It is such a sad thing that there are so many people seeking “higher consciousness” that they are willing to pay James Arthur Ray $9,695 per person for a six day retreat in Sedona to participate in the spiritual cleansing that recently took two lives on October 11, 2009. Claiming to be a master of all great spiritual traditions and practices at only 52 years of age is amazing to me! It’s hard as it is to become a master in just one field because I would assume the training is life long! Does appearing on Oprah, Today and Larry King Live give him the credentials or is he simply a convincing speaker!It brings to mind some people I’ve met over the years who claim to be masters of Hawaiian cultural practices such as hula, lomi lomi, laau lapaau who spout off their experience and their kumu, which sound so impressive! But when you dig deep enough, the learning took place in a workshop (perhaps several), and the different mana’o (from different kumu) became collectively their own! I have a real problem with this particularly if these charlatans are making money off of people and in some way de-value the knowledge of our kumu who charge nothing or who are not recognized by name. $9,695 for the retreat in Sedona vs. $275 for the world hula conference on Oahu in 2009, $275 for Maui 2005; $275 for Hawaii in 2001 (early registration mind you!). Profiting from cultural practices makes you a monetary master. Spirituality is priceless!
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