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Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment
Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment
Description
When we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and influence. But friends and family members of his followers questioned his unorthodox methods, and tried to stop him. From Wondery, the makers of “Dirty John,” “Dr. Death,” and “The Shrink Next Door,” comes a story about the dark side of enlightenment. Hosted by journalist Matt Stroud.
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31
United States
This says everything about justice in the US. James Arthur Ray (Guru) only served a pathetic 2 years in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter. The moment he came out of prison he was back in the media backed by the same people as he was previously.
Every time they say his full name I just think "JAR" lol
some judgy asshole commenters on previous episodes, or on any article about cults, etc., need to listen to the last 5 minutes and take it to heart. i really wish they'd talked about vulnerability more. so many people think they're above being drawn in to something like this...they aren't. nobody who winds up in a cult or in a near cult situation has ever said to themselves "wow, boy howdy, am I ever gullible and ripe for exploitation. think I'll go join a cult, as I'm such easy pickings!" it has nothing to do with intelligence and everything to do with vulnerability, and what those judgy assholes need to understand is that *the purpose of society and the duty of humanity is to protect the vulnerable*, not mock them when they are harmed. you are not immune. there is a philosophy out there strong enough to draw you in, if the right bastard catches you at the right time. we must be sympathetic.
Another riveting program. I can always rely on #wondery to share engaging stories.
It's ironic that a show about sketchy wellness practice is full of ads for sketchy wellness products.
isn t it almost the non religious version of Osteen s prosperity church? it did hit all the cult markers save cutting off those who don't follow. I suspect that if it were not for the deaths at the time they did happen,it would become a nexium like cult
This absolute SHIT has the unmitigated gall to complain about the heat in prison?! WOW he can go fuck a bed of hot coals and suck Satan's farts for air.
He carries on about how he lost 3 Friends BUT then straight after says I LOST ALL MY COMPANIES WHAT A TWAT
I take my hat 🧢 off to Jenny I think I would of cut his neck
Stupid Oprah
I’m an ex drug addict & just can’t understand how stupid ppl can be to believe in this shit
One of the best podcast episodes I've listened to in a while. I'm totally looking this guy up later.
I thought inner happiness was more than success and money?😑
Many of these people needed therapy, medication and some social interaction, not some nut job locking them in a hot shed!!😬
This is based on cult models - dressed up as 'wellness' and 'empowerment' James Ray is a snake oil salesman with a thirst for power, cash and has a god complex. How did such intelligent people fall for such nonsense? Did I also hear Herbal life mentioned? Wasn't that some MLM scam??? Good grief😧
I'm not sure why this is a 7 part podcast? It seems to be a witch hunt against an irresponsible person who was followed by equally irresponsible consenting adults which led to their demise...
You know at first I was irritated by the followers, but the more I listened to what this guy was saying and how he was "grooming" them, I realized how manipulative he was. A lot of those people probably couldn't see past his machinations no matter how intelligent they were because he was playing on their vulnerabilities and telling them what they wanted to hear. In short, he brainwashed them. They didn't have the ability to make better decisions.
This guy is so showman this is the same thing Joe osteen does
Funny how Oprah Invites these scam artists to her show And gives him the green light and has people believing in them And they end up being Frauds What does that tell you people stop believing what Oprah says
I always try to consider all sides of arguments presented and to place myself in others' shoes. I'm surprised that I find myself feeling more outraged/frustrated by the followers and their willingness to do whatever this guy said than the 'guru.' It's so sad that people are so willing to 'follow' that they would throw all rational thinking out the window. I'm just blown away by the fact that their need to believe in something cancelled their ability to recognize that they were literally baking to death. Wow! I agree with other comments that at the end of the day you're responsible for prioritizing your own personal safety. I guess they weren't given enough information to fully weigh the risks...but you would think that internal alarm bells would start to sound as they approached their physical limit. Had every participant in this extreme heat challenge died, I would have a completely different reaction. The fact that some of them had the soundness of mind to leave the tent when they re