RAMA FILES
FILE CODE: 1.3  Personal Stories
XREF:      4.0  Teaching/Doctrine
FILE:      01FICKLN.RA4

			    NOTES ON RAMA

			   By James Ficklin

			    February, 1994


This paper is meant to be of help for anyone (family, friends,
relatives) who is concerned with the well-being of a current follower
of Frederick Lenz. This is meant to help people familiarize themselves
with the philosophy, beliefs and teachings of Lenz. It's also meant to
help people understand the rhetoric, language, and terminology that is
commonly used within his group.

I have just recently left the group (end of Jan. 94), thanks to the
kindness and concern of a special loved one, with the assistance of
Joe Szimhart, and a handful of remarkable former students, all of whom
I am eternally grateful to.  I was exit-counselled (not "deprogramed)
voluntarily, without any coercion whatsoever.  I decided to listen to
a former student's personal story mostly out of curiosity. I had never
met a person who had left the study on their own, and I truly couldn't
imagine a good enough reason for anyone to leave.  At first I thought
people I met were perhaps the so-called "enemy" sent by CAN! I had
been instilled with fears of being kidnapped; tied up and locked in a
hotel room for days on end (which is the image of deprogramming that
Lenz promotes).  But since I felt no intimidation or physical threat
of any kind, I thought it would be a good challenge to stand up for my
beliefs.

It didn't seem likely that these friendly people were the hideous
villains from CAN. I could tell they were Buddhists like myself; they
could speak my language and knew everything about the group that I
knew. Even if they were "the bad guys", I was reminded of Sun Tzu's
lesson in The Art of War, that a "true warrior studies his enemy."
Plus, we were in restaurant, I was with a girl I loved, and their
civility was genuine so I felt no "negative vibes" coming from them. I
also agreed to listen due to my belief that Rama's teachings were
unassailable, and that nothing in this world could dissuade me from
his path.

Fortunately Rama's teachings are easily assailed, and my Lenzian-logic
did not hold up to critical analysis at all. I was presented with
information that I had never encountered before, and it's truthfulness
was so obvious that I could not ignore it. I was amazed how fast my
raison d etre was proven to be totally bogus and illusory, when before
it had felt so real.  I guess the truth is more powerful than fiction
My emotional attachment to his group lasted longer, but I soon saw for
myself how I had been lied to by Lenz himself, and that my fellow
students had also been deceived. I have nothing against any of Lenz's
students, they are my friend and I would do anything for
them. However, I will not remain silent as long as Lenz continues
manipulate them in the name of "Buddhist Yoga".

When I first got involved I became an "apprentice" of one of his
"intermediate students", Christine Comaford, (a.k.a. "Tara"), who had
been a student of Lenz for over 10 years.  She was my "mentor" for my
first year, and a lot of my early instruction came through her,
indirectly from him. I first met her in San Francisco, in Dec. 1991;
and my first encounter with Lenz was in Jan. 1992, at the Four-Seasons
hotel in Beverly Hills. I had just turned 25 and was unemployed.  I
had previously traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, and
especially Asia.  I had spent 6 months in India and three in Nepal;
traveling extensively, studying buddhism and trying to meditate.  I
was always looking for some sort of personal spiritual guidance.

I didn't find exactly what I was looking for in India and Asia,
although I did meet a guy who started teaching me all kinds of wild
stuff involving metphysics and occultism.  He also introduced me to
books by Alice Bailey, Rudolf Steiner, Edgar Cayce and others.  He
also got me into A.A. Returning to this country I found few who could
relate to my spiritual yearing. I took shelter in 12-step programs, a
dream study group, past-life hypnosis and occult books; yet I still
found myself in a depressing rut.  When I met Tara I thought I had
found someone who could assist me. She didn't charge me any money; she
wasn't pushy; and she seemed very organized, very happy, and
interested in helping me. She taught free meditation classes, and had
a good sense of humor, (she also ran her own software company at the
age of 29). I had my doubts at first, but they soon dissipated. I
became close friends with a great bunch of young people, and we soon
had lots of adventures together. I felt like I had found people who
could relate to me, and it was a wonderful time. They seemed dedicated
to the goal of Enlightenment and spoke of "the Dharma", "psychic
energy", "happiness" and referred to modern day obstacles as "bardos",
(a term I had only read about in Tibetan texts.)

I was involved with the group for a little over 2 years, during which
time I devoted my entire life to the pursuit of "Enlightenment", via
the teachings of Lenz. I thought I had found what I was looking for. I
became totally convinced that Lenz was an "Enlightened being" and that
I was following an authentic branch of Buddhism that is known as " the
short path". He spoke of very beautiful spiritual topics, told
poignant stories, and seemed to know more about Buddhism, Yoga, and
"the Occult" than anyone else I had ever heard of, let alone met. The
opportunity to be one of his direct students seemed like a chance of a
lifetime. I was told it was more like "a chance in a thousand
lifetimes".

I am no longer a 'student' of Lenz, but I still consider myself a
student of Buddhism and other forms of spirituality. My involvement
with Lenz has been a great source of confusion for me. I am currently
attempting to discriminate between authentic spiritual practice and
Lenz' form of spiritual manipulation and cult-like
authoritarianism. I'm not an expert at any of this stuff; I'm just
trying to make sense of it for myself, and hopefully to help others in
the process.

From what I hear, Lenz's teachings have changed considerably over
time, and it's true that he has separated his new students from his
older students, therefore he could change his teachings and deny what
he use to teach, and his newer students would never know the
difference. During my involvement I never heard the term "L.O." (Lower
Occult) which apparently was used heavily in the past. Maybe I had not
been in long enough to hear some of the truly weird and demented stuff
that he is known to teach his "intermediate students". The terminology
we used changed over time, as did a lot of the teachings. Therefore
this paper is really only attempting to cover the past two years, for
anyone who's friend or child has been involved with the group during
that time.
 
