The following is an issue of AANEWS, written and edited by Conrad Goeringer.
    
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An AANEWS Investigative Report...

     FORMER CHINMOY DISCIPLE BEGAN NOTORIOUS  RAMA ''CYBER CULT''
       The "Dark Side" of Hindu-Buddhist-New Age Pseudoscience

   A former disciple of religious guru Sri Chinmoy -- the man whose
followers persuaded the National Park Service to permit installation of a
"peace plaque" at the Statue of Liberty recently -- left the inner circle 
of the Hindu group, and founded his own mystical organization which some 
have labeled the Rama "cyber cult."
   That man is Frederick Lenz, a 56-year old meditation leader and 
mystic, who has insisted on being called Zen Master Rama, and claims to 
be the reincarnation of several powerful deities.
   Yesterday, AANEWS reported that followers of Sri Chinmoy had 
approached the Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty, Diana H. Dayson, 
an official with the National Park Service, several weeks ago to persuade 
that agency to permit the mounting of a "peace plaque" at the popular 
tourist attraction.  According to the New York Times, Dayson was shown a 
video about the "spiritual" works of Sri Chinmoy and his group; a segment 
of that program showed the Hindu cult leader supposedly lifting thousands 
of pounds of weights.  Other phenomenal deeds have been attributed to 
Chinmoy, such as composing thousands of songs, drawing 5 million pictures 
of "peace birds" and authoring over a thousand books.  Chinmoy's group 
promotes endurance runs and marathons across the world.  It has also 
attempted to gain international recognition by erecting commemorative 
plaques, known as "Peace Blossoms" at sites across the world, including 
the Grand Coulee Damn and Victoria Falls.
   Cult awareness experts warn that the Sri Chinmoy group may appear to 
be relatively harmless, but that it is nevertheless a religion.  Park 
Service spokesmen said that the agency ostensibly "addressed that 
question" prior to permitting installation of the "peace plaque" at the 
Statue of Liberty.  The Agency hosted a dedication service on August 27, 
which included speakers who praised the Hindu religionist for his efforts 
on behalf of "peace."  The Service reportedly also presented a cake to 
commemorate Sri Chinmoy's birthday.
   But the benign image of "peace" may not tell the entire story.  
Mindless psychobabble, credulous acceptance of religious and 
pseudo-science doctrines such as reincarnation and other artifacts of 
"eastern wisdom" may leave certain followers vulnerable, mentally 
"mushed-out," and prone to manipulation by strong, charismatic leaders.  
It can also create what cult awarness experts warn is a "totalistic" 
environment.
   One former associate of Chinmoy has allegedly created such a 
manipulative environment in the form of a so-called "computer cult."  In 
the 1970's, Frederick Lenz became a disciple of Sri Chinmoy, nearly a 
decade after the Hindu avatar left his native land and headed for more 
lucrative and spiritually-yearning territory in the United States.  
Chinmoy established a series of AUM centers, and was grinding out books, 
giving lectures, performing musical concerts, and had even ingratiating 
himself into the halls of the United Nations, where he led "meditation" 
sessions.  He later reportedly became a close friend and confident of 
Michail Gorbachev.  
   Lenz was born in 1940 in San Diego, California; his family moved to
Stanford, Conn. where his father eventually became mayor of the city.  He
earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut in 1974, 
and in 1979 obtained a Ph.D in English at the State University of New 
York.  According to sources including the New Age Encyclopedia, he became 
a devotee of Chinmoy during this period, and was given the name 
Atmananda; he also began conducting meditation classes.
   Lenz was "sent to California by Chinmoy" in 1980, and opened a 
short-lived AUM meditation center in San Diego.  He soon formed his own 
group, however, known as Lakshmi; according to the Encylcopedia, Lenz 
changed his name to Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu in 
1985, and two years later incorporated Rama Seminars.
   According to several sources, what began as a "small, relaxed group of
people studying Eastern religions" evolved into an "effective mechanism 
for extracting large sums of money from the followers."  Former 
associates of Lenz say that he became obsessed with power over others, 
and began to exhibit a number of standard control-tactics.  These 
included orchestrated use of drugs, sexual manipulation, demands for 
money and other "loyalty tests", and reliance on what some described as 
"the increasing use of ambiguity and contradictions" in helping to 
formulate a mish-mash of occultist doctrine and personal self-help  
psychobabble.
   In the late 1980's, there were intermittent periods of publicity as
members left the Lenz group.  Estimates of the number of followers has 
varied considerably, but there is thought to be a "hard core" or inner 
circle of 200-350 who have paid exoribant amounts of money to Lenz for 
the "privilege" of his enlightenment.  Lenz formed numerous corporate 
entities during this time; most of his new age outreach has been 
conducted through Advanced Systems, Inc. and National Personal and 
Professional Development Seminars, both of which boasted mail drops in 
New York's World Trade Center.
   Lenz's teachings and seminars reportedly exhibited an ever-changing
amalgam of new age, Buddhist, Hindu and occultish themes with tinges of
pop-culture and dubious propositions such as "everything goes back to a
grid." Tuition to participate in some seminars can run as much as $2,500 
a month; and even members are frequently insulted, "dressed down" and 
berated by Lenz.
   There have been a number of allegations that Lenz has placed special
emphasis on the seduction and manipulation of female followers (another
