Personal development guru James Arthur Ray on trial for manslaughter in Arizona. (pic: Verdenews.com - click)
You may or may not be aware of the manslaughter trial under way in Arizona of personal development guru James Arthur Ray following the deaths of three people during/following a sweat lodge exercise on a pretty intense ‘Spiritual Warrior’ course led by Mr Ray.
Here is a document from the prosectors which forms part of their argument for the inclusion of an audio recording of the ‘Spiritual Warrior’ course as evidence of the build up of messages from Mr Ray to the participants and some of the extreme conditions he put them through in the lead up to to the sweat lodge, including confining them to a six foot circle in a desert for 36 hours without food and drink.
It attempts to answer the commonsense question: ‘If it was so hot and they felt so bad, why didn’t they just leave?’
Group psychology is part of the answer, and this document tries to show how the group and individuals in it were conditioned over a period of time. Cult-like obedience to the guru is a very powerful thing.
It makes awful reading, but read it. James Arthur Ray’s defence attorneys do not want this material set before the court. I think it’s highly relevant. Two extracts:
and
As-yet untested allegations by the Prosecution, but Gee, if true, it sounds really bad...
Full document available as a PDF (1.2MB) from the Arizona Supreme Court website.
It relates how James Ray described his ‘Spiritual Warrior’ training as an ‘accelerated learning program’. I’ve participated in plenty of those (including ‘Warrior training’ with a sweat lodge). As part of my training company, I’ve helped run genuinely accelerated learning teamwork and leadership programmes, and let me tell you, this one sounds nuts.
Anything that attacks individual sovereignty (i.e. choice) or this cult-like breaking down of people’s boundaries with the threat of shame and dishonour is bad — including the shitty little ‘Code of Silence’, ban on toilet breaks, and the Samurai Game, with James Ray ‘playing god’ — as described in the prosecution document (seriously, read it). It is manipulative and deceitful … and I don’t believe any good thing can come from it.
I’m all for challenge, especially in teams. I find them confronting, and I win some and lose some. (Sometimes I’m on ‘the learning team’ grmpf!) And sure, given the choice, I observe that some people will choose dignity over deliverance (but that IS their choice). Reading what the Prosecutors say was going on with James Arthur Ray’s ‘students’ (at $9,000 plus food and lodgings) makes me groan. The humanity. It looks like abuse of ‘authority’ and ‘guru-ship’. Deadly in this case.
I’m trying hard to give James Arthur Ray the benefit of the doubt, but I think like this potential juror, I’d be ‘de-panelled’ PDQ:
After [Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Warren] Darrow quizzed each of the eight [potential jurors], defense attorneys Tom Kelly and Luis Li singled out several potential jurors for extended examinations, focusing primarily on their search for bias against their client.
In one case, Li was able to ferret out prejudice in a woman who had a 22-year background in law enforcement.
“If you were sitting there in Mr. Ray’s shoes right now,” Li asked, “would you want you on the jury?”
The woman agreed she would not and was promptly dismissed for cause.
— Verdenews.com
Yeah, he wouldn’t want me on the jury either.
So — it looks like the audio recording of the ‘Spiritual Warrior’ programme — or parts of it, the prosecution wants included to reveal the ‘conditioning’ tactics used WILL be part of the trial …
Arizona Republic: http://bit.ly/ijIAmj
I’m glad the tapes are IN — according to the Wall St Journal, the defence lawyers were claiming they were ‘private conversations’
http://on.wsj.com/evfGTn
UPDATE: Here’s Judge Warren’s decision (PDF) http://bit.ly/fK6weN
There is no question in my mind that James Arthur Ray is culpable in those tragic deaths. There is no question among my Native American relatives, for whom the Sweat Lodge Ceremony is among their most sacred rituals, that what Ray did bears no resemblance to their traditional ceremony; they also know that when you exploit sacred ceremony you steal its spirit, and then bad things will happen.
Ray will or will not be found guilty, but the most important thing for us to learn from this tragedy will not be heard in the courtroom. We need to learn is how to tell the difference between a huckster and an authentic healer.
James Ray is a huckster, a master collator who can put together a potpourri of rich material, and deliver the message with charismatic skill. A huckster will market his secrets for a successful life, and the more you spend the quicker secrets will be revealed.
Authentic healers will acknowledge they don’t know the secret, will do the best they can but don’t promise results, and don’t over-emphasize only their part in the healing process. An indigenous healer/spiritual guide gets his authority or certification from a recognized elder with whom he/she has apprenticed for years. The apprentice learns the healing myths, how to use instruments, medicines, and conduct ceremonies. In Western medicine healers earn their credentials through advanced degrees and certification, spending years of study learning healing stories, the use special instruments/diagnostic tools, and how to perform procedures.
James Arthur Ray has neither certification, and in spite of that fact many bright, gifted people still surrendered their power to him. Beliefs in the practice and in the practitioner are critical elements in healing; be sure to find out if your Ray shines an authentic beam of light.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I agree that the ‘justice’ ‘system’ may or may not reach the heart of this matter.
Yes, the prosecutors are giving it a shot — trying to hold James Arthur Ray responsible for the outcomes of his deadly manipulation of people. Time will tell.
In a word, the problem is, as you state, authenticity.
Here’s a page James Arthur Ray Trial Updates from Salty Droid;
http://saltydroid.info/james-arthur-ray-trial-updates/
for those following the trial. – P
Thanks for your reporting and comments. I’ve been following Mr. Ray’s trial on In Session. “Exit dishonorably.” How sad. I think his personality is like a few of the clients I’ve had over the years – convicted offenders court ordered to treatment. He controls the hell out of people in public, with charm, kind words, openness (the appearance of caring). He controls his “committed” with anger, scorn, heavy psychological and physical manipulations. He has to have his way. Obedience or dishonor? It will be interesting to see how Mr. Ray survives this ordeal. Back to Oprah with profound apologies for his ignorance?
Thanks for your perceptive comments. I agree with your assessment of the manipulations — it’s very sad when people become ensnared in what is effectively a psychotic situation which provides a kind of sick yin to their own needy yang.
People like James Ray evolve their influence and ‘control’ techniques by experience. They feed on their victim/followers’ feeling of incompleteness. That it is abused is tragic.