Lenz goes by the name "Rama" and nothing else; although his inner
circle or "intermediate students", often refer to him as "the Chief",
or "the CEO". It is no longer "Zen Master Rama". His followers are
called "students", not "followers", "disciples" or "believers" (the
term "apprentice" was dropped). He is the "Teacher"(not "Guru" or
"Master") and they are his "students", and that's the only way they
see it. There are certain terms that should be avoided when
communicating with a follower of Lenz.  These could be defined as
"loaded language" according to Robert J. Lifton. These words include:
Cult, CAN - the Cult Awareness Network, deprogram, kidnap, LenzWatch,
Patrick Roe, Joe Szimhart, Mark Laxer (or any reference to his book,
"Take Me for a Ride". The mere mention of these terms can instantly
cause apprehension and suspicion in the mind of a follower, therefore
I do not suggest you use them while communicating with them. Also, if
you refer to Lenz as anything other than "Rama" or "your teacher" they
will probably be offended.

Lenz is very particular about language (having a Ph.D. in English) and
it's important to be aware of his terminology and the meanings behind
them. I feel it is extremely important, for anyone concerned, to learn
as much as they can about the real spiritual teachings behind all
this, i.e. Buddhism, Zen, Hinduism, Tibetan Tantra, and the Occult
sciences. If you want to learn the dynamics of cults and cult leaders
in general, which I also highly recommend, I suggest reading Robert
J. Lifton to learn the psychology of "thought reform", and others (see
below) but the people involved with Rama's little cult know very
little about cults.  They do not study the subject and they will deny
vehemently that they are involved with one.  The idea that "Rama" is a
cult leader is totally preposterous from their viewpoint, and they
will most likely laugh at the idea.  To them it is the "Dharma", the
actual living tradition of Buddhism; and a mixture of the most
sophisticated branches of mysticism, including: Taoism, Zen, Vajrayana
Buddhism, Tantra, Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja
yoga, as well as an Occult tradition dating back to Egypt and
Atlantis.  He doesn't claim to follow any of these traditions in a
strict sense.  He call his version "the salad bar approach", because
he picks a little bit from each.  he claims that since he is
Enlightened he has the right and even a "duty" to "redefine
tradition."

In order to begin to understand the mind frame of a follower of Lenz,
you should familiarize yourself, as much as possible, with these
actual ancient traditions.  This will also help you see the
inconsistencies where Lenz' teachings diverge from true
practice. Hopefully, you can then tactfully point these out to your
friend or loved one, and encourage them to analyze their situation and
think for themselves.

Rama's recommended book list may even be of benefit to you, if you
want to know where your child/friend is coming from.  In particular:
Carlos Castenada's Tales of Power, Journey to Ixtlan, The Power of
Silence, and The art of Dreaming.  (Lenz draws heavily from these
books.) Other include: The art of War by Sun Tzu, The Ramayana, and
the Bhagavad Gita translated by Isherwood, The Tibetan Book of the
Dead, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines both by Evans-Wentz, The
Talisman by Steven King, Journey to Ladakh by Andrew Harvey, and The
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

Further non-Lenz suggestions for spiritual books include: The Ochre
Robe by Agehananda Bharati; Karma Cola and The River Sutra both by
Gita Mehta, Journey East, Journey West, by Mircea Eliade and Harper
and Row's Perennial Dictionary of World Relgions (good for general
overview).

For knowledge about cults in general the following are recommended:
Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, by Robert J. Lifton;
Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan, TM and Cult Mania by
Persinger, Carry and Seuss; My Father's Guru by Jeffrey Masson.  And
of course a 'must read' for anyone curious about Lenz is Mark Laxer's
personal account Take Me for a Ride.

			   ________________

I hope that people will not be turned away from Buddhism, Yoga or any
other Eastern or Western spiritual practice after hearing about Lenz
and other false teachers.  The clever ways in which Lenz has used
authentic spiritual teachings to manipulate and enslave the very
people who he claims to be "liberating" is both repugnant and
frightening.  His methods are complex, ever changing and incredibly
deceptive, so I can understand how people could feel inclined to avoid
all possible forms of mysticism and Eastern religion out of disgust or
fear.  But I think that would be the real tragedy.  To sterotype and
label something as complex and as potent as Buddhism/Yoga, and to
disregard it, with all of its beneficial aspects, just because some
asshole has misued it to create his own selfish empire, is a
narrow-minded mistake.  Spiritual practice and Eastern reglion need to
be examined all the more thoroughly and their true messages need to be
known. Valid spiritual practice and self-discovery needs to be
carefully studied, analyzed, respected and understood by Westerners in
general, and never laughed at or ridiculed. Otherwise, the Lenz-like
"occultists" will remain secretive, elitist, sub-cultures that thrive
off of the ignorance of American society and feed off the cream of her
energetic, idealist youth.

The following questions are suggested as a means of engaging a
follower of Lenz in a meaningful conversation, and as an alternative
to superficial chit-chat (which is probably what they think is the
most "appropriate" way to communicate to people outside their group.)
Hopefully some of these questions will get them thinking more deeply
about their involvement. More importantly, I hope it will encourage
communication and foster trust between followers and their
parents/family/friends. It is difficult to help someone if they do not
trust you, and it's difficult to communicate openly to someone who's
under Lenz's influence. They pride themselves in being "inaccessible"
and unattached, so it is not likely that they will open up to you or
tell you exactly how they feel. They are told to keep their inner-most
feelings to themselves, and that "keeping personal things 'private'
will keep them more pure, sharing them with others will dilute them."
If a student of Lenz feels that you are sincere in your desire to
learn about Buddhism or self-discovery, then he/she will be more
likely to open up, and if you can speak their language (or at least
show interest in learning about it) they may be more inclined to 'help
you'. They might then start talking freely and openly (and you may
have trouble shutting them up). But the more you know about the
subject, the more respect they'll have for you. If you tell them you
are reading books about Yoga and Eastern Religion they will most
likely be impressed and won't 'talk down to you' as much. Lenz makes
them feel like they have been shown some of life's most precious
secrets, and you may notice their tone of superiority. Don't let it
bother you. They think that they know a lot and that maybe they could
really help you by sharing some of their "knowledge". Although Lenz
does not encourage people to talk, it's hard to keep all theses
"secrets" inside, so if you can get them talking it could get
interesting.

