The Problem with Wayne Dyer

I grew up strictly Catholic in Munster, Indiana.

I became politically aware in the 60’s, which was the most thrilling decade in American political and cultural growth. First at Catholic Creighton University, and then at Indiana University, I transformed into an agnostic liberal, and even a longhaired hippie, minus the drug abuse. I protested against the Vietnam War. I chanted against Richard Nixon.

Fast forward to my time in the Middle East, where I was a psychologist, actor and singer (some combination, huh?). There, I became New Age.

Many of the ideas of the New Age movement are elements of older spiritual and religious traditions, from both east and west, melded with modern ideas from science especially psychology and ecology. Out of the movement have come a wide-ranging literature on spirituality, new musical styles and even crafts - most visible in specialty shops and New Age fairs. The name "New Age" also refers to part of the LOHAS market segment in which its goods and services are sold to people in the movement.*

Now, I believe in God, but I’m not thrilled so much with organized religions. I still keep in my heart many Catholic teachings, some Jewish wisdom, and several New Age principles.















Three prominent teachers of New-Age popular philosophies have been Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson.

Wayne Dyer is one of the most widely known and respected people in the field of self-empowerment, affectionately called the "father of motivation" by some of his fans. He first attained popularity with his book Your Erroneous Zones.*

Deepak Chopra, M.D., is a medical doctor and popular contemporary writer in the United States on spirituality, synchronicity, integrative medicine and Ayurveda. He writes about holistically treating the body and promotes Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. He claims Hinduism as his main influence, specifically the teachings of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita. In 1989 he became famous for his work Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine.*

Marianne Williamson’s earliest renown was for her talks on A Course in Miracles, a step-by-step method for choosing love over fear.

I love all three of these gurus.

I also think they are missing something in their outlook. There is something wrong with Wayne Dyer and his philosophy. Ditto with Deepak and Marianne. This is the same thing, I believe, that is wrong with liberals, feminists, the Democratic party, other New-Agers, and with much of America today, as a matter of fact.

The answer lies in the concepts of yin and yang, the polar opposites which must be in balance to lead a healthy life.

Yin, the darker element, is passive, dark, feminine, downward-seeking, and corresponds to the night; yang, the brighter element, is active, light, masculine, upward-seeking and corresponds to the day; yin is often symbolized by water, while yang is symbolized by fire.*

The trouble with Wayne Dyer, Deepak, and Marianne, is that they devote all their philosophy only to yin. They not only neglect yang, they devalue and omit it entirely.

The opposite of Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson are the characters Nicolo Machiavelli and Sun Tzu.

Niccolò di dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) was a Florentine political philosopher, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright. Machiavelli was also a key figure in realist political theory, crucial to European statecraft Renaissance and early Protestant Reformation, which shaped the contemporary diplomatic behavior of nations. Machiavelli was one of the first people to objectively study the practice and implementation of politics and government.*

Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, a Chinese military treatise created during the 6th century BC. Composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It has long been praised as the definitive work on military strategies and tactics of its time.*

These folks represent the darker side of human coping, the ultimate yang proponents. While Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King could be said to be effective preachers of yin, Mohammed, Machiavelli, Tzu, and Malcolm X were the gurus of yang.

A healthy, effective life must include both—yin and yang.

The answer is provided by King Solomon in Eccles. 3:1,8,11,

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven... a time for war and a time for peace... He has made everything beautiful in its time.

I paraphrase a certain rabbi:

Peace is surely a magnificent thing, but only when its time comes. As with any other trait, G-d "made everything beautiful - IN ITS TIME." To apply a trait in an inappropriate time or place is a foul deed. It is just so with war and peace. Each has a time, and that time is learned from the laws of war and peace scattered throughout the Torah.

The problem with Wayne Dyer, Deepak, Marianne, other New Agers, liberals, the Democratic Party, and 50% of America at this time, is that they devalue and omit all yang. Ultimately, this leads to a weakened country, unruly children, criminal activity, and worldwide bloodshed. Wayne Dyer is promoting an unbalanced life.

The terrorists have the opposite, but still similar problem. They embrace only yang. They are just as unbalanced as we are. It’s the imbalance that leads to horror.

We have become a feminized culture. We devalue the masculine. Some of us would shirk our responsibility to wage war when it is necessary. Anti-war advocates of today are unhealthy proponents of only yin. These “peace advocates” seek peace at any cost, and this inevitably leads to more war than is necessary. “Peace advocates” bring bloodshed and misery to the world.

To win the war on terror, and climb back to a healthy culture, we need more balance between yin and yang. There will be a time for peace again in America, and in the world. At this moment, however, we are in a season of war. When the season for peace comes again, I’ll join Cindy Sheehan in calling for it. At this time, though, I shun her as a perfect example of an unbalanced loon.

Wayne Dyer remains Wayne Dyer, an unbalanced guy whose total answer to life’s problems are flowers, peace, love, joy, acceptance and goodwill, and singing kumbayah. Sounds nice, but it’s only half complete. He also needs to stand up to bullies, fight for his children, battle evil, and wage war on terrorists. Then, if he also keeps his yin intact, he’ll be a complete, effective man. A real man of peace.

(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)

This Post’s Technorati Tags: war, peace, yin, yang, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, New Age, Mohammed, Sun Tzu, Malcolm X, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Ecclesastes, truth

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