Re: 'Free Meditation Classes'..can be a front for Frederick Lenz Cult

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a chilling account of being stuck in a cult
January 2, 2002
Format: Paperback

I read this book straight through. It's sort of creepy to see what this poor fellow got stuck in but he did get out of it. Oh seekers of truth, it warns us by just telling the story, don't give up your own truth for another's. I went to hear Rama in San Francisco in 87 with some friends from the SF Zen Center and it was a fun trip that we all got a big kick out of though we thought he was just a slick con man.

This book tells about the con and the madness and suffering going on with Rama and his students. It should stay in print and be kept in the libraries of all religious institutions.

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Writing this book almost destroyed Mark Laxer, after all.the trauma in the cult and the trauma of leaving - - there were then all the law suits and lawyers draining his funds away... He finally published the book himself. A truly heroic effort that is benefiting so many. I wish he would update/revise the ending - - how Fred Lentz apparently committed suicide, etc.
We knew Fred Lentz in his early manifestation of Atmananda ( a leading disciple of our own 2-sided guru, Sri Chinmoy).

Although most cults in America now appear to be Bible-based, rather than Eastern or New-Age, this book transcends specifics and clearly illustrates the 'cultic dynamics' that characterize ALL high-demand, high-control groups (whether self-help, psychotherapy, social, political, corporate, religious).

It is following this dynamic 'social influence process' at work that makes this book so captivating and so informative. It helps outsiders answer the question: " How could a normal, sane person ever join a cult?" The answer is, no one ever (knowingly) joins a 'cult.'

They don't go to the Yellow Pages and look up
the nearest cult to join...The initially deceptive and later manipulative nature of cultic dynamics, coupled with the sincere spiritual seeking, need for social belonging, and the individual personality weaknesses (which we all have), particularly at times of transition and crisis, sets the stage for potential abuse. The spider sitting in the middle of the web, waiting to attract victims is the traumatic, charismatic narcissist...