Ask questions and listen to their answers. Take notes and study their
philosophy. There are plenty of holes in Rama's teachings, but it
isn't easy pointing them out to his followers. They have to come to
their conclusions themselves. If they feel like you are pushing your
views upon them, they will quickly withdraw. Always be sincere and
never confrontational, but don't let them sell you their party
line. Stand up for what you know to be true, and tell them politely if
you disagree. If you can use authentic Buddhist teachings to point out
Rama's flaws, then from their eyes you'll gain a lot more credit, even
if they seem to reject it.


Suggestions for questions to ask a student of Lenz.

How does Meditation help you?

Most likely they'll tell you extremely positive things, and they will
be very sincere about it. Try to listen to what they say and be a good
listener. This topic is "the cornerstone of the Pathway to
Enlightenment" so it shouldn't be a touchy subject, if you are
honestly interested in what they think and feel, this is the question
to ask. The experience of meditation is a personal experience and it
can be different for everyone. Most everyone who meditates has
difficulty with it; some people in the group have more difficulty than
others. The goal of meditation (as stated by Lenz,) is "to stop
thought". When this happens you are supposed to "experience
light". You can enter into a very peaceful, trance-like state that is
extremely pleasant and relaxing. Many people do see "Light", and all
kinds of other visual phenomena. Some people feel that they have left
their body and entered into different realms, worlds of pure light and
ecstasy.  Lenz calls these dimensions "the Planes of Light" or "the
causal realms". Some people don't have any kind of visions, and they
will sometimes feel badly about themselves, thinking that they are not
good meditators.

Everyone who meditates will at times feel wonderful sensations of
clarity, peace and ecstasy; although certainly not every time. These
experiences are real to the person having them, they are not fantasy,
so it is important to respect that. I personally believe that anyone
who meditates twice a day, every day, for extended periods of time
(months, years) can have these experiences. It is not exclusive to
students of an "Enlightened teacher".  Stopping thought is very
difficult; try it yourself sometime. To hold your mind in a state of
emptiness, without any thoughts running through it takes intense
concentration, practice and endurance, it can actually feel like a
mental workout sometimes. Lenz describes it as something akin to
"doing push-ups". Although I feel Lenz has taught people a very narrow
and quite possibly dangerous style of meditation, (for the mere fact
that he tells students to "focus on the Teacher" while meditating) I
respect anyone who puts their heart into it. Meditation has been
around for centuries, and its positive effects are well known. It's
unimaginable to a student of Lenz, that any kind of harm could ever
come from it. I personally see it as a form of "mystical manipulation"
(to borrow a term from Lifton) in that Lenz teaches a valid, yet
difficult meditation technique, that can definitely bring about
experiences of ecstasy; but he then takes personal credit for any
spiritual phenomena that occurs. Plus, he gets to berate and belittle
his students for not meditating well. This makes him even more
powerful and seemingly clairvoyant, for "seeing" that his students are
lousy meditators, even though anyone who has ever meditated has
certainly had trouble with it at times.

While meditating, his followers usually listen to music that he has
created with his band Zazen. The music is not required, but they all
started out using it and now seem to be hooked. It's very soothing
music, and if you live in a noisy place it blocks out extraneous
noise. Lenz claims his music also blocks out other peoples auras,
which are so prevalent on this over-populated planet that no one can
meditate as well as they used to (like back in the good old days of
Japan and Tibet). He calls other peoples thoughts "psychic pollution"
and claims to be highly sensitive to it. He's always whining about how
hard it is for him to be so telepathic.

Another purpose of meditation is to "gain energy". "The more you
meditate, the more 'Energy' you will accumulate." Everyone in the
group is encouraged to meditate as often and as intensely as possible
(minimum of twice a day). Most of them enjoy it and will have nothing
bad to say about it. It can be one of the few profoundly individual
and joyous experiences that his students ever have. The only problem
is that most of them associate this personal experience not with their
own "connection to God" but with "Rama" and "his energy".

What is taught at these Seminars you go to?

Don't expect an open answer to this one, but if you ask it with the
right tone of voice, sincere and curious, they may tell you some
interesting things.

Lenz will usually lecture for 4-5 hours, with a 1/2 hour break in the
middle. During this time he will speak on a variety of topics, and
will often have a question and answer period. His talks are sometimes
referred to as "Zen dialogs". These are very long and complicated
talks that usually end up going in circles and can often contain
amazing contradictions which he claims is a sophisticated way of using
the paradoxical nature of reality to break down peoples mental
barriers, and to "shift" or "spin" them out of their ordinary,
rational patterns of thought. This is all done in the name of "mind
expansion", by going beyond the linear, analytical mind into the
abstract world of "Chaos theory", "Zen Koans" and "Incongruity". Lenz
claims to be lifting his students into higher dimensions of "Mind",
but is probably just creating a state of "cognitive dissonance"(an
uncomfortable, confused state whereby the mind begs for release
through any kind of explanation, no matter how zany, and is overjoyed
once one is given).  He has an incredible way of making the most
ridiculous claims sound like the purest and most noble truths. He is a
talented speaker (irregardless of his abysmal performance on video or
TV) and can captivate huge crowds and hold their unwavering attention
for hours on end. I remember at times sitting at the edge of my seat
completely engrossed in his every word. I remember my breath slowing
down and my eyes getting sore from not blinking, my mind would be
perfectly still and I'd feel great afterwards. From what I hear, these
are common signs of being hypnotized, but at the time, I never
suspected a thing, it just felt great.


His use of language is sophisticated, and he exudes an air of
self-confidence and wisdom. He is also one of the funniest persons
I've ever met. As strange as it may seem, his sense of humor is
incredible. Often however, he will use it to mimic and insult anyone
he feels like, including students who ask sincere questions. This can
often lead to a feeling of intimidation. Students become very wary of
what questions they ask, especially in front of everyone else. More
often than not they'll get ridiculed. Sometimes the humor can be a
welcome relief, other times it can bite very deeply.  One noted
trademark is his ability to diffuse a tense moment with humor. Lenz
will often talk about things that make people uncomfortable, fearful,
and sometimes paranoid; the silence and nervousness in the room
becomes very intense. Then he will make some ludicrous joke that
breaks the tension and everyone explodes with laughter. Thus everybody
feels better by the end of the night, even though their minds have
been seriously fucked with. Lenz once looked me right in the eyes and
said, with an air of contempt, "I like to fuck with people's minds."
He also swears a lot.

