Rama computer cult
Encyclopedia
The Rama Computer Students were, and to some extent still are, an American
spiritual and professional group. They were led by Frederick Lenz
, known within the group as Zen Master Rama or Rama. The group took different forms over the years, in later years being organized as a career development consulting company that leveraged Buddhism
. The group was effectively founded when Lenz broke from his former teacher Sri Chinmoy
in about 1980—many, but not all, members dispersed when Lenz died in 1998. Recruiting of new members has continued up until the present time. The group was criticized in the press as being a cult although many members denied this. During its early years the group expanded to over 1000 members due to very public recruiting campaigns, but in January 1988, following bad publicity, the group switched to an invitation-only recruiting policy. The controversy was, in part, generated by the fact that some of the female members had sexual relations with Lenz . Many members found the meditation techniques taught by the group extremely helpful.
, when used in reference to a spiritual group, is generally negative and used only by its detractors, but there also wasn't a clear term to use for describing the student body in a positive or neutral light, despite the fact that many remained with Rama throughout his many re-inventions as a teacher.
Rama himself referred to his group as the Rae Chorze-Fwaz, for example in novels such as Surfing The Himalayas and Snowboarding to Nirvana. The term Rae Chorze-Fwaz was not well known outside the group, however. Rama described the Rae Chorze-Fwaz as a lineage dating back thousands of years although his detractors disputed this, claiming that Rama invented the term Rae Chorze-Fwaz and that the lineage did not exist prior to this.
Lenz’s doctrine evolved throughout the years that he was preaching. Originally he based his teachings on Hindu Mysticism, and then switched to Zen Buddhism. He claimed that in his past lives he was a high priest at the Temple of Light in Atlantis
, a teacher in Ancient Egypt, and the head of a monastery in Tibet
. He admitted that a great deal of the teaching that he does is about money. He promised an easy way to achieve Nirvana. Lenz claimed that his techniques were so powerful that an hour of being taught by him was worth a hundred years of traditional meditation. Lenz placed increasing emphasis on demons and claimed to be able to give members the power to control them.
Lenz said that people born with a certain amount of energy life force and lose if as you grow older. Everything depends on your energy life force: success in sports, business, and school. He claimed that he would help to restore your energy life force so you will have success. In 1983, Lenz proclaimed,
Students were warned constantly that they were becoming entangled with dark forces that only Lenz could see. His followers thought that if they dropped out of the cult they would suffer forever in the 16th level of hell. They thought this because Lenz told them this. In 1989, Lenz raised the tuition fee for his inner group called Advanced Systems, Inc., to $2,500 per month. He said that he had worked hard to protect them from the lower order occult demons and the strain had almost killed him.
The core teaching of Lenz evolved. His teachings surrounded the practice of meditation. His teaching surrounded, too, the practice of frightening and abusing those he loved the most and those who dearly loved him too. Early on, Lenz taught a form of chakra meditation intended to help students gain greater happiness, achieve success in life, and attain Enlightenment. Lenz recommended the use of music to assist in meditation because the modern world is thick with human aura that any protection a meditation student could get was needed—the music, was designed to provide that protection. Lenz recommended meditating to music twice a day, in the morning and the evening, and provided different music for each session.
The cost to new members for attending monthly seminars given by Rama was a nominal fee between $50 to $100.
Lenz supporters counter charges that Lenz was interested primarily in money with two main arguments: (1) Lenz regularly held free or low-cost classes for beginners, and (2) in the 1980s he dismissed an estimated 400 students from his classes, explaining that he didn't think they were a match for his teachings, thus voluntarily giving up a large percentage of his income (perhaps as much as 50%).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
spiritual and professional group. They were led by Frederick Lenz
Frederick Lenz
Frederick Philip Lenz, III, Ph.D., also known as Rama and Atmananda , was a spiritual teacher who propounded a syncretic blend of Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, Vedanta, and Mysticism which he called "American Buddhism"...
, known within the group as Zen Master Rama or Rama. The group took different forms over the years, in later years being organized as a career development consulting company that leveraged Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. The group was effectively founded when Lenz broke from his former teacher Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
in about 1980—many, but not all, members dispersed when Lenz died in 1998. Recruiting of new members has continued up until the present time. The group was criticized in the press as being a cult although many members denied this. During its early years the group expanded to over 1000 members due to very public recruiting campaigns, but in January 1988, following bad publicity, the group switched to an invitation-only recruiting policy. The controversy was, in part, generated by the fact that some of the female members had sexual relations with Lenz . Many members found the meditation techniques taught by the group extremely helpful.
