Thanks for the report.I read it thoroughly.I’ve been reading extensively about James Arthur Ray ( now in jail ).The red flags on this guy are mind boggling. ( Not just what happened at Sedona ).Amazingly there are still plenty of followers who love him.

Concerning James Ray,there has been dead silence from all these participants from movie “The Secret”.I could only find a few “Tell It Like It Is” blogs from you & Michael Port ( He’s disgusted with Ray ).

I’m kind of stunned by all this.I’ve seen “The Secret” a few times.James Ray was definitely front & center in this movie.This led to Larry King interviews & endorsement from Oprah.If you read all the news reports about what happened @ Sedona,it’s obvious this guy is a disturbed human being.But I’m sure there are plenty of people out there saying I am “judging” him.

I personally want to improve myself in life.I have read a fair amount of self improvement books.There are literally hundreds of so called gurus,thousands of books,seminars,retreats,etc. out there.I mean what’s the real deal and what isn’t! I like common sense material but am not close minded to mainstream ideas ( i.e. Law of Attraction ).Now I’m possibly thinking LOA and all their teachers are absolute frauds.

Based on James Ray incident I’m wondering if this will regulate the self help industry.I don’t know how it can be done.Maybe the Ray event will expose some of these so – called gurus as flat out frauds.

I saw early in life that life happens and then there is my expectations AND my story about it. In the beginning I had little say of what happened. I could change both my expectations [write a new rule to live by] and alter the story without changing the facts. Every upset and ‘problem’ is a function of the expectations you have. Many expectations are imprinted upon us without our permission. Some are. Many are ridiculous once you begin to look at the rule that triggered the upset OR you sometimes discover a commitment worth standing for. It is amazing the difference, like your ‘report’, that speaking from a commitment to make a difference about something IS compared to being a whining, sniveling upset about it.

There is a ‘distinction’ worth noting. The Secret has created many ‘magical thinkers’ while being a kindergarten intro into what is possible with a life here on planet earth 21st century. You touched on this briefly in your report too. All of the material presented by, pick your guru of choice, can be worthwhile TOOLS to use and view the world with and even a life but NOT ONE should become some new belief system. In fact the “truth” believed is always a lie. The truth can only be experienced and just like attempting to explain how to ride a bicycle to someone who has never been on one, the explanation, no matter how heartfelt, is worthless in getting them on the bike or providing them with the skill to ride it. THAT too must be their experience. James Arthur Ray is like all of us who succumb to our ‘good intentions’ that then allow and enable the ends justify the means.

This self-help ‘drug’ many succumb to is as difficult an addiction to break as any other. And just like those who have no trouble with alcohol who want to make someone else’s experience of it a function of good or bad based on their abilities, those who have not had this addiction have little standing with me. One of my mentors wrote: “[I am of] the conviction that there are no “good” or “bad” people, no matter how offensive or eccentric to society they may seem. I am confident that if I were born and reared under the same circumstances as any other known humans, I would have behaved much as they have.” -R. Buckminster Fuller

I think you are too hard on Henry Ford. Sometimes we miss the message because of who the messenger is. Richard Bach pointed to the same thing when he wrote. “Argue for your limitations and sure enough. They are yours!”

I wrote an admittedly petty and angry comment to Debbie Ford’s The Shadow Effect film some three months ago as it appeared to me to be merely an extended advert; rather than containing any practical information to ‘help.’ It was simply a teaser to spend more money on her other products.

I had also written something slightly more real to Tolle questioning the source and validity of his intellectual and spiritual arrogance that New Earth deigns to share with the reader and then just to finish the deal. I bought The Breakthrough Experience by Demartini three days before I received notice of your blog post…..I just love the way the universe works sometimes!

In short, thank you for quantifying and qualifying things that have been banging around my head for a while, concisely and eruditely coalescing many of my own thoughts that I had been trying to get straight.