During breaks (and after the seminar ends) students are able to
approach him and speak to him individually, although it is a very
nerve-racking and fearful experience for most. He pretends to be very
personable and casual, but actually the tension is extreme. I remember
my heart-beat racing as I stood face to face with him asking a very
personal question. His answers can be profound wisdom or demented
self-serving paranoia, depending on his mood.

The main purpose of the Seminars, according to Lenz, is to conduct
"Empowerments"; direct transmission of "Energy" from the Teacher to
the student. He claims this is an ancient technique that has been
practiced by advanced schools of mysticism dating back to time
immemorial, and draws many correlation's to the Tibetan Tantric
tradition. Needless to say, he makes his students feel like this is an
amazing privilege. He states that merely being in the same room with
him is such an overwhelming advantage to any practitioner of Yoga,
that if he were doing the same thing in Nepal or India, literally
hundreds of thousands of people would travel by foot, over the
Himalayas, overcoming any obstacle, just for the chance to be
physically near him. If he was truly Enlightened, on the level of a
Buddha, then this is not so far fetched. Remember that his students
all truly believe he is Enlightened, thus the feelings they have
towards him are of absolute awe and respect, and all of this makes
perfect sense to them. They feel they are the most fortunate people on
the Planet today, to be direct students of a living Buddha, and it's
the power of their beliefs and the intensity of their commitment that,
I feel, are the true source of the "miracles" they experience.

What is this "Energy" that you talk of, where does it come from, can
you describe it more?

(Obviously, if you've never heard them mention it, don't ask this
question in this manner.)

"Energy" is also called "Kundalini", "Chi" (pronounced 'kee'), or
"Power" by Lenz. Other terms for it are "Prana" and "Shakti"; Lenz
will also use "Energy" as a synonym for "Light". "Light is energy, and
energy is light", in the same way Lenz will often say "Yoga is
Buddhism, and Buddhism is Yoga". It's probably best not to try to be
too technical with these terms, as Lenz says that these are just
"words" that are trying to describe things that are "beyond
description".

If you try to hold them to specific definitions, they will think you
are missing the point. Lenz claims that one of the key elements to
Buddhist practice is the "accumulation and conservation of energy". He
says that in order to reach advanced levels of consciousness, you need
to have a tremendous amount of energy. He describes his students as
buckets with holes in them. That all the energy that goes in, will
drain out through these "holes". So initially his teachings emphasize
plugging up these holes, stopping the leaks. This is the visual
metaphor that corresponds to "being drained". At other times these
"openings" are described as "lines" of psychic energy, something
similar to an invisible umbilical cord. His key point is that the
biggest source of "energy drain" is from those people whom you are
emotionally attached to, especially family, lovers and close
friends. It is subtly suggested that students should "detach"
themselves from those they are most "attached" to. This will
supposedly allow them to retain more of the "Energy" that they work so
hard to gain.. In some cases, students are told that they are being
"drained" at an alarming rate by certain people (often parents or
lovers), and that they should avoid them completely and end all
interaction with them.

If you try to pressure a student of Rama's in any way, they will see
this as some sort of attack and that you are really trying to "steal"
their "energy" or "drain" them . They believe that it is possible for
people to drain each other without being in their physical proximity,
via telephones, the "Astral realms", or "the Dream plane".

Energy is sometimes said to be neutral, but it can be used for both
positive and negative purposes, depending upon the "intent" put behind
it. They often use the term "Negative Energy" to describe people,
places or situations. People are known to "throw negative energy at
you", like when someone gets mad at you, or if they look at you
funny. Unfortunately, through the power of suggestion, the pliability
of the mind, imagination, and a bit of truth, students do actually
"feel" this energy and it is not a fantasy to them. If you were to get
mad at them, even over the telephone, to them it could actually feel
like you had just punched them in the stomach. They become very
concerned about the "Energy" around them; the place they live, where
they work, where they go to the bathroom, who they interact with, and
especially who they touch! Remember that this is very real for them,
and any mockery of the subject can be insulting to them. But depending
on the person, they might be able to laugh at the absurdity of some of
it. If you can get them joking about it, then that's a major step.

Based on certain well known theories of physics and metaphysics they
are taught that the whole universe is made up of
Energy/Light. Everything in the physical world (including "emotions
and thoughts"), is made up of different levels of energy
vibrations. These levels are just the frequencies at which things
vibrate at. The faster the vibration, the more energy there is. Thus,
the terms "high vibe" and "low vibe". As a student of Lenz you are
taught to avoid "low vibe" situations and strive for situations that
are "high vibe", meaning situations that involve I energy that
vibrates at a higher frequency. At times this can become an obsessive
quest. The "students" are always seeking high vibe apartments, cars,
clothes, food, occupations, friends, pets, etc.... Invariably Lenz
teaches that new things (like new cars, new clothes, new
condominiums), as well as expensive things, have the highest vibes.
He claims that the reason some things are more expensive, more
valuable, or more sought after, is because they are composed of a
higher energy, ("Evian vibrates faster than other mineral waters"). In
this manner, Rama turns materialism into a spiritual pursuit for his
followers. He will actually relate the attainment of wealth with the
achievement of higher levels of energy, and thus a higher level of
spiritual advancement. Also, he gets everyone rather paranoid about
the "vibration" of just about everything in their life. He claims that
you can pick up negative energy by simply sitting in a chair that
another person has previously sat in, especially if that person was in
a confused or "low vibe" state while sitting there.

What about being psychic? How psychic are you?

