43 Facts About Frederick Lenz

Frederick Philip Lenz III, known as Rama, Zen Master Rama and Atmananda was an American spiritual leader, writer, software designer, and record producer.

Frederick Lenz founded what he termed "American Buddhism", which incorporated the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, Vedanta, mysticism, and New Age ideas.

Frederick Lenz's teachings centered around enlightenment in the modern world through the integration of Eastern religious principles into everyday life.

Frederick Lenz wrote several books on meditation and Buddhist philosophy, including two novels depicting a young American snowboarder's encounter with a Tibetan Buddhist Master in the Himalayas, which were, according to Lenz, loosely based on his own experiences in Nepal.

Frederick Lenz denied the accusations; no civil or criminal proceedings were ever brought against him.

Frederick Lenz was born in San Diego, California, to Frederick Lenz Jr.

Frederick Lenz stated that he had his first experience of samadhi, a state of spiritual absorption, in his mother's garden when he was still a toddler.

Frederick Lenz's family moved to Stamford, Connecticut, when he was three years old.

Frederick Lenz's father served as the town's mayor from 1973 to 1975.

Frederick Lenz later attended the University of Connecticut, where he majored in English and minored in Philosophy.

Frederick Lenz earned a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy from State University of New York at Stony Brook, finishing his studies in 1979.

When he was 18 years old, Frederick Lenz began studying yoga under Sri Chinmoy.

Frederick Lenz became a popular figure in Chinmoy's organization, attracting thousands to the auditoriums where he lectured and reputedly performed miracles.

Frederick Lenz ended his association with Chinmoy in 1981 after founding his own teaching center in Los Angeles, initially named Lakshmi, after the Hindu Goddess of prosperity and beauty.

Frederick Lenz said that he remembered all his previous incarnations, including his life as a high priest in Atlantis, and four lives as teachers in India, Japan, and Tibet during the 16th through early 20th centuries.

Students, and even some non-students and sceptics, wrote that Frederick Lenz demonstrated apparently supernatural powers, including levitation, teleportation, disappearing, emanating a golden light that filled the room, projecting light from his hands, and transforming into an old, bearded Asian man before their eyes.

Frederick Lenz often took his students on field trips to the deserts of Southern California and to Disneyland where a number of these events were witnessed.

Frederick Lenz spoke of the world as being full of demons, which he described as "entities" and "negative spiritual forces" that were capable of attacking people.

Frederick Lenz said that such forces operated in the subtle planes, and that ordinary people, including his students, often unconsciously engaged in such attacks on each other.

Frederick Lenz conducted spiritual classes, seminars and public meditations for 27 years.

Frederick Lenz spent approximately $1.5 million to promote Surfing the Himalayas, taking out full-page ads in The New York Times and Rolling Stone, and placing ads on billboards.

Frederick Lenz encouraged his students to pursue computer science because of the mental challenge, diverse career opportunities and high rates of pay.

Many students became skilled programmers and went on to form their own software companies, with Frederick Lenz acting as co-designer and advisor.

Frederick Lenz said that he never told his students to lie and that the allegation was false.

Frederick Lenz was the producer for the rock band Zazen, which produced 31 albums in 13 years.

Frederick Lenz was co-composer of the album Ecologie and the soundtrack for 704 Hauser.

Frederick Lenz lived a lavish lifestyle, which included owning mansions, expensive cars, and using a private jet.

Frederick Lenz rejected asceticism adopted by some other Buddhists, describing it as a "begging bowl" mentality.

Frederick Lenz described such relations as "perfectly acceptable", and in line with the teachings of Tantric Buddhism.

One former follower accused Frederick Lenz of giving them anti-psychotic drugs after they had attempted to leave the group, while some said he gave them LSD.

Frederick Lenz was accused of being responsible for the suicide of one of his followers and the mental breakdown of two others.

Frederick Lenz denied having a personal relationship with these students and said that, while he grieved for anyone who would take their own life, he could not be held personally responsible.

Frederick Lenz was accused of controlling his followers activities, including pressuring them to move and encouraging them to cut off contact with their friends and families.

Several disgruntled parents formed a group, Frederick Lenz-Watch, that "kept tabs" on Frederick Lenz because they considered him a "danger to society".

Some parents from Frederick Lenz-Watch paid kidnappers to "deprogram" their adult children.

Frederick Lenz called the police and was told she had grounds to press charges for kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Some of Frederick Lenz's students alleged that anti-cult groups were circulating their names to recruiters in order to prevent them advancing their careers.

Frederick Lenz drowned in Conscience Bay, near his home in Old Field, New York on April 12,1998, the victim of an apparent suicide.

Frederick Lenz stated that his death was a protest against how spiritual teachers are treated in America.

Frederick Lenz had reportedly been depressed following eye surgery, but it was thought by many that it was grief over the death of his beloved dog, Vayu, that ultimately pushed him over the edge.

Former students have said that Frederick Lenz believed that his followers wanted him dead.

Frederick Lenz left a gross estate of approximately $23 million.

Frederick Lenz's will was a matter of dispute between the National Audubon Society and his estate, which was settled by a donation to the National Audubon Society, and the creation of the Frederick P Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism, which at the time was headed by Lenz's accountant, Norman Marcus and Norman Oberstein, his attorney.