I am clearly number 51 of those types you talk about, but I’m managing to slowly pull my head out of my ass and look around and get some fresh air and new perspectives.

Thanks, keep at it…like you need my encouragement…

This article was well written. When I bought the Renegade Growth Pak and listened to Mr. Ray, I just did not feel right. He seemed somehow above the fray.

I did not feel that way listening to Paul Chek or Dov Baron.

I believe there are others who are doing excellent work and I would be happy to exchange emails rather than use the blog.
The level of authenticity and honesty with which you approach this subject matter is essential because so much of this stuff is predicated on the free seminar, tele conference and then the feeding frenzy to sign up for the next course that promises to provide the answers that have not been provided in the current or free event.

I believe the measure of the value of any of these programs are the results that people achieve following/implementing the ideas which have been shared.

I love questions because they allow me to find my answers and it seems that too few of the self help folks are asking these kinds of questions.

Thanks for what you do, thanks for sharing it with the world and thanks for allowing me the opportunity to express my thoughts.
May your day be filled with A-HA miracles.

For me the self-help guru ‘gold rush’ looks very similar to the ‘weight loss’ or ‘health’ gold rush. Oh there are other ‘guru’ gold rushes, too. Internet marketing and internet business ‘snake oils’ and the biggest of all the ‘government’ and other all pervasive “We know what you have to do to please us” trends.

Isn’t the current ‘pandemic’ built on as shifty sand as the ‘economy’?

Though, when I find myself in the midst of such upheaval, as your report brought to my awareness once more, I take it as a personal sign to ‘right my personal universe’ again by whatever means I have at my own disposal.

I am just not willing to spend emotional energy on something out in the world that I can’t control or change. I ask myself, “What does this say/mean about me?” and go to work on my own attitude, beliefs, fears and other hang-ups or trances that I may not have been aware before that kept me from functioning more fully as an aware and alive being where I am here and now.

Blissings
Ulrike
from Namibia – somewhere in Africa

[ Barry's Reply ] –

Ulrike,

Thank you for saying so (i.e., about our report). However, I gotta mention a few things here: your comments come across as a “pessimistic victim” — someone who, because there’s so-called ‘injustice, incompetency, or over-consumption’ in one aspect of life, SEES it in ALL aspects of life.

There is no “gold rush” (no herding desire for the MASSES to stake their claim on the ares of life you talk about above). Simply there are only select groups of people out there (usually ambitious, change-making types who adore “engaging life”) who TRY and get ‘results’ in what they do. Some do get them, and serve (Make a Difference) along the way. Others… well, not so much.

And, the message we’ve been stating for years is this: Saying you’re going to JUST ‘work on yourself,’ without confronting the world OUTSIDE you like, is simply a very easy, almost narcissistic, way to go through life. It’s, in itself, using spiritual poppy-cock precepts (that “if you work on yourself, your world will change”) as a scapegoat.

You don’t operate in a void. You, nor anybody, else, can creates or produce anything of VALUE in a vacuum.

There’s tons of folks out there who act like wall flowers for the simple reason of NOT upsetting somebody else. And, the counter-thought is simply: “Why?” or “How does acting like a goodie-two-shoes mamby-pamby make a true difference?”

Hint: it doesn’t make any difference at all.

If we’re truly here to open up the world to new ideas, see different perspectives, challenge beliefs, and consider unlimited possibilities (we’re here for that, and much more… you ?) then we, collectively, sometimes just have to highlight the absurd so we have a foundation from which to grow — a barometer of inner-world growth, if you will.

I will cajole you to completely reassess your belief that “it’s all about you” (my interpretation). Cause, it’s not. It is about you, however, when you take a stand on something or some things ‘outside of you.’

If you feel that you can ONLY inspire, enliven, awaken, or make a difference in the world if you don’t pay attention to “depressing”, “negative”, or “insidious” things. Or don’t give these things “emotional energy,” as you say, read this:
http://www.lwlworldwide.com/blog/how-to-fight-the-good-fight/

I am writing about my experiences in this huge ocean of promised utopia. Fortunately I have not spent 1000′s of dollars, but have done enough research on the subject. Hope to share it in a book soon.

