As I process the death of another James Ray participant I ponder a very important lesson. How can I take the incredible teachings and transformation I have personally experienced over the past 5 years of studying with James and continue to apply them to my life without tainting them with the deep sadness, immense disappointment and outright anger I feel for the lose of lives involved? How does a man so committed to global transformation walk away and stay away from the suffering created by his teachings? We live in a dualistic world, my JRI friends would say, as our expansion increases so does the vastness of dualism. James erred on the side of over-assertive masculine energy, taking on more than his share of responsibility (“ability to respond”) for the future, and now less than his share of responsibility (“ability to respond”) for the present.
Liz Neuman was my friend, a beautiful woman who wanted everyone to understand the depths of their own power and glorious soul. She volunteered endlessly to assist participants in self-realization and awareness. She is a “consciousness rising” angel. There are hundreds of stories of transformed lives because of her. My heart goes out to her family.
As I questioned my beliefs about this experience, I began to separate the lessons I learned, from the teacher who taught them. The lessons have molded my life in ways I never could have imagined since the first “Power To Win” event I attended. Many people I met along the way have become my closest friends. I’m very grateful. Understanding the teacher was not so clear to me, so I did a little checking to see what common personality traits are displayed by “gurus.” As I poked around the Internet I came across “narcissistic spiritual gurus.” I was surprised by the article. The traits Dr. Linda Martinez-Lewi refers to are the very traits I witnessed in my experiences with James.
We have come to a time where excess is the Hollywood poster child. “Let that not be you.” With so much information available to us we must learn to take the knowledge and apply it through our own belief system. Sure we all have limiting beliefs and areas we can improve but giving our journey away to a guru is very dangerous indeed. We must create self-devotion, self-discipline and self-dedication to our growth. We must form a strong community of like-minded people who will join us on our journey. However the journey is our own.
Our spiritual growth will not be found in event packages or home study courses. It comes from our ability to integrate the lessons in our life, good and bad. As I integrate this powerful lesson, one message is very clear. It is time for us to stop spending our money and time on external solutions and begin investing our precious assets in becoming our own guru.
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Very well said my sister…very well said. Make no mistake he “perhaps” kill her physically but the man was “standing” at the wrong place and the wrong time because she’s more alive spiritually living breathing through all of us. Powerful woman like yourself make me believe “I can fly”…..Thank you for bringing peace to my soul.
Patti…absolutely incredible profound message here…expressing many of my sentiments that I have felt about James since my first weekend with him, right up until I took 15 friends to see him for one of his free nights here in Vegas. They were not impressed…oh sure they were with his teachings…but not with how he challenges people to the point of humiliating them in front of a room full of people. I still swear by his 21 days to success program and others, and as you can see on my Web, I am working on becoming his affiliate…but what you say here is so, so true. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend(s).
Thank you, Patti for your wonderful insights. This week’s tragedy has caused me to question and explore what I’ve learned on my Journey as well. And the greatest insight I’ve gained from this reflection is this: the anger I’ve felt and the finger pointing I’ve done since I first found out about this comes from the anger and the judgment I feel towards myself for giving away my power to another rather than honor my own instincts, intuitions and reasoning. I could have easily been one of those severely injured or worse at Spiritual Warrior. I’ve been in similar but different physical challenges on the Journey before where I’ve trusted an outside source more than I trusted my own inner voice. Gratefully, I have always come through them safely. And even though on the other side of it I felt exhilarated and transformed for facing my fear, part of me deep down also felt like I’d been careless and reckless with my life in that circumstance. I think that’s the part of me that is showing up as mad and vengeful and therefore, that’s the part of me that needs the most healing right now.
Patti- BEAUTIFULLY written! THANK YOU! You touched my feelings and thoughts exactly. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend! My prayers continue your way as well as Liz’s family!
Patti, I am grieving with you on the loss of your friend even though I did not know Liz personally. May you find the peace you search for with this unfortunate happening in your life and her families lives. If you believe in angels give your heartache to them for transmutation so that the only memories you hold are the ones that give you joy.
I am wishing you all life has to offer…
(¨`·.·´¨) from
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) my
(¨`·.·´¨)¸.·´heart
`·.¸.·´ to yours
-:¦:-Peace -:¦:-¸¸.·´*Joy¸¸.·´*-:¦:-Prosperity-:¦:-
……-:¦:-¸¸.·´*Love¸¸.·´*-:¦:Light¸¸.·´*-:¦:-…….
……………. -:¦:-¸¸.·´*Grace¸¸.·´*-:¦:-……………..
…….-:¦:-And Great Health to Enjoy it All-:¦:-….
Take Care and God Bless
Flying has taken the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupery and of thousands of others. Do you doubt the human condition because it makes us want to fly? Without flight may we’d be without a Little Prince. Traffic accidents kill tens of thousands. How long ago have you stopped driving a car?
I don’t question the tragic nature of the sweat lodge accident. It’s easy to see the tragic consequences and heavy price paid, and yet to pay, by all involved. Should it make us question our beliefs? It better!
The point is: it was an accident. No-one is perfect. Just remember, even as your guru you’re perfect only in your imperfections. Imperfect – the one thing we all have in common with James Ray. I dare say so even though I don’t know the man (personally).
