Sweat lodge deaths raise troubling questions

The blog is back for now. I recently completed another class in the Gonzaga University online organizational leadership MA program. At the rate I’m going I’ll earn the degree in the next year or two. I have 24 credits with 36 needed to graduate. As an older student with only the learning itself as motivation—and considerable expense for each class—going slowly is fine.

One of the most troubling stories in the news today is the ongoing coverage of self-help purveyor James Arthur Ray and the investigation of his role in the sweat lodge deaths during an exercise in one of Ray’s so called “spiritual warrior retreats.” Three persons who attended the retreat, on October 8th, near Sedona, Arizona, have now died. Others suffered dehydration and various levels of organ failure after several hours in the structure that served as a sweat lodge. According to news media reports, each participant paid as much as nine thousand dollars, to attend the multi-day retreat that included fasting and the sweat lodge experience.

Ray has made millions of dollars selling his formula for material success linked to a version of spiritual enlightenment. His best selling book is called Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want. According to his own website Ray has appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s program, Larry King Live, and has been a “recurring guest” on NBC’s The Today Show. With all this publicity and notoriety it’s not surprising that Ray had customers who were willing to pay for the promise of “harmonic wealth” and enlightenment. Others have been more skeptical, including Maureen Dowd who mentioned Ray's appearance on Oprah in 2007.

Second-guessing is too easy so we will avoid blaming the high profile media who helped Ray gain the success he’s enjoyed. But it is fair to question the wisdom of worshiping success for its own sake. Ray’s greatest accomplishment seems to be that he has been successful at building a business that ostensibly helps people. No doubt, he’s controversial and was before the sweat lodge deaths. Testimonials on his website and several interviews in the media speak of life changing transformations experienced by satisfied seminar participants and clients. But there is another side. Complaints to the Better Business Bureau, and other claims by disgruntled customers have also been reported.

Ray will have to face the legal system to learn whether criminal charges or civil proceedings will force him to take responsibility for what happened in the high priced sweat lodge where so many willingly went to part with their dollars hoping for greater wealth, enlightenment, and a better life. Whatever happens with the legal system, it’s helpful to question the role of not only the media but all aspects of our culture that promote success over service, celebrity more than substance, and “reality” programming at the expense of real reporting.