CNN has an exclusive conversation with a woman who was in James Arthur Ray's sweatlodge last weekend. Over twenty people sickened, and three later died. Beverly Bunn, a dentist, described the scene inside the structure as people lost consciousness and vomited. Later, she attempted to help revive victims with CPR, and was told not to interfere by staff members. The audio is a bit disturbing to listen to, and clearly Bunn and the other survivors will carry these horrible memories with them for a long time to come. Sweatlodge Survivor Tells Her Story.
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The audio is very disturbing. It looks like Ray was hugely neglegent. They really need to take this guy into custody.
I agree, James Arthur Ray needs to be put somewhere where he can no longer put people at such risk.
I really wonder, did they take or smoke something before going into the lodge? Was there something in the smoke in the lodge? Mucus coming out of their noses indicates irritation, but from what. Blood shot eyes, again irritation, from what. There is more here then is being said. I grew up in the late 60’s early 70’s. A lot of people were into expending there mind with what ever they could find. Trying anything and everything, the new age stuff was really coming into its own. But often, as happens, people did not know what they were doing or they were taking short cuts. Going for the instant enlightenment. It takes years and lots of hard work to acheive what these people seem to be trying to acheive in a one week seminar.
You don’t have to take anything if the sweat lodge has been improperly built. It could have been the materials that were used to build the sweat lodge. The heat and steam could have caused emissions to be realeased from the materials.
I couldn ‘t hear anything..?
It just didn’t work, did they take this news out?
in my poinion only medicine men/woman should hold a sweat, obviously this ray did not know waht he wsa doing and his ego got in the way
he should pay for this and go to prison
From looking at the pictures of the seatlodge – it really looked dangerous.
It was sturdy but they had plastic tarps on it. That will leech casinagins and other toxins into the area and air when heated. There was no proper ventilations from what I could see and no water to be given to the participants and fresh air was denied.
Neglect? to say the least – Greed? to say the most!!
I want to know what this guy did to these people. I have been in a sweat lodge before, and NEVER have I experienced anything like this nor seen anything of that caliber before. He obviously did NOT know what he was doing, or he did and it was on purpose.
I am sorely disappointed in this man. He took it upon himself to represent a people’s sacred ceremony, and not only did he perform it for the wrong reasons, he put so many lives in danger. It worries me now that regulations will be forced onto Native People who wish to host a Sweat. Regulations made by people who do not understand, and possibly unwilling to listen. I pray he will find the right path again, and truly learn from his horribly negligent actions.
I knew this man was a nut case when his book came out. So many people were in love with that book,and really became like a cult following the book. I hated the book said it was BS…well now will folks finally see what I was talking about…..the man was and is a nut case…stop believing his BS..he just killed some of you…jjeezzzzz
I have been to a fair share of sweat lodges and never in any of my experiences did anyone have a reaction like this. The worst thing that happened to anyone in a lodge I attended was someone was fearful of the dark of their first lodge. For so many to have such huge reactions there had to be (in my opinion) something wrong with either the lodge’s construction or the site it sits on or the facilitator.
If it was the fault of the facilitator then he should be held accountable for the wrongs done to those people.
The gal who does the about.com/alternative religions has discussed the “true believer” “instant spiritual enlightenment” groups and compared them to “cults”. This guy’s stuff may sound great, but the evidence is beginning to point out that he is an imcompetent charlatan a very rich incompetent charlatan!
I live here in Arizona about an hour away from Sedona I have seen these sweat lodges used quite often. I can tell you, this guy is in a great deal of trouble….
Ditto what many have said here. I lived near/worked in Sedona for several years and this event sadly does not surprise me. For every person in Sedona who is there to genuinely connect, from a place of rationality and respect there are a hundred trying to cash in on the gullible.
I too have been to genuine sweats. Yes, it’s like a sauna on steroids and the idea is to push oneself, but SAFELY. You’re encouraged to be well fed and well hydrated, to know full well what your physical tolerance level is, no one spends more than about 15 minutes at a time inside and you’re encouraged to leave at any time if you feel you need to.
Yes it’s about pushing yourself to the limit … but known limits, safely, without the peer-pressure of whomever stays in the longest wins.
I won’t even get into the shameful exploitation of Native Culture end of this tragedy.
Yes, I know this is old news, but I just have to add some things:
1. Were the stones heated outside?
If they weren’t heated outside, there would have to be a fire inside the tent sauna.
If the builders didn’t leave enough openings for ventilation, this could have easily been a carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Somebody commented that sweat lodges are hotter than saunas.
So, the sweat lodges are regularly hotter than 100 degrees celsius? (thats about 215 degrees fahrenheit).
If they were keeping up constant heat and pouring water over the stones, it could be heat shock.
I think this one is unlikely, but in sauna world endurance competicion in Finland 2010 one of the competitors died.
But the guys stayed in sauna for hours in temperatures exceeding 120 degrees celsius.