Blue Skies Buddha - Softcover

Lewinson, Liz

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982050577 ISBN 13: 9780982050576

Publisher: Mystic-Buddha Publishing House, 2016

Winner of the 2016 Eric Hoffer Award and a "Best Books of 2015" winner from USA Book News, this acclaimed biography of the brilliant, controversial Buddhist teacher Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz (1950 - 1998). In this free-spirited adventure of a wild, sports jock teenager who transforms into an iconoclastic, innovative leader, boundary breaking is de rigueur as reported by the 100+ students and colleagues interviewed by author Liz Lewinson.

Meditation, the empowerment of women and career as practice are but three of the core teachings covered in this book. Dr. Lenz ran into opposition, of course, but he kept his priorities straight.

When he visited Nepal at age 19, he encountered an aged monk who informed him that he was a lineage bearer. He was to revive an ancient school of enlightenment. He was to find his many past life students and help them achieve joyous enlightenment in this life or at least set them securely on the path. He was to do this in the West, using Western means.

In the East, centuries-old traditions maintain meditative pathways to enlightenment. In the West, facing a blank canvas, Dr. Lenz found new ways to build mental/meditative prowess through careers such as computer science, visits to American "places of power," knowledge about real gender equilibrium, movies, music, and dance. He taught these skills to American students and observed their success. When you read this fast-paced biography, you enter the inner teaching circle of baseline American Buddhism.

"This fascinating biography captures the wisdom of a genuine, compelling teacher who combined absolute miracles with humor, fun, and adventure. When you read this fast-paced book, you feel you are there, learning and transforming. This is an original and exciting read." -- Lynn Andrews, author of The Medicine Woman Series

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Book Description:

Now in its Second Edition (Feb. 2016), this award winning biography of the early teaching years of Rama – Dr. Frederick Lenz (1950 – 1998) highlights the new age spiritual renaissance of the 1970s and 80s and the founding of an original, deep-rooted movement of American Buddhism.

(Blue Skies Buddha was a finalist in two categories – Biography and Spiritual: General – of the prestigious US Book News’ Best Books of 2015 Awards).

Readers take part in a free-spirited adventure as they witness a wild, sports jock teenager transform into an iconoclastic, innovative spiritual teacher. For Frederick Lenz, boundary breaking was de rigueur as witnessed and reported by the 100+ students and colleagues interviewed by author Liz Lewinson. Meditation, the empowerment of women, and Buddhist wisdom form the core of Dr. Lenz’s teachings, which he shared and honed with boundless enthusiasm. He encountered opposition, of course, but he kept his priorities straight.

When Frederick Lenz visited Nepal at age 19, he encountered an aged monk who informed him he was a lineage bearer. He was to revive and re-establish an ancient school of enlightenment. He was to find his many past life students and help them achieve joyous enlightenment in this life or at least set them securely on the path. He was to do this in the West, using Western means. In the East, centuries-old traditions maintain meditative pathways to enlightenment. In the West, facing a blank canvas, Dr. Lenz found new ways to build mental/meditative prowess through careers such as computer science, visits to American “places of power,” knowledge about real gender equilibrium (not monastic), movies, music, and dance. He taught these skills to American students and observed their success.

Whether you are one of Rama’s past life students (or not!), reading this fast-paced biography will bring you new realizations and freedom, and introduce you to the tenets of American Buddhism.

“This fascinating biography captures the wisdom of a genuine, compelling teacher who combined absolute miracles with humor, fun, and adventure. When you read this fast-paced book, you feel you are there, learning and transforming. This is an original and exciting read.” -- Lynn Andrews, author of The Medicine Woman Series

“I was fascinated, moved, and inspired by this clear and compelling biography of Rama.” – Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science.

“This book presents an honest look into one of the most intriguing and controversial spiritual movements of the 80’s and 90's. Rama was a very unconventional teacher and his teaching often caused people to rethink their basic assumptions on spirituality. In a way, he reminded me of my other idols of our age - Bruce Lee, Michael Jackson and Steve Jobs. They were all not only filled with crazy passions about their lives, but were so unconventional in their approaches that they caused major disruptions in traditional values. They were people who believed in themselves, walked their own paths and did not compromise.” ---Francis Wang

From the Inside Flap:

In 1969, a teenager named Frederick Lenz III flew to Kathmandu, Nepal with an early version snowboard, aspiring to snow-surf down the highest mountains he could find. On his first run, he plowed into an aged Buddhist monk. As the monk brushed snow off his faded ochre robe, he told the incredulous teen that their meeting was destiny, that he was a multi-life linage bearer intended to become enlightened and help millions of people. This acclaimed biography details the early life and foundational wisdom of Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz and his unwavering commitmment - as a student, author, software entrepreneur, music producer, and iconoclastic founder of American Tantric Buddhism - to transform and illuminate lives. Controversial, irreverent and reverent, honest and always teaching, he was a koan.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.