characteristic of many cults, including the Jim Jones "Peoples Temple" 
sect, AUM Supreme Truth, Branch Davidians, and eastern mysticism sects 
led by the likes of Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh).
   During the 1980's, Lenz's seminars were advertised in national 
magazines and newspapers. The New Age Encyclopedia notes that the lavish 
displays showed Lenz "in expensive, fashionable clothing."
   At least one anti-cult group accused Lenz of using his teachings to
control every segment of his student's lives, including "dress, eating
habits, what one does for recreation or relaxation...their daily regime,
their choice of automobiles, their attitudes toward health care and even
their careers."  It is this final category, though, of manipulating
occupations which has given rise to the Lenz's moniker of being a "cyber
guru."
   This stage of evolution in Lenz and his mystical cult seems to 
correspond with Rama's own transformation, one which he said was marked 
by a transition from Vishnu, "Cosmic Preserver," into a disciple of 
Shiva, the Destroyer.  One ex-member told WIRED Magazine that Lenz 
insisted he was "an enlightened being from the Dark Side."
   "Jesus was the nice guy, but the people he represents were tired of
sending nice guys so they sent me instead."
   WIRED notes that in 1990, Lenz was insisting that he was "one of 
twelve enlightened teachers on earth, but refused to say who the others 
were..."
   Telling students they can "earn while you learn," new cult followers 
were reportedly pushed in computer programming and cyber-related 
occupations.  Companies either controlled by Lenz or linked to his 
members "hired out" to other firms for computer-related services and 
systems consulting.  Reportedly, "a handful of companies got burned" and 
there was a black list circulating among New York executives of 
Lenz-linked firms to avoid.  In addition, members are excoriated about 
contact with "the outside world", including former friends, associates 
and relatives.  "Lenz warns them (members) that a direct phone line is 
dangerous because it gives others an opening to one's energy. Instead, 
members maintain phone mail systems..." notes WIRED.
   Several published accounts say that while Lenz's followers endure a
near-poverty existence, often with little more than a bed and computer, 
Rama himself boasts expensive homes, and flies across the country in 
private Lear jets.  On tape, Lenz reminds devotees that "The more you 
give, the more people you can help...It's that simple." He has also 
instructed them that they should never have more possessions than they 
can pack up and move in a car.
   The activities of Lenz and his followers has been examined on NBC
Dateline, and in articles appearing in publications such as WIRED, the 
San Francisco Chronicle, Newsweek, Santa Fe Reporter, Philadelphia 
Inquirer, Hartford Courant and the Portland Oregonian.  The titles of 
many of the articles are themselves revealing: "Yuppie Guru Finds Cash in 
Computers," "Zen Master a Fraud," "The Cosmic Seducer," and the even 
"California Raisins Bounce Back."
                         From Bad to Worse?
   Much of the tone in these articles involves the contention that Lenz 
is best described in his own words -- a "dark side" of eastern mysticism, 
a "false" guru who left a "true path" of Hindu, Buddhist or spiritual 
teaching and was seduced by power and control.  Such off-the-shelf pop 
philosophy masks the disturbing similarities, though, between seemingly 
benign new age religious movements and the more overtly authoritarian, 
manipulative cults.
   There is considerable evidence that Hindu "Krishna" style groups are
enjoying a renaissance, particularly on college campuses.  Perhaps not
surprisingly, there are reports of renewed interest in religious courses 
and mainstream Christian groups as well, part of a larger pattern where 
people seek "answers," "transcendance," or "inner peace" at the foot of a 
cross or the feet of a mumbling avatar.
   Authoritarian movements of any kind can develop strategies to control
followers, but religious cults appear to have some distinct 
characteristics.  A report on the Lenz group, for instance warns of 
"mass-hypnosis techniques...employing long, rhythmic trance-inducing 
monologues, vague language, meditation, hand manipulation, lighting and 
music that tend to make people more open to suggestion."  Meditation 
itself needs to be considered in a cautious and critical light; there is 
considerable debate in the scientific community over its effects and 
benefits.  The danger in meditation may rest with its social context, as 
a unifying ritual for a group, or an activity which promises unrealistic 
(or even outrageous) results. Various meditation gurus have claimed that 
meditation can result in the ability to levitate or fly, increased sexual 
potency, mystical powers and communication with spirits.
   Religious cults also rely on the notion of a master, guru, avatar or 
other often charismatic figure who promises some occult, hidden knowledge 
through ritual.  Often, that includes prolonged periods of chanting, 
praying, even repititious labor or some other activity.  Cults have been 
known to also manipulate the consciousness of followers by tampering with 
diet and sleep patterns.  Followers are often warned to avoid contact 
with "outsiders" who are considered sinful, profane, unworthy or 
ingorant.
   Additional Resources:
   Those readers seeking more information on the "cyber guru" can find a
number of internet resources, including "The Code Cult of the CPU Guru" 
by Zachary Margulis which appeared in WIRED Magazine.  Check out
http://www.hotwired.com  In addition, www.ex-cult.org includes an
informative Report and bibliography.  "The New Age Encyclopedia" edited 
by J. Gordon Melton (Gale Research Inc.) is an indispensible tool for 
understanding much of the "newage" movement and personalities.