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Posts Tagged ‘sweat lodge’

The Face That Can Boil You To Death

Ideas have consequences. Harmful ideas have harmful consequences.

For several years I have tried to show people the weaknesses and dangers in the so-called LAW OF ATTRACTION, particularly as taught in the book and film THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne. Such notables as Oprah and Larry King mindlessly promoted some of the gurus in that book, such as James Arthur Ray.

James Ray uses the illustration of the genie in the lamp and “your wish is my command.” There is a power, he maintains, in the Universe that will grant us our wishes if we just put them out there….the Universe says, ‘Your wish is my command.’” THE SECRET, pp. 46, 89.

So do we conclude that three people who attended Ray’s sweat lodge wished for a painful death?  And 18 others wished for hospitalization? Mr. Ray himself must have wished to be arrested for manslaughter and civil lawsuits amounting to millions of dollars.

The irony of this sad situation is that Ray and his lawyers refer to this event as “an accident,” yet the Law of Attraction does not allow for “accidents.” Basically, it teaches that we get what we put out to the Universe. (Don’t ask me what Universe means here—it’s one of those esoteric, hazy words often used by self-help teachers.)

“Every great teacher who has ever walked the planet has told you that life was meant to be abundant.” THE SECRET, p. 148. So, James Ray is not a great teacher, for he has led trusting people into huge expenses, illness, delusion and even death.

He’s not the only one like that. There are so many other “gurus” who say much the same thing, touting the so-called “Law of Attraction” as the mantra for success. Although most of these teachers have not caused death to their participants, they have lead them to false hopes, racked-up credit card bills, and a belief in some magical formula for success.

Now, James Ray has been given the opportunity to show the “power to create your world.” He has been arrested for three counts of manslaughter. He is also being sued for millions of dollars by those wrongfully harmed. But, Mr. Ray, no problem–just send your positive thoughts into the Universe, rub that magic lamp, and these problems will just go away–and you might even get more abundance in in their place.

Here’s one of Ray’s favorite teachings: “I’d ask you, ‘Are the results you have in your life what you really want? And are they worthy of you?’ If they’re not worthy of you, then wouldn’t now be the right time to change those? Because you have the power to do that.” THE SECRET, pp. 164-5.

Ray and his attorneys blame others: “…the people who built the sweat lodge and the people who own the property where this occurred.” But they propose that the greatest blame rests on a “freak accident.” Said one attorney: “Mr. Ray claims that this is just a freak accident and takes not even a one percent responsibility for what happened.”

Ray’s modus operandi is simple: If good comes out of your teaching, it is from the Universe. If bad comes out of it, “It was an accident.”