Name
The group did not have a single, specific legal name that was used throughout its history. Rama changed his style of teaching frequently over the years and although he consistently used the name Rama (sometimes in its longer form Zen Master Rama) from the early 1980s onward, he used many specific organizations through which he taught: Lakshmi Seminars, Rama Seminars, Power Trips Inc, Interglobal Seminars, Infinity Plus Consulting, and Advanced Systems Inc were but a few of the organizations that he taught through. The group was generally referred to in the media as the Rama computer cult or some variant of that term. The word cultCult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
, when used in reference to a spiritual group, is generally negative and used only by its detractors, but there also wasn't a clear term to use for describing the student body in a positive or neutral light, despite the fact that many remained with Rama throughout his many re-inventions as a teacher.
Rama himself referred to his group as the Rae Chorze-Fwaz, for example in novels such as Surfing The Himalayas and Snowboarding to Nirvana. The term Rae Chorze-Fwaz was not well known outside the group, however. Rama described the Rae Chorze-Fwaz as a lineage dating back thousands of years although his detractors disputed this, claiming that Rama invented the term Rae Chorze-Fwaz and that the lineage did not exist prior to this.
Size
Membership has varied from a high of more than 900 followers to 250 between 350. Lenz would get rid of thirty or forty students at a time telling them that they were failing spiritually. Some members were expelled from the group for various reasons but they worked hard and contributed sums of money in order to be readmitted into the group.Methods and doctrine
His idea was that you have taken care of your material world: your career, clothes, and personal belongings, then you can start a well balanced spiritual path. It is very hard to venture into the spiritual world if you have not taken care of the material world first.Lenz’s doctrine evolved throughout the years that he was preaching. Originally he based his teachings on Hindu Mysticism, and then switched to Zen Buddhism. He claimed that in his past lives he was a high priest at the Temple of Light in Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
, a teacher in Ancient Egypt, and the head of a monastery in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. He admitted that a great deal of the teaching that he does is about money. He promised an easy way to achieve Nirvana. Lenz claimed that his techniques were so powerful that an hour of being taught by him was worth a hundred years of traditional meditation. Lenz placed increasing emphasis on demons and claimed to be able to give members the power to control them.
Lenz said that people born with a certain amount of energy life force and lose if as you grow older. Everything depends on your energy life force: success in sports, business, and school. He claimed that he would help to restore your energy life force so you will have success. In 1983, Lenz proclaimed,
Students were warned constantly that they were becoming entangled with dark forces that only Lenz could see. His followers thought that if they dropped out of the cult they would suffer forever in the 16th level of hell. They thought this because Lenz told them this. In 1989, Lenz raised the tuition fee for his inner group called Advanced Systems, Inc., to $2,500 per month. He said that he had worked hard to protect them from the lower order occult demons and the strain had almost killed him.
The core teaching of Lenz evolved. His teachings surrounded the practice of meditation. His teaching surrounded, too, the practice of frightening and abusing those he loved the most and those who dearly loved him too. Early on, Lenz taught a form of chakra meditation intended to help students gain greater happiness, achieve success in life, and attain Enlightenment. Lenz recommended the use of music to assist in meditation because the modern world is thick with human aura that any protection a meditation student could get was needed—the music, was designed to provide that protection. Lenz recommended meditating to music twice a day, in the morning and the evening, and provided different music for each session.
Organization and finance
Membership of the group can be divided into three main sections:- The inner-inner circle: a small group with a range of talents who managed of the large amounts of money that was being collected.
- "Senior" members: anyone with five or more years of membership.
- Newer members: new members, former students, and expellees who want to get back in and supporters of Lenz
The cost to new members for attending monthly seminars given by Rama was a nominal fee between $50 to $100.
Lenz supporters counter charges that Lenz was interested primarily in money with two main arguments: (1) Lenz regularly held free or low-cost classes for beginners, and (2) in the 1980s he dismissed an estimated 400 students from his classes, explaining that he didn't think they were a match for his teachings, thus voluntarily giving up a large percentage of his income (perhaps as much as 50%).