Byron Katie
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
6:00 PM—10:00 PM | At Newton Wellesley Hospital (Wellesley, MA)
(my note - this is either being sponsored by a school called National Inst. for Whole Health or the hospital or both - not sure yet).

TIMES Magazine calls Byron Katie "A spiritual innovator for the new millennium."
Byron Katie, founder of The Work, has one job: to teach people how to end their own suffering. As she guides people through the powerful process of inquiry called The Work, they find that their stressful beliefs-about life, other people, or themselves—radically shift and their lives are changed forever. Reservation are required!


This is not right. When people like BK give lectures or programs in "legitimate" settings, their is implied credibility. Too many professional boundaries are being crossed here. And I'd hate to think that hospital employees might get hooked into this stuff and use it on their clients.

Problem is, its easy to rent a room at a reputable setting and get this kind of implicit credibility.

In an economic crunch, where money is tight, cash strapped schools, churches, hospitals, even reputable retreat centers are going to be very tempted to rent facilities to anyone who has liquid cash on hand.

Its tempting to take the dough and not run a Google search.

Anyone attending an event can easily assume that its some how safe because its in a church or a hospital, and thus has been approved and vetted by the setting.

But standards for due diligence may be very lax when it comes renting out rooms or conference center space.

It would be a good subject to quiz an attorney about.

And I'd bet that these days hotels are glad to rent out their large ballrooms to anyone who has the necessary dough...a bonanza for certain LGATs we all know and love.

Vacant real estate, especially big mansions in secluded areas...those could be easily rented too.

These days, more than ever, cash is king and its tempting to grab it and not ask too many questions.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2009 01:57AM by corboy.

oh yeah, anyone can rent a space and do a "workshop". Even a Scientology group could probably get in places like that.
Byron Katie is always trying to get some credibility by association.

Also, notice the trickery. Byron Katie disclaimers state The Work is not for medical problems or mental illness. Yet at the same time, they say that is what it is for. Its a game.
They can get under the radar, by claiming its some type of meditation, or something.

BKI, the company is marketing like crazy right now. They have a full staff of businesspeople who do nothing other than promote Byron Katie all day everyday.
They want to go mainstream, but the more BK gets into the limelight, the more chance some serious journalists, if there are any left, might have a look into what's going on.

but its sad that BK & Co so actively target people in serious suffering and in need, that is deliberate of course. That is her target market.

Its like the Magritte painting 'This is Not a Pipe'--it has a picture of a pipe, with the words, in French, 'This is Not a Pipe.'

You say your work isnt for medical problems and yet you rent a room at a hospital???

Here is the event listing on TheWork website. Of all the listings, this one is the only one affiliated with a "legit" venue - a Harvard affiliate hospital. All the rest are being held at hotels and/or centers that would normally hold new-age events.

Newton, Massachusetts
September 29, 2009
Loving What Is
6 pm - 10 pm
Location:
The Newton Wellesley Hospital
(A Harvard Affiliated Hospital)
Shipley Auditorium - 2nd Floor
2014 Washington Street
Newton, MA
Cost: Free to public. Donations of $10 requested at time of registration to benefit the NWH Hospital Fund.

Tickets: Seating is limited. Registration required. Contact NIWH (888) 354-4325 and ask for Reservations or email cmaccormack@niwh.org.
Information: Parking is available outside the hospital, and there is also a parking garage which costs approximately $8.00 for the evening event.
Website: www.niwh.org (Please see Event Calendar)

It is important to note in the above advertisement that Newton Wellesley Hospital is not hosting the Byron Katie event. She is speaking in a conference room that is being rented by a distance education school, the National Institute of Whole Health. That school is not affiliated with Harvard. Neither Harvard nor Newton Wellesley Hospital have anything to do with the Byron Katie show that is going to be held in September. Parenthetically noting that this venue is affiliated with Harvard is a ploy to gain credibility.

Admission went from a $10 suggested donation to NWH Hospital Fund to $25.00 to???

Byron Katie
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
6:00 PM—10:00 PM |

You CANNOT attend this event without a reservation

TIME Magazine calls Byron Katie "A spiritual innovator for the new millennium."
Byron KatieByron Katie, founder of The Work, has one job: to teach people how to end their own suffering. As she guides people through the powerful process of inquiry called The Work, they find that their stressful beliefs-about life, other people, or themselves—radically shift and their lives are changed forever. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Due to overwhelming response our registration requirements are as follows: $25.00 per ticket reservation.

Why would an overwhelming response require a $25.00 ticket? Why change it from a $10.00 (tax deductible) donation to a hospital to a $25 ticket?

Well that's weird!

The National Institute of Whole Health, the school sponsoring this event at Newton Wellesley Hospital, is supposedly an evidence-based medicine/science based school that prides itself on teaching biochemistry and not agenda-based medicine. Yet, they are hosting Byron Katie. The students at NIWH range from massage therapists to physicians. The idea that BK is somehow credible because of the location and that licensed health professionals are able to see her conveniently and with a low-cost ticket is troubling. I think a letter campaign at least to Newton Wellesley Hospital might be in order. The event isn't until September. Maybe it will make a difference.