running around, you have to think again." 

So, I have to first ask myself, as with anyone that tells the public what they should be doing with their lives: "Who is this guy and what are his credentials?" 

Ray's website is here; however, today it is undergoing "planned maintenance."  (Too bad I didn't get screenshots the other day when first looking at it.)  It is from here, however, that I found the link to the above Google video with the excerpt from the movie "The Secret."  There are links to other short video clips of his.

Wikipedia has some interesting information on Ray:

• James Ray International is not accredited as of Oct. 2009 by the BBB which gives the company a C rating for 7 complaints filed and 2 unresolved;

• Besides appearing in the movie and promoting "The Secret", Ray has also taught Stephen Covey motivational seminars while working for AT&T;

• Ray's father was an Oklahoma preacher, living occasionally in poverty.

• Here's his philosophy in a nutshell:
Ray is an advocate of the Law of Attraction; his teachings have been described as "including a mix of spirituality, motivational speaking, and quantum physics". In response to critics who asked if Holocaust victims were, in Ray's view, thinking incorrectly, Ray stated in a 2007 interview: "I know people of the Jewish faith and heritage who don't necessarily believe the Holocaust was bad. Now that might be shocking to you but I have people on record who have said, hey there's a lot of good things that came out of that, a lot of lessons, a lot of opportunities for the world." In that interview, Ray answered about personal responsibility, "I fully know, for me, that there is no blame. Every single thing is your responsibility ... and nothing is your fault. Because every single thing that comes to you is gift ... a lesson."^{[7]  [Wikipedia]} 

There is no mention of Ray's educational background.  I did find this on his Amazon book page:

About the Author

James Arthur Ray has traveled the globe, devoting more than two decades to studying the thoughts, actions, and habits of those who create true wealth in every area of life. A World Thought Leader, popular speaker, and featured expert in The Secret, James is one of the few spiritual teachers with stellar business credentials (as an entrepreneur, and also as a top sales manager and personal and business growth expert with AT&T). He's been a recent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, Moneyline, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, and the Today show. He lives in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Any formal training in psychology or business seems to be lacking ... He appears to simply be a graduate of "The Hard School of Knocks" ... at best.

Ray has come center stage in the last couple of days due to Arizona authorities releasing on Monday documents showing that serious medical problems occurred at sweat lodge events prior to the fateful October day that resulted in 3 peoples' deaths.  From Fox in Phoenix:

Three people died after the Oct. 8 sweat lodge ceremony that was the highlight of Ray's five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event at a retreat near Sedona. The Yavapai County sheriff's office has focused a homicide investigation on Ray.

A number of affadavits paint the picture of that day. Participants were inside the tent for 8- to 15-minute sessions. Superheated rocks brought the temperature inside to an estimated 150 degrees, and soon people started collapsing.

According to the documents, a man Ray hired to build the sweat lodge told investigators that people emerged in medical distress all three times he has assisted with the ceremonies. He says Ray repeatedly told the most recent participants that, "You are not going to die. You might think you are, but you're not going to die."

As people started collapsing, a teenager who was helping out asked if they should be removed. According to the documents, Ray responded, "No, they will be fine."

Another person says they tried to remove two unconscious people from the tent, but Ray told her that was "sacrilegious."

Investigators also searched Ray's room at the Angel Valley Retreat outside Sedona. They reportedly found a wealth of prescription medication, syringes and vitamins.

Participants also told investigators they were supposed to call James Arthur Ray "Master".

And here are some details of prior seminar problems [source]:

Some of the people told investigators that Ray responded to cries for help from a man who was burned and warned other participants not to leave the sweat lodge during eight 15-minute rounds so they wouldn't also be scorched by the hot rocks in the center.

Others who were interviewed by investigators described suffering broken bones at other Ray-led events after being instructed to break bricks with their hands. Others said they vomited and slipped into altered states of consciousness.

Mickey Reynolds, who attended Ray's 2005 "Spiritual Warrior" event said it was implied the sweat lodge was safe since Ray had done the ceremonies before. Reynolds told investigators there was no discussion of safety procedures or a plan if something went wrong.

The owner of the Sedona retreat, Amayra Hamilton, said she told Ray in 2005 that he would have to change his ceremonies after a man became severely ill and she saw improvements the following year.
Richard Wright said he took part in the latest sweat lodge as a test of courage, enduring seven of eight 15-minute rounds. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident told The Associated Press participants never were asked to provide emergency contacts or answer questions about their health, and they never were given a clear picture of the effects of a sweat lodge.

Instead, they took Ray's word that vomiting and passing out were normal, he said.

"We all chose what we did," Wright said. "But again, if you make a choice with only having half the story, have you really made a choice?"


The two-hour sweat lodge event came at the end of a Ray's five-day "Spiritual Warrior" retreat that cost people $9,000, or more, to attend.  Ray told the people in the sweat lodge to try to push past their discomfort as a test of achievement.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case as a possible homicide.