Posted on 10/22/2009 9:38:29 AM PDT by heartwood
SEDONA, Ariz. — Midway through a two-hour sweat lodge ceremony intended to be a rebirthing experience, participants say, some people began to fall desperately ill from the heat, even as their leader, James Arthur Ray, a nationally known New Age guru, urged them to press on.
“There were people throwing up everywhere,” said Dr. Beverley Bunn, 43, an orthodontist from Texas, who said she struggled to remain conscious in the sweat lodge, a makeshift structure covered with blankets and plastic and heated with fiery rocks.
Dr. Bunn said Mr. Ray told the more than 50 people jammed into the small structure — people who had just completed a 36-hour “vision quest” in which they fasted alone in the desert — that vomiting “was good for you, that you are purging what your body doesn’t want, what it doesn’t need.” But by the end of the ordeal on Oct. 8, emergency crews had taken 21 people to hospitals. Three have since died.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Poor peer-pressured, guru-led sheep.
Many people wonder why they stayed. I myself think that since they shelled out $9,000.00 for the “experience” in this tough economy, they maybe stayed to get their money’s worth.
Goes to show you that it’s true that a fool and their money are soon parted.
"Dr. Bunn was shocked to hear one recount the comments of a self-described “channeler” who visited Angel Valley after the retreat. Claiming to have communicated with the dead, the channeler said they had left their bodies in the sweat lodge and chosen not to come back because “they were having so much fun.” Dr. Bunn had a less charitable view: “They couldn’t re-enter their bodies because they were dead.” "
One sheep sleeps. One sheep wakes.
With the upcoming Obamacare, only folks 70 years old and above will be approved for this type of treatment. And, of course, it will be free.
“Here you go Granny, Let me help you into the steam quirt. Sit right here... I’ll throw some water on these fiery hot rocks. Ah, that’s better isn’t it? Feel the nice soothing steam? Here’s a pan in case you vomit. But don’t worry about it...it’s just a natural part of the cleansing process. OK, I’m just gonna step outside and run to lunch. Call me if you need me...”
LOL. What a way to go. Cooked to death.
If I were in a makeshift structure covered with blankets and plastic and heated with fiery rocks, surrounded by people who were throwing up, I would be stampeding to get out of there. These people were encouraged to act in a way contrary to their own survival.
Sweat lodge? It reminds me of unloading mail trucks full of sacks of catalogs in August at a USPS general mail facility in the South. I sure wouldn’t do that for free and certainly would not pay for the ordeal of a sweat lodge.
Stupid Obama/Oprah sheep! Oprah should be sued and ridiculed for this crap far and wide!
These people could have gone to any of the local Indian ceremonies in Sedona for NOTHING.
Why would any Indians put up with culturally bereft white people for free?
Charge ‘em to the hilt, I say.
Jim jones,
paging Jim Jones
Sweat Lodges...further proof that PT Barnum was right!
I had no idea that participants included an orthodondist - I wonder how many others had advanced degrees?
I’d presumed that these dozens of people were un- or under- educated, so wouldn’t be exposed to books like THE TRUE BELIEVER.
It’s pretty frightening to imagine that your own dentist could potentially be involved with these kind of deadly dangerous shennanigans.
I wonder if there is more information about the backgrounds of the individuals who were on this so-called retreat.
This is the first I’ve heard that it cost 9 grand to attend, so I presume there are other “professionals” in attendance.
It’s a frightening revelation.
Insane. Even non-medical people should have recognized the signs of heat sickness. Something tells me these people will own everything this “guru” has, and ever hopes to have in the future, but some of the fault is with them. Who blindly follows some guy like this?
I’ve learned a lot from many people, but I’ve NEVER considered myself a “follower” and I would NEVER have let someone like this goof tell me I couldn’t leave a hot, dark place that stunk of vomit and who knows what else. I would have fought my way out if need be. (But I’d have never gone in anyway.) I’m a “follower” of only One, and that is Jesus Christ, Son of God. And I think that’s where so many of these people went wrong: they worshipped false gods.
“She also described a game — enacted again at the retreat this month — in which Mr. Ray wears white robes and plays God, ordering some participants to commit mock suicide.”
Jim Jones, please pick up the white courtesy phone...
My response would have been, would you like me to go out the door or use my shank and make you a new one?
That's pretty damn scary....
“If I were in a makeshift structure covered with blankets and plastic and heated with fiery rocks, surrounded by people who were throwing up, I would be stampeding to get out of there. These people were encouraged to act in a way contrary to their own survival.”
Hey....whadaya want for $9000...the Ritz Carlton?
I don't know. I have met some damn goofy Dentists over the years.
I guess the Wannabee tribe is down a few members...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.