Lenz tells all his students that they are "unusually psychic". He says
that everyone in the world is psychic but most people are not aware of
it. He says that most peoples minds are too cluttered and too
confused, but those who practice Buddhism and meditation will clear
out all the crap from their minds and will become more sensitive to
their own psychic abilities. "Psychic Energy" is the energy of
thoughts, and again this can be used in positive and negative
ways. Lenz claims that " the Universe is adversarial" and that most
beings, be they humans or "astral plane entities", can and do, mess
with your thoughts. He claims that whenever you think of a person, (or
place) you will "actually psychically touch them" especially while
meditating. He also says that if a you continually think about
something, you will be exerting a huge amount of psychic energy on it,
and that it can eventually manifest on the physical plane. So you
shouldn't ever hold negative thoughts about anyone, unless of course
they are out to get you, in which case it would be like
self-defense. Of course since the Universe is inherently adversarial,
that means that everyone and everything is probably out to get you,
(i.e., "trying to steal your energy").

Why do you feel like you need a spiritual Teacher?

Everyone feels like they need some sort of guidance in this crazy
world. Students of Lenz are seekers who are looking for the best
guidance possible. They think they have found a solution to all of
life's miseries and mysteries. They feel that they will be guided to a
better place, a higher world, Samadhi, Nirvana, a state of perfect
bliss, "The Western Paradise". Or else they just want to be happy, and
they feel like this guy knows how to be happy and can teach them a
thing or two. He gives tons of practical and useful advise on how to
get through life without being dependent on others, except of course,
everyone eventually becomes dependent on him for advice, and
"Empowerments". It is this dependency that, over time, turns into a
destructive addiction. None of his students have become Enlightened or
reached Samadhi, and he never mentions any former successes from all
his past lives of teaching. For all the claims he makes, you would
think he'd have more successful former students. He's always cutting
down his "intermediate students", telling us how "screwed up" they
are. About all he can say about his former students is that they make
more money now than they did before they met him, or else that "they
have gone crazy because they couldn't handle the Energy"..


How do you know if your teacher is really Enlightened?

This question needs to be asked and his students need to ask
themselves over and over, because something in there just doesn't feel
right. Be careful to word this question properly, and don't be
condescending! If you ask: "Do you really think he's Enlightened?" the
answer is an easy "Yes", because they probably really do think
that. But the real question is: Is he ? And that's what they need to
ponder for themselves. If they seem absolutely sure he is, ask them:
"By what criteria can anyone tell an Enlightened being from a
non-enlightened being." and "How can you be so sure?" If they're not
sure, ask them if they can explain their doubts. This may be tricky
for them. Doubts are "negative thoughts" and students are told to
eliminate them, they are not use to analyzing them or even recognizing
them.  Part of meditation practice is the art of "stopping your
thoughts" so after awhile, his students become proficient at filtering
out certain thoughts, and only letting in the "positive" ones. Thus,
they do seem happy (on the surface) most all of the time. But when it
comes to true discrimination and debate (neglected Yogic teachings in
Rama' s course) his students are often unprepared and it's difficult
to predict how they will respond.

All of them are very bright and could most likely argue any point they
want; but if you can use their own logic to show them an undeniable
truth or two, it will affect them immensely, even if it takes some
time to sink in. Try to encourage their questioning mind. Try to
encourage investigation. Support their search for the Truth. Tactfully
ask them to keep their eyes open, and to observe everything that is
happening around them, and to be careful of the dependency that
students can feel for teachers. After all, the true goal of Yoga is
freedom, not dependency.  You could remind them that the "fast path"
can be a dangerous path, and if they ever feel like they are "in too
deep", that you'll always be willing to help them any way you
can. (Except I wouldn't offer to send them quantities of money,
because it will just go into Lenz's pocket).

Can Rama perform miracles? Does everyone see the same miracle?

Students assert that they are able to meditate better when they are in
a room with Lenz. Most students do actually have profound spiritual
experiences while at the seminars, or during desert trips. They will
see Lenz with gold light emanating from his body, they will see bright
white light, lines of energy coming from his hands; some will see him
disappear, levitate or change forms; he'll turn into an old oriental
man with a long beard, a Tibetan deity or any other kind of symbolic
spiritual image.

One of the key points here is that not everybody sees the same
"miracle". Everyone seems to see something different. A lot of people
see absolutely nothing, although they usually don't admit it, they
just feel bad about themselves, like they are not very "spiritually
evolved". Some get very depressed because they see nothing while all
their friends see such amazing things. Lenz encourages people to stand
up and describe the "miracles" they see. He's extra nice to the people
who see amazing things, and will sometimes insult those who see
mundane, ordinary things. He will even tell students detailed
descriptions of the visions other people have seen in the past, thus
planting an idea in their head of what they should be seeing.

While at the "events", everyone is told to maintain a "meditative
state of mind". Which means literally to stop thought, relax
completely and "let go" of all doubts. In this way the analytical,
discriminating mind is shut down, and anything Lenz says is absorbed
without resistance or discernment. The scientific study of 'hypnotic
suggestion' will shed some real "light" on this subject. But the
assertion by most "students" that what they have experienced in
"Rama's presence", are genuine miracles, akin to the biblical miracles
of Christ, is an overwhelming factor in their belief that he is indeed
an "Enlightened Being".

Another key point is that Lenz himself, will often state that the
important thing is not what you 'see' but 'how you feel'. Thus those
who see nothing will be vindicated as long as they "feel good" during
a group meditation.  Entering into a peaceful, blissful, ecstatic
state can be just as convincing to people that some sort of "Magic" is
going on. Of course, if you meditate twice a day for months and years,
devote every ounce of your being to what you firmly believe is genuine
spiritual practice, if your intention is pure, then, given the amount
of anticipation and hype that surrounds "Rama's" events, when the
moment finally comes and you are actually meditating in his presence,
it's not surprising that you enter into states of complete
ecstasy. Faith and belief are very powerful by
themselves. Unfortunately Lenz gets all the credit, when mostly it's
his students who are doing it for themselves. The "Energy" that he
claims to transmit, is already inside each and every one of them.

Does Rama always tell the truth?

Rama lies constantly; but he is very careful to cover it up or to
justify it with some "higher meaning". He can explain anything in
terms of energy and dimensions that are beyond human conception -
therefore, you can never know the whole truth about anything - because
what you see and hear on the physical plane is just the tip of the
iceberg. There are parallel universes that intersect with this one and
your "subtle body" or "causal body" can be in different worlds while
your physical body is in this one. So how can you ever know anything
with any certainty until you're "Enlightened", and can "see" the way
he does?... Therefore he is the only one who can tell you what is true
and what is false......and who are you to judge an "Enlightened
being"? "What is true for one person may be false to
another.....everyone is at different levels." That's the kind of
rhetoric his followers are used to hearing. They would never point out
his "inconsistencies" in public, for fear of karmic retribution or
verbal assaults by him directly.



