“Spiritual Warrior” Guru Pleads Not Guilty
James Ray, a styled self-help guru, has entered a not guilty plea in the deaths of three people during a sweat lodge ceremony held in Arizona. Ray’s Spiritual Warrior program involved цены туров в Карелию a part where 65 member of the program stayed in a sweat lodge, a large tent like structure filled with steam. During one of the sessions, Kirby Brown, Liz Neuman, and James Shore, among several others, would become very ill, with Brown, Neuman, and Shore all dying from the experience.
Ray’s attorneys are currently contesting the charges, stating that the deaths were accidental and in no way criminal. His bond has been set at $5 million, which his attorneys are already trying to reduce.
There are two legal sides to this case. One being that Ray was the person operating the sweat lodge during his program. The other involves the precautions he took during these programs.
Before individuals are allowed to participate in the sweat lodge, they must sign a waiver which gives them the ability to by-pass the sweat lodge portion of the seminar. In addition to this, Ray’s attorneys have said he had a medical staff on site to monitor the individuals in the lodge, and that participants were allowed to leave at any point in time.
Others claim that Ray kept his students in the tent for the duration of the event, even if they were not feeling well.
Criminal negligence is one of the main charges Ray is currently facing.
The sweat lodge was a part of this Spiritual Warrior program that cost participants $9,000 for a week long session in Sedona, Ariz. The area is known to be a tourist area for those looking for spiritual and financial enlightenment. During these sessions, people would be provided the skills to become financially, spiritually, and mentally wealthy. Before the sweat lodge portion of the camp, there was a 36 hour fast followed by a breakfast buffet. After breakfast, the campers were placed into the sweat lodge at 65 strong. Of those people, three would die and 18 others would become sick.
Those who are experts in sweat lodges understand that there were simply too many people in there are one time. When that is combined with the amount of steam used in the larger than normal structure along with the materials used, the oxygen was used up quickly, making people ill. Sweat lodges, which are a Native American tradition, are supposed to be made from cotton and animals skins, which can allow for oxygen to entire the room, to an extent. There should also be no more than 10 in the lodge at one time. Ray’s sweat lodge was made of tarps and thick blankets, which did not allow for much oxygen to enter the room.
While Ray’s trial is just beginning, the sweat lodge deaths occurred on October 17, 2009.
