The Binge Cases: Denise Didn't Come Home - Coming Soon: I Am Rama

Episode Date: June 8, 2021

Rama was a spiritual teacher in the 80s and 90s who inspired many of his students while helming what many of his detractors would describe as a cult. He defied society’s archetypal vision of a New Age leader, eschewing minimalism for wealth and celebrity. He was also a man ahead of his time, encouraging his students to develop careers in computer science before that was mainstream. For some, following Rama's lead worked out spiritually, and financially too. But for others, Rama's actions contradicted his cool persona; some eventually came forward with accusations of abuse, others vanished, whistleblowers went to the media, and the group began to shrink and splinter.  In this 10-part investigative series, Jonathan Hirsch explores the life, death and impact of Rama. "I Am Rama" drops June 22.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To begin our practice today, I want you to have a seat on your meditation cushion. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. It's 1982, San Francisco. Imagine you're looking for something more in life, something more than your 9 to 5, more than working for the weekend. So here you are, checking out a meditation teacher who goes by the name Rama.

You've seen his flyers around town. He doesn't look like a monk. Designer clothes, big mess of blonde hair, mischievous smile. You decided to give him a shot. It's so much more than you expect. The meditation takes you to a place you've never been before. But that's not all. Rama has something else on offer. A program, a way for you to enjoy the lifestyle he enjoys, spiritual freedom and professional success. And I mean success. He made lots of money. By the 90s, he had several homes and millions of dollars in the bank. He's this intoxicating

combination of a rock star, spiritual master, and college professor. And you can't get enough of him. Whatever that guy has, I want to know. I want to know what that is. I want to be able to do that. My life would not be what it is today if not for Rama. I know this for a fact. The feeling hooked some followers for good, but others, they got out. If you're living in a echo chamber, you start to believe your own bullshit because everybody's echoing it back to you. This is a podcast about a beloved, controversial spiritual teacher named Rama.

This is not a podcast about a cult, even though some would call it that. It's actually way more interesting. It's about a man who was something different to everyone who came into contact with him. Kind of a prism, an obstacle for some, an accelerant for others. I met millionaire software designers with giant mansions and garages filled with sports cars. But I also heard how, for some, Rama became a mortal obsession. software designers with giant mansions and garages filled with sports cars. But I also heard how, for some, Rama became a mortal obsession. Just this year, the body of one former student was found in a reservoir in upstate New York after over 30 years.

Rama himself would succumb to a similar fate, a short, complicated life that ended one night, the edge of a dock in Long Island. From neon-hum media and smokescreen, this is I Am Rama, a documentary podcast about the life and death of Frederick P. Lenz III, known to those who loved and loathed him as Rama. I'm Jonathan Hirsch, and in this series, I'm going to trace Rama's unlikely beginnings as a teacher, how he became a controversial public figure, and the mysterious events that led to his untimely death.

And as this meditation comes to a close, I want you to open your eyes, take a deep breath, and subscribe now to I Am Rama.