Legacy MattersAnyone who is foolish enough to pay $9695 for the opportunity to become a "Spiritual Warrior' is Sedona, Arizona can't be expected to be smart enough to get out of the heat.
Two died, one is in critical condition and two others are in far condition after taking part in a sweat lodge ceremony
which lasted about two hours and was being hosted by James Arthur Ray, an author and spiritual self-help entrepreneur.
A sweat lodge is an enclosed structure in which heated rocks are doused with water to create steam and saunalike conditions. Adapted from Native American tradition, it is thought to help purify both body and spirit.
---
The Associated Press reported that, eerily, Ray made this posting on his Twitter account just hours before the deaths: "Still in Spiritual Warrior ... for anything new to live something first must die. What needs to die in you so that new life can emerge?"
How much is a a new life worth? Some people's lives are so empty and meaningless, that money becomes irrelevant, and they will pay ridiculous amounts to anyone who promises them personal transformation. Unfortunately, when that is the case, there will always be someone who is ready to take their money. The spiritual community is not exempt from the lure of greed and unethical behavior. Discernment is key.
N.C. McKinney,
Sedona resident