Thank you Patti. I agree with every word you wrote and have done just what you suggest since Quantum Leap in 2007. I was clear then that I didn’t have to hand over thousands of dollars to James Ray in order to continue on my own spiritual journey. And I saw some behavior at that event, not only by James but also his most ardent followers, which raised some red flags for me that have remained to this day. I am so, so sad for everyone involved. I’m working daily to take the learning and leave the judgment.
I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you and Liz’s family and friends in my thoughts this week. You are a light in my life and I’m truly grateful for you.
Patti — saying ‘well-said’ is insufficient. You spoke clearly & artfully from the place of your soul. As Liz Neuman touched many, many lives over the course of her eight years in support of James Ray, his organization & his teachings — the passing of her life ( in addition to James Shore & Kirby Brown) are beyond tragic.
For those calling it an accident, is to be dismissal on many levels on the seriousness of the situation & the seriousness of the responsibility James Arthur Ray has a spiritual teacher. Each of us are given gifts – each of us are given responsibility in the development & usage of those gifts.
“With great power, comes great responsibility” – James A. Ray. By his own admission, he has great responsibility in the usage of his gifts. A principle of Leadership is understanding the trust sacredly given to you & empowering your students. The best business books write of this. The greatest spiritual teachers employ this.
True Leadership presents itself in the midst of the greatest turmoils. The Hitlers & the Churchhills who arise from war & rally their people to greatness or to harm. James’ leadership has presented itself. In the myriad of choices of how to respond & present himself publically, he has chosen to continue to run his business doing promotional events which generate revenue.
In the end, time & money were prioritized over safety & trust with an extraordinary price paid.
May we all heed not only the responsibility for our own spiritual journey, values & instincts — but the RESPONSIBILITY each one of us has in our own circle of influence. May we each respect & support decisions that would be different from our own. May we each be conscious of when our own agenda is overriding the safety & trust of another. May we be constructive, objective & critical to hold one another accountable & responsible to create a greater social order & a rise in consciousness. This includes you. This includes me. This includes James.
May the memory of Liz, Kirby & James makes us face critical evaluation of what is and is not acceptable in our collective consciousness.
with love,
Rosie
Patti,
This is such a insightful response to a very tragic event.
I would hope that everyone who reads this post would internalize the message, that at some point to really grow and become the person you are meant to be you must stop seeking that person by external sources. You only find yourself by looking inward. That is were all real growth comes from.
Great message, expressed beautifully.
Hello Dear Friend,
I saw your article, and am sending you big hugs. Whenever we truly “experience” our experiences, it allows us to press the pause button on our life, and get clear. As for me, I could see myself in James thinking that I had the answers for others, and I also followed many others thinking they had my answers too. Thus, you can see the conflicts that existed in me in my egoic attachments, judgments and resistance.
What I have learned is there is no guru outside of us, only in us. And when we make the commitment to give our internal guru “undivided” attention, our life will keep transforming as it intended. The longest journey is the journey inward, and yet I’ve seen myself go outward on many, many, many occasions seeking to know mySelf.
As I’m learning to listen more and more, I’m beginning to know mySelf, and it feels wonderful.
Patti, thank you for this article as I wrote a similar one a few months ago. I am my own guru and need nothing outside mySelf to know this.
I love you…
Tami
All Love to You Patti and your friend Liz. All Love to the other souls that transitioned. All Love to all those who have been injured physically, emotionally and financially by James Ray. Patti, your truth is a shining light in this darkness cast by James Ray. Thank you for your Truth.
I remember seeing James Ray in Atlanta. ‘The Secret’ had been out a short while and here was my chance to see one of the stars of The Secret. I was really excited. What I remember most from this “star’ was how he so humiliated one “devotee” who was literally sitting onstage at his feet by rudely telling her “You have to Get Off My stage”. The hurt and embarrassment she tried to hide by walking away with a smile was so painfully evident that it almost brought me to tears. And she wasn’t the only one. His closing act of condemnation of those who did not buy his products and program added dozens of folks to the ranks of bruised egos and feelings of unworthiness. WTF??? From that moment I saw him for what he was – a Prophet for Profit. Nothing more, nothing more. That article about “narcissistic spiritual gurus” is a perfect reflection of the James Ray I saw in Atlanta.
I pray that all that are still believers in James Ray read your post and that article. Perhaps they will conclude as I did that James Ray needs to heed his own words and “get off the stage”.
May the Truth Come to Light.
Narcissistic spiritual guru is right. Like any relationship with a narcissist, there is a combination of real love and real abuse. And the healing process involves a whole lot of self-love, integrating all parts of one’s being, and keeping just enough wariness of other narcissists to not repeat the experience.
So sorry to hear of your loss Patti! Your words give great comfort and your inner wisdom is always (to me) right on. Thank you for sharing… in your own grief your still inspiring others to look within for their own healing, answers and self love. I will keep Liz and the others in my thoughts and prayers this week, in knowing the angels are hearing and helping the family members in their grief.
This is well done, thank you. I always like to hear people supporting free thought!