American Buddhist Rebel: Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz

Over 100 people contributed to this award-winning biography of the complex, iconoclastic, and enlightened Buddhist teacher, Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz. Combining the methods of Zen and Tantric Buddhism, Lenz set challenges and led adventures for his students, ranging from one-on-one encounters to groups of 1,000 people. As an American born in 1950 and growing up in the turbulent 60s and early 70s, he brought a fresh view to heuristic teaching of Buddhism for the West. He focused on learning from experience, whether in still, perfect meditation or software sales-and sought Western ways to bring students to enlightenment. Enlightenment is real, an achievable state of mind, but it requires radical change and letting go of old patterns that stick to the self like glue. Rama was tireless and committed to helping his students. He was honest and funny. He set out a path for seekers of enlightenment for all people for all time. This biography details the years from his birth through his life-changing journey to Nepal as a teenager and all the fast-paced years that followed. In the spirit of Zen, and with his own enlightened awareness, he could sense your expectations, fears, and ego-blocks and always confound them. He was always teaching.

"This is definitely a book that changes your perspective on life for the better" --Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Benjamin Franklin Award Review

"This fascinating biography captures the wisdom of a genuine, compelling teacher who combined absolute miracles with humor, fun and adventure." --Lynn V. Andrews, author of The Medicine Woman Series

"Frederick P. Lenz leaps off the pages of this book, showing that magic and enlightenment are available to everyone right here, right now. -Judith-Simmer Brown, Author and Professor of Religious Studies, Naropa University

Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz quietly and humblu filled large auditoriums with sparkling golden light. He made huge audiences shake with laughter as he filled them with the light of the superconscious. Omens of an "unusual, not special life" (Rama's words) began in 1953 when, as a toddler, he slipped into samadhi--a timeless state of immersion in infinite light--in his mother's garden. His journey continued after high school, when he flew from Connecticut to Kathmandu, Nepal with a homemade snowboard, seeking to snow-surf the highest mountains he could find. On his first downhill run, he plowed into an aged Buddhist monk who told the incredulous teen their meeting was destiny, that his past life enlightenment would return, and he would help millions of people.

Upon his return to the U.S., he earned his Ph.D., began to teach on his own, and implemented new American ways of placing Westerners on the path to enlightenment, beginning with higher and happier states of mind. As his own realization grew, the energy he emanated was like a huge, powerful, benevolent force. This biography includes interviews and stories from over 100 students and colleagues, each with a different perspective. Rama did not just speak about enlightenment; he modeled it. Compassionate, funny, boundary-bashing, wise, prescient, reverent, irreverent, he was the ultimate Zen koan.