Note:

I've used many generalizations when referring to students and their
beliefs that may or may not apply to everyone in the group. Not
everyone believes all of it. For example, many have doubts about
Rama's Enlightenment, although they rarely ever talk about it. You'll
have to carefully assess the mind frame of your friend or family
member, and honestly consider your relationship with them.  Don't
assume that you know what they're thinking. You'll have to make
inquires directly to them, and find out personally what they think and
feel. All of these questions are mere suggestions; they could be
reworded or restated in many ways. They are intended as a means of
conversation (via phone calls or letters) between loved ones. They are
not meant for the purpose of interviews or for "deprogramming". They
should not be read as if from a list, and I wouldn't try to ask them
all in one phone call. You'll probably need to talk to them more than
a few times just to get an idea of what's going on in their
minds. Letters may be an easier way to approach them (but don't wait
for replies before you send a follow up, just keep sending them).

If you talk about things regarding Lenz or the group that they haven't
told you themselves, they may suspect you are collaborating with "the
opposition", who are "out-to-get Rama".  Don't try to suggest that
they'd previously told you something if they didn't, that would
definitely end all trust, and you may not hear from them for
years. They are keenly aware of what information they give out and
will not mention certain things to anyone at all! If you do mention
something inadvertently, that they know didn't come from them, they
may ask you how you got this information (you may notice their tone of
voice change a little.) Go ahead and tell them you've spoken to a
former student (or read something he wrote) who has described some of
Rama's teachings, but that he didn't go into too much detail, also
you've been studying Buddhism and now have questions of your
own. Please be careful, as well as discreet. I'd prefer that you
didn't use my name, but I don't mind if you need to. If they feel like
you're being secretive, or holding something back it will only
increase their paranoia. Better to mention "a former student" than to
mention "CAN", or "LenzWatch". As of this writing, I have personally
never spoken to, or met, a representative of either CAN or LenzWatch.

Other commonly used Lenzian terms or teachings:

Opposition

This is a general term that includes anything that opposes Lenz and
"the Dharma". On the physical plane it refers to CAN (whom Lenz calls
'the spiritual KKK'), LenzWatch (and it's leader Patrick Roe), Joe
Szimhart (who Lenz considers a kidnapper/deprogrammer that works for
CAN), Mark Laxer (considered a psychotic former student who wrote a
book of lies) and "a handful of former students with personal
vendettas against Rama" (which includes all former students who have
appeared in the press and gone public). According to Lenz, these
people are sick, crazy, fascists who "burned witches in their past
lives", and have been reincarnating for centuries just to torment and
discredit people who practice self-discovery. Supposedly CAN goes
after certain families of his students (especially the wealthier
ones), feeds them all sorts of lies about how he runs a "cult", then
charges them thousands of dollars to kidnap and deprogram their
"grown-up kid" as a service to them. Lenz claims it is a business and
that they make between $20,000 and $50,000 "per hit". He makes them
out to be racists who are collaborating with the "Dark Forces", and
inspires fear and hatred amongst his students towards them. Read
Orwell's "1984" to see how an evil enemy is necessary in a "Mind
Control" environment.

Of his former students he says that some have gone nuts because they
couldn't handle the "high voltage" of his Energy, or else they are
"jealous females", who wanted to be his only partner. He claims all
these people are together conspiring "... to put me out of business".

On the other planes (Astral or Dream planes), "opposition" refers to
the "Dark Forces", "Negative Energies" and the "Entities" that like to
prey upon people who practice advanced Yoga. This can be a truly
haunting experience when students do start seeing "entities", and feel
like they are being pursued and attacked by them. There is a perfect
example in Castenada's Power of Silence where Don Juan tells a story
of a huge monster that stalked him and waited outside his house so
that he couldn't leave for 2 years. Later he discovered his teacher
had suggested it, and it had only existed in his mind. Rama tends to
suggest that his students are being attacked unwittingly in the "Dream
plane" or "Astral plane" and even if they have no conscious
recollection of it, they should beware. He no longer uses the term
"demons" and claims that he never did use that term. He has been
talking about this stuff much lately, and he does not encourage his
new students to "dream", or "astral travel". He says all his
intermediate students got carried away with that stuff and it really
messed them up. He blames it all on them of course.

He also accuses his students of "slamming" him with negative energy,
or attacking him in some other realm that they are not even aware
of. He assures them that it is true and that they'd better stop,
before he gets pissed off. Since a lot of them are being abused by
him, they naturally have some hateful thoughts towards him on
occasion. Although they usually suppress these thoughts with great
skill, they still know if they have been "guilty", and he certainly
takes advantage of it. Some even feel that it is entities within their
own mind and body that are causing the negative thoughts towards Rama.

Students will begin to associate their inner doubts with their "lower
nature". In Yoga it is taught that your Ego and "lower self' can be
your worst enemy, and that you must overcome your "lower nature"
before you can attain Enlightenment. Lenz teaches that a persons
doubts and suspicions are part of their lower nature, therefore any
thought that comes into your mind that contradicts his view, is
immediately considered an obstacle that you must overcome. In this way
students make a split between their own critical, rational, analytic
mind and their un-doubting, trusting, emotional side. Their intuition
and gut-feelings (which they are supposed to be fostering) often get
confused with their lower side, and can be disregarded as well. Lenz
also is fond of claiming that "90% of what you think and feel are not
you own thoughts", that "you pick them up psychically". Students start
to suspect their own inner-most feelings and assume they are picking
it up from other people, or astral beings, or from their own
"Ego". The more someone doubts, the easier it is to believe that there
is some sort of opposition, whether it comes from outside or from
within, that is interfering with their "practice". This split can
become intense and the inner battle can externalize in the form of
hallucinations, and the feeling that your soul is under siege by
"negative forces".