I just read a few articles on your site and have become a huge fan. I hope you continue on your quest and keep sharing your insights.

Cheers/shveitta

[ Barry's Reply ] -

Welcome aboard our fun, entertaining, educational, sometimes just pure uplifing, but always thought-provoking train, Shveitta.

I am in Australia so I have never met him as maybe many of you have. He has let himself been caught up in his own misconceptions of what he thinks he can do.

Gosh, B & H Goss, great that you query matters.

I know the danger of kind of “mass-hysteria” or psychological pressure used by certain people to control the crowd. I’ve seen it in Amsterdam 1940/45 when I was between 11 & 16 yrs. The crowd screamed H..H… after being doped into the bloke’s psycho approach on the crowd.

Too many are not like you B & H, they are too easy taken by flowery speeches and more. As you stated, also E.T. does the same but with his “soft” tone! Watch it !!

Just a few days ago I saw (on a YouTube) a “preacher”. Oh yes, what he said on the stage was ok to me. But his presentation was like the old Billy Graham, the crowd yelled “Yeah”, and “Yeah”, and “Yes I am”, it seemed to me, by his movements, he psyched the crowd into God!!

WRONG WAY !!!!

People in a crowd can become stupid because of the many. They want/wish to model themselves on the others and not be different. Here in Aussie, a woman, advocating breatherianism, shocking how the crowd reacted. No food/water for 7 days. Also here people died. In New Z. a handsome half India “guru” comes up with hands folded, ha, you know “om shanti” with 3 beautiful girls attending to him. The audience was taken in by his psycho methods.

(I am “Learned” ( hmm!) in Personnel, psychology etc. in Nat.Hygiene/diet/nutrition/spirituality (?),family life, ah well, know a bit of life at 80 now).

Be on your guard for “religious” control also!!

And Andy with “anger”. Golly, let it out, it’s the worst to keep the lid on. I am angry with the “Financial” liars in the “self help” industry. Yes. it cost $197, but, I give it for $97, just now, and if you subscribe now, within 10 days it is ONLY $79, + a $500 worth of “free” bonuses. Ahaaa, in a next month, again the same, also the 10 days trap.

This is financial lying.

Oh, I can go on, but I like your, B & H, approach. Thank you for being open and questioning matters. I am open for any assistance which may be usefull. Rene (a Mr.!!)

I have a mild to moderate brain injury (from a medical procedure) and at first it was very frustrating. Therapy helped me to cope and I became interested in the brain and human decision processes. Today I look at these “quirks” like a beloved pet.

Interesting that you bring up cults I did a college research paper on cults and the perfect example of one is schools. Cults in themselves are not necessarily bad but the elements are in place.

Also, interesting you name Debbie Ford as I unsubscribed to her list a year ago because she had no response mechanism in place. I wanted to point out an flaw in an political rant written from spititual high ground that she sent out to me. I was interested to see how she responded to logic. Apparently she felt she had the right to write me but wasn’t willing to grant me that right in return and, which was ironically the flaw in her rant.

I’ve had many “run-ins” with “spiritual” leaders over the years. A lot were tests that I file away and apply them as needed.
Trusting blindly in dogma is bad whether its “new age” thought or religion if it requires you leave your brain at the door.
A big time IM sent me a recommedation that I checked out through the BBB which was a scam. Assuming he was honest and hadn’t looked at it close enough I opened a support ticket to which I never recieved a reply. You reckon I’ll buy anything from him. Not likely.

While we may not always agree at least you do recieve feedback and allow me the venue to express concerns or agreements as I did with the “Shadow Effect.”. And a person needs to do “due diligence” in all areas which of course includes our own actions and beliefs.

