More than 100 people contributed to this award-winning biography of the complex, iconoclastic, and enlightened Buddhist teacher, Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz. Organically combining the essence of Zen and Tantric Buddhism, Lenz created life-changing challenges and adventures for his students. Whether teaching in one-on-one encounters or groups of 1,000 people, he shifted people out of their comfort zones and filled the gaps with light. As an American born in 1950 and growing up in the turbulent 60s and early 70s, he brought a fresh view to manifesting Buddhism for the West. He focused on learning by experience, whether in still, perfect meditation or software sales, and encouraged Western ways to bring students to enlightenment. Miracles and healings were part of his nature.

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 (and his friends and acquaintances). 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. Read this book and you are in the room, studying with an enlightened teacher.

American Buddhist Rebel: The Story of Rama , Dr. Frederick Lenz, Liz Lewinson, Skye Pearl, Paperback, 322 pages, $17.77

Did you ever want to meet an award-winning writer, speaker, technologist, teacher, communications specialist, non-profit executive, feminist, and Buddhist? Well hello there! This is Liz Lewinson.

I am the proud author of American Buddhist Rebel: Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz, winner of four literary awards AND available in print, ebook and audiobook formats. For the latter, I am the proud narrator. :-) I am so happy to share the story of Rama, my Buddhist teacher. As his student, I learned about meditative ecstasy, exquisite mystical powers, courage, the fullest range of honesty, compassion beyond understanding, wild humor, and freedom from limiting ideas of self and others. Before he dropped the body in 1998, he asked me to be his biographer, and I was and am honored to fulfill his request.

I am Chief Executive Officer of The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism. Since 2003, the Foundation has given out over $7 million in grants to over 160 Buddhist organizations. We make grants, stage conferences and hold webinars. Find us at www.fredericklenzfoundation.org.

I began my writing career as a freelance journalist and soon segued into Hollywood relations, landing A-list clients in a number of entertainment sectors. Intrigued by the field of computer science, I left public relations in the 90s and took in-depth training in computer science. I was soon managing complex, multi-million dollar I.T. projects for top Wall Street firms.

I enjoyed a stint in New Zealand working as the Communications Manager for an electricity and gas ombudsman office. When I returned to the U.S., I wrote two more books--Women, Meditation, and Power, and The Power of the Loving Man--and focused on making Rama's teaching materials available to the public.

To learn more about me, my books, audiobook, videos, blogs, social media and workshops, please visit www.LizLewinson.com.