The amount of guilt, fear, and paranoia that he creates for them is
ridiculous, but they feel it's all their own fault (because he tells
them its is), and they will do anything to reconcile. Thus he controls
them even more.

Etiquette.

Etiquette is a loosely defined term that Lenz uses to command respect
from his students. He lectures extensively about the importance of
"Buddhist etiquette" which he can describe to mean just about anything
he wants, but usually refers to the student/teacher relationship. Any
unacceptable behavior is termed "bad etiquette", and it implies that
you do not have the proper attitude, or are not being "respectful". It
can mean anything from asking an "inappropriate question" to wearing
jeans at a seminar.

He seems to expect people to figure out things on their own, like what
is "appropriate" and what isn't. Sometimes it's obvious and sometimes
it's not; he lets their imagination fill in the details. "Proper
etiquette" is used as a threat, in that, if you don't have it, you
could be 'toast'. It is known that if you "violate etiquette", you
will be in big trouble; his "energy can backfire on you", you could
get kicked out, or he could simply ignore you completely. He is
certainly willing to kick people out at a moments notice, and often
threatens to do so. Those who are kicked out will often do anything to
get back in, and if they do get re-admitted, they will be perfect
little brown-nosers after that.

Certain questions (that he'd probably rather avoid), like inquires
about his sex life, or asking him where he lives, are definitely
"inappropriate", and it would be "bad etiquette" to ask. Then he will
tell his students that they can ask him "anything they want"; and if
they "have any problems with the nasty articles that appear in the
news", to "just come up and ask me". (It's like saying "... and if you
don't believe what I say, just ask me".)

Reincarnation

Lenz teaches, and almost everyone in the group believes, that they are
immortal souls that live forever; that reincarnation is "the evolution
of spirit through matter"; that souls evolve over countless lifetimes
in this world and in many others. Their sense of time is expanded to
include many eons. They feel as if they have been around on this
planet for literally "thousands of lifetimes". They also believe that
they have lived in other galaxies, on other planets, in different
universes, in different worlds, and different dimensions, and that the
lifetimes they have spent on Earth are a relative drop in the bucket,
compared to the cosmic evolution that goes on for "millions of
lifetimes". Lenz refers to Earth as a "detention hall planet" where
immature, lowly evolved souls have to go and spend several thousand
lifetimes in order to learn some lessons. He can merely point to the
world situation, crime, pollution, or the local news, to prove the
point that the souls who live here are not very spiritually
mature. Lenz portrays himself as an ancient being who is far older and
far more evolved than anyone else around him. He says there are only
about 5 (no longer 12) other people on Earth that are at his level
(the other 7 died, I guess) and none that are any higher. He says that
he has been enlightened for many lifetimes, and that he has been a
spiritual teacher for "many, many lifetimes." He claims that most of
his training came from very radical teachers in another universe,
giving the impression that he was at a very high degree of evolution
before ever coming to this planet. He says that he comes From a
"warrior school", where he mastered "the Siddhas" (magical powers
including healing, controlling the weather, killing people, passing
through dimensions and so on ...) and it was only later that he
"became interested in this Enlightenment stuff". He never gives dates
for any of this (except that he was supposed to reincarnate in Tibet
in this lifetime, but the Chinese were destroying all the monasteries
and committing genocide at the time, early 1950's], so he went to San
Diego instead; due to its proximity to great "power spots" (i.e., the
Anza Borrego desert).

I never heard him claim to be any specific historical figure. It' s
always stories like: "I taught that stuff (Zen) for about 50 lifetimes
in Japan." He also talks a lot about "running monasteries" like he
used to in Tibet, and "ashrams" in India. He says that the old days of
monastic life and spiritual communities that separate themselves from
the rest of the world, are coming to an end, and that all his
students, who have spent hundreds of sheltered lifetimes in
monasteries, now have to learn how to get by in the "outside
world". He says that most of his students have huge "aversions" to
money; that they've been taught that poverty is spiritual, and for so
many lives they have lived as communal monks and nuns, that they are
now in a real rut. He uses the Buddhist philosophy that both "desire"
and "aversion" must be overcome before anyone can reach
Enlightenment. Therefore the fastest way for his students to advance,
is to become "materially successful" in order to overcome their
"aversion" to wealth; and to learn how to navigate through the "bardo"
of corporate America, as a spiritual and occult exercise .

He often makes references to his students as if they were students of
his in past lives, and that "we keep reincarnating together." He
claims that one of his siddha "specialties" is "multi-life transits";
which he claims, is a complex siddha that involves increasing a
students evolution to the point that they can pass into an advanced
state of awareness in a relatively short amount of time; thereby
accomplishing in a mere handful of lifetimes what would take a normal
person several thousand. With this sort of carrot and stick in front
of them, students will adopt a sense of self-sacrifice and commitment
that makes whatever hardships they encounter in this lifetime seem
trivial and inconsequential compared to the possibility of avoiding
"thousands of lifetimes of suffering" (i.e., "Samsara").

Lenz further implies that anyone who opposes him, disrespects him, or
otherwise fails to pucker up and kiss his ass, can be denied the
chance of "Attainment" in this life and in countless future lives. So
if you 'blow it' as his student you'll be screwed for the next umpteen
thousand lifetimes. In my opinion, the threat of reincarnating on
Earth for thousands of lifetimes without the possibility of
Enlightenment or escape (especially in light of current global
problems like over-population, destruction of the environment, racism,
war, etc...) is a scary thought, but it amounts to the same rhetoric
as a fire and brimstone preacher who threatens an eternal hell for
sinners.

Karma

Karma, according to Lenz, is "the sum total of your awareness field."
It is who and what you are. Everything you've done and everything
you've been in this life and in all your past lives has culminated in
what you are right now, at this very moment. You are responsible for
your karma, your life is your own making, everything you do from this
point on will affect your future karma, and so on.... Rama endorses
the Sarah Conner (from Terminator 2) philosophy of "No Fate", that
there is no pre-determined destiny, and that the Universe is in a
constant, dynamic state of flux. There is cause and effect, but
anything can be changed in the present, as long as there is sufficient
"Energy". So people with "bad karma" can overcome it through certain
methods; by circumambulating Mt. Kailash for example, or by simply
following "the Pathway to Enlightenment", which to Lenz means
following his "suggestions" and giving him lots of money. By the way,
Lenz likes to use the terms "suggestions" or "recommendations" to
refer to his rules and his prescribed methods of practice. Thus
implying that you don't have to do what he says, but then at the same
time he'll tell you that if you don't do what he "suggests" then your
karma will be seriously affected. He has stated that the karma
involved with "the decision to study with an Enlightened being is very
serious," and the consequences can span many lifetimes. So again, if
you screw up, or even if you leave on your own, your karma will
suffer. He makes you feel as if you are bound by your decision, and
instills a sense of fear of ever leaving "the study".