Thank You
-Lyn

I went to a free James Ray seminar. I thoroughly enjoyed it and went up to meet him. As we were engaged in a conversation, in the middle of one of my sentences he turned away, briefly yes, but quickly ended the conversation before I finished my thought, kind of leaving me to stand there with my bare face hanging out…oh well, I guess that happens.

Needless to say, luckily as time has proven, I wasn’t at all attracted to him as someone I would be giving my hard-earned money too. I’m glad he did what he did in those few moments with me…I was kind of enthralled before then. The bubble was burst and my money, and I, were safe.

Thank you, Universe for that experience even if I felt a little foolish standing there, it was for the best. Again you two have hit the jackpot with a great report to wake people up.

I’m also sick and tired of ‘gurus’ proposing to the masses that the so called ego is “bad” and the body is not “you”…well then who’s body is it anyway? It’s part and parcel of the the whole package as you state in this article…Mind, Body, Spirit. You can’t have them separately because as they say, the Whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts. You can have all the parts of a Rolls Royce laying on your garage floor, but it’s certainly not “A Rolls Royce”…n’est-ce pas?

And, INMVHO, our ego is the componant of our being that helps us survive in this very real physical plane of existence. Yes perhaps ego run rampant and uncontrolled is probably the source of all human ills, but while it is a really lousy master it makes a great servant whilst we live.

[ Barry's Reply ] -

Very well said, Dana. Very nice to see another LWL reader able to sift-out the steak from the sizzle. You’re able to see “personal growth” in BALANCE. And, for that, we give you a BIG high-five you. Stay the critical-thinking course. It’s the kind of thinking that always – yes always – spurs you on to operate in the unseen ‘grey areas’ of life.

Kudos for your reporting on the state of the personal devleopment industry. I read it aloud to my partner, Layne, and we found it refreshing and very straight forward. And we could hardly agree more with all you wrote.

Just so you know on what basis we are in agreement, Layne and I have been romantic and creative partners (much like the two of you, I imagine) since 1976. We have been teachers, trainers, coaches and authors in the personal development field since we met.

We know some of the people you wrote about and have been involved in most all of the activities you mention at one time or another. For example, we have led Firewalks and I taught at the Firewalking Institute with Tolly Burkan (founder of the modern Firewalking movement) in the ’90′s. We have been trained in and facilitated all kinds of other experiential, breakthrough techniques.

As has recently been demonstrated in the James Ray incident, they can be dangerous and life threatening if not undertaken with extreme care, humility and impeccable intentions and logistics.

Over the 30+ years of our career in this field we’ve probably seen and done just about everything that’s come down the pike. And while some of it is really good and works, and some of those teaching and facilitating are sincere, competent (and occasionally brilliant) people, much of it, along with the purveyors, make us shake our heads in wonder.

I also want to applaud your comments about anger in particular and emotions in general. As relationship experts with a deep background in emotional healing, it is refreshing to read a common sense, level headed commentary such as yours.

Thank you for opening an important public conversation. We will be passing your report along.

Blessings — Paul

[Heather's REPLY]:

Thank you, Paul, it’s always encouraging to get supportive feedback from others in the industry, especially when what we’ve written goes against what some of their peers may be teaching.

Your work in the relationship arena comes highly recommended, and we’ve enjoyed reading your work and watching your videos, too.

As I’m sure you may have felt before, working with your life partner can sometimes feel like you’re operating in a black hole, removed from outside “big picture” perspective because you know each other so well. That can make it seem like throwing spaghetti against the wall when taking a step outside of what “the norm” is. Will it stick? Will people like it? Love it? Hate it?

More importantly, will it make a difference?

For all of us who do want to truly make a difference to others — like you and Layne, me and Barry — we can’t be afraid to take that step, or we’ve accomplished nothing.

As you pointed out, however, if not done with “extreme care, humility and impeccable intentions and logistics,” it can backfire.

Here’s to being brave enough to take a stand, and to do it for all the right reasons.

cheers
Heather