James Arthur Ray was found guilty of 'Negligent Homicide' on the sweatlodge deaths of three of his "Spiritual Warrior" participants. In October 2009, about 60 of Ray's followers crammed into a 415-square-foot hut heated with red-hot rocks. Ray, a charismatic guru, told his followers it would be a "rebirthing" but it instead turned into a fatal experience for three people. According to prosecutors, one witness said, "20 people got sick. Overheated and throwing up."(http://abcnews.go.com/US/james-ray-found-guilty-negligent-homicide-arizona-sweat/story?id=13908037)
Native American Elders and Medicine People have been warning the public of this danger for years. The Inipi, what non-natives refer to as a sweatlodge, is a spiritual ceremony that should be treated and respected as such. It must be conducted by a "real" Medicine Person, who was initiated into its sacred and ancient teachings. Have you heard of a Mass being conducted by a lay person? I'm sure most Christians will be shocked at this comparison, but God did not give Native Americans an inferior form of worship. All of our Spiritual traditions around the world (the ones that espouse Love, Kindness and Oneness) are as valid as the other. The Native American spiritual traditions are just as sacred as any Religious ceremony, and should be conducted as they have always been, lead by the valid and initiated priesthood (Medicineman) of that faith.
I am actually shocked at how people readily adopt alternative spiritual ceremonies as if they are hosting a 'clam bake.' I understand that most people do not really want to change Religions readily, because such descisions are hard to make. But no one really needs to change their Religious affiliations. Whatever Faith you were born with is actually adequate, if you just take the time and effort to dig deeper into its inner teachings. Adapting the teachings (philosophy) of other Religions and spiritual beliefs to augment your own, is also acceptable (for we are still evolving towards a unified Faith). But performing a mock ritual, immitating something we saw, read or heard can be dangerous.
Spiritual rituals and ceremonies are not only sacred because of their esoteric meaning and symbolism. In some Faiths, particularly the shamanic kind, these rites also are charged with energies (or Spirits), both constructive and destructive. These sacred ceremonies must therefore be conducted by people who were trained to handle these invisible and supernatural powers. These qualifications cannot be earned by a diploma or a seminar, no matter how many you earn. It takes years of training and acceptance, not only by a traditional practitioner, but also by the energies that you have to work with.
James Arthur Ray's Spiritual Retreat in Arizon
James Arthur Ray may have had good intentions for starting out his Self-Help business, but Spirituality is never for sale. Human Spirituality is the most sacred thing in our lives. It is our connection to the Divine and it was meant to be freely shared -- just like breathing. Charging people for salvation and peace in any way shape of form is his second mistake. No one should make a business out of spiritual salvation, because profit taking is aligned to our lowest mental vibrations. Having that mental state in a spiritual space attracts unwanted lower vibratory energies (Spirits). Jesus was vehemently opposed to it, Buddha was a beggar and Lao Tzu was a hermit for a purpose. My elders always warned me to never seek the guidance of anyone who charges for their services, because this was the most obvious sign that the person is not what they claim to be.
I have attended dozens of Inipi sessions, both secular (healing ceremonies) and initiatory, but since I have not specifically trained (as well as fasted and sacrificed) for the Inipi, I will never attempt to conduct one-- copy or imitate what I have seen or heard. Spiritual training and the gifts they come with, must be approached properly (usually traditionally). Spiritual energy is like electricity, it has a positive and negative charge. The negative charge is always present, but to conduct the alternate positive current, you body, mind, soul and spirit must be a strong enough to withstand the shock. Any blockages of any kind, will kill or maim you.
"Seek and you shall be guided." It does not say enroll or sign-up. Seek spiritual truths inward, not outward. Keep learning. Keep praying. Keep Meditating. But always be humble. Humility is the truest bench mark to Spiritual growth and maturity (and the truest conductor for positive energy). When you are ready, the teacher or teachers will come, because your very own spiritual vibration will attract them to you.