Career/ Computer Science

Learn how to program computers; learn C, C++, COBOL; learn relational
database, Oracle, DB2, Sybase. Make tons of money, get a job
consulting on Wall Street, learn how to run a business, be a private
contractor, dress as a professional fortune 500 executive type,
etc... Lenz preaches on these subjects endlessly. He promotes wealth
and prosperity for his students, but I then emphasizes the danger of
becoming selfish, so after you make a bundle, you should then learn
self-less giving, "put it back into the system", and give most of it
away..... to him..... or to "the group cause", which is him ...... so
that he can then go out and supposedly "help" others. I have never
heard him promote or endorse any kind of charity or non-profit
organization. I don't think he wants his students to give money away
to anyone but himself. The practice of selflessness is recognized
throughout spiritual traditions and his students are some of the most
selfless people I have ever met. If they are not, they can easily be
made to feel guilty and "unevolved" because of it. This "spirit of
giving" provides a tremendous source of income for Lenz, and he bilks
it for all it's worth. His followers believe in what they are doing so
they feel good about it, although the guilt they feel when they can't
pay their full share, (because they are penniless) does feel awkward
for people who work so hard and are supposedly so "advanced".

Lenz runs his show like a business, and it is a business. Interglobal
Seminars Inc. or ISI, (which is the new name for ASI, Advanced Systems
Inc.) is a Delaware corporation and a 'for-profit' enterprise. He
literally sells his spiritual teachings. He wants his students to be
successful and make money so that he can justify raising their tuition
higher and higher. The more they make the more he feels justified in
doing so. After all, it was he who got them into the computer field
and taught them how to be successful, and gave them all the "Energy"
they needed, so he expects to be "paid back" for it, and I've heard
him say just that.

Physical exercise

Lenz encourages all of his students to take care of their physical
bodies, by exercising regularly and eating right. He strongly
recommends the Martial Arts, (Karate, Judo, Aikido), and especially
jogging. His old teacher (now nemesis) Sri Chinmoy is a fitness freak
too. There is nothing wrong with fitness, it makes you feel good about
yourself, "it releases Kundalini", and "makes you more
attractive". Like meditation it is an individual experience
(especially jogging) and fosters self-esteem. His endorsement of
self-discipline and his subtle threats against "lazy slobs" can make
even the most hardened "couch potato" lace up their running shoes and
hit the pavement. Again I see people actively involved in their own
self-improvement while giving all the credit to their "teacher' who
has inspired (or intimidated) them; without Rama they'd still be
"couch potatoes". So respect and gratitude are fostered for him,
without any real effort on his part.

		       ________________________

Another thing about his teachings is that you hardly have time to do
them all. He keeps you so busy that you have no free time
whatsoever. There's a certain guilt factor involved when you haven't
read his latest book assignment or seen the latest required
movie. Plus there's computer homework (programs to write and reading
which is very time consuming), martial arts 2-3 times a week, your
job, commuting, meditation twice a day, working out, cleaning your
apartment, shopping, etc.... Sleep becomes a secondary concern, so
students often live on less than 5 hours per night average. The idea
of taking a weekend ski trip, going camping, or any I kind of
non-group related event, no matter how alluring, is often unrealistic
in light of peoples hectic time schedules. All week-ends are pretty
well booked up with classes and group get-togethers. This puts a real
damper on social life and isolates students from their outside
friends. It seems like Lenz wants his students all to become
workaholic yuppie nerds.

			   ________________

Final Note:

I feel great now that I am out of the group. I have more energy
because I get more sleep, have more time to enjoy life, and feel less
stress from the all the pressure to "succeed materially". I have more
money now, and I have my freedom. I am free to make my own decisions
about I everything in my life without worrying about karma, negative
energy, or "astral beings" who are trying to drain me. I suppose I
could worry about them if I wanted, but I choose not to. All of Lenz's
followers are great people, they are smart, funny, fun-loving and
adventurous. Many of my dearest friends are still in there. The
hardest thing about leaving was the idea of losing touch with these
friends, and the sickening realization of what's happening to them.

I have no doubt that Lenz is an ordinary man with an extraordinary
ego. His proclaimed siddha powers are a joke. I've been "slamming him
inwardly" so much lately, that I ought to be dead by now. But I have
suffered no psychic retribution and my karma is feeling wonderful. I
am not afraid of him. He is an insecure pussy who needs to be
worshipped by others in order to feel good about himself. I doubt he
could kill a flea with his Chi. His infantile displays of magic could
be reproduced by any cut-rate mystic or your local hypnotist. He makes
people feel awful about themselves, and he ridicules them. He's no
Buddhist. He's made a mockery of Eastern religions and deserves
condemnation and recognition as a charlatan. The guy does not know the
meaning of compassion. He once said, "I don't trust anyone who says
they love me." So he must not know the meaning of love either. Plus
he's paranoid.

I hope this has been of some help to you. I am sorry if your friend or
loved one is still involved with Lenz, they are probably being
deceived and living in a state of denial. But remember, they could
snap out of it, if something drastic happens or if things just don't
feel right to them anymore. If that happens, offer them a time and
place to think (though they may have phobias about "coming home"), and
encourage them to speak to a professional as soon as possible. I
personally recommend Joe Szimhart.

Meanwhile, I suggest that you educate yourself and try to maintain
friendly communications with them. Remind them of things they used to
love (hobbies, music, friends, etc... - happy things that they've lost
touch with). In your heart give them tons of love, and remind them
that you will always be there for them when they need you. And never
give up.