In 1983, when Rama - Dr. Frederick P. Lenz recorded a series of profound and powerful talks entitled Insights: Talks on the Nature of Existence, he was instructing an ever-growing number of students. Dr. Lenz himself was developing an approach to self-realization that, while emphasizing meditation and enlightenment, drew from a variety of traditions including Vedanta, Tibetan Buddhism and the American mystic teachings described by Carlos Castaneda. The Insights talks, which evolved from this time period, are like a crest jewel of Dr. Lenz’s body of teachings.

It is interesting to note that most of the Insights talks are subtitled “Modular Mysticism” (for example, “Modular Mysticism: The Truth”). Even the talk titled “How to Make Friends with God” – discussed in depth only in this series – is termed a part of “Modular Mysticism.” What is modular mysticism and how does it relate to Dr. Lenz’s Buddhist philosophy and practice?

In the practice of mysticism, Dr. Lenz explains, the student begins to understand awareness and power. Modular mysticism becomes the science of power, and the student learns to gain power, to stop losing power, to store power, and eventually to give power to others. In order to gain power, the student begins to lead an efficient and well-structured life. The student learns to clean and polish every aspect of their first attention, to bring a tremendous amount of refinement into their mind. As the student accomplishes this, they are able to move more easily through the doorways to enlightenment.

At each step along the journey of the Insights talks, Dr. Lenz gives specific examples of how to adapt and integrate mystical Buddhist practice into a Western lifestyle. For Dr. Lenz there was no contradiction between being a successful Westerner and a successful Buddhist, be it building a career, working out at the health club, going to the movies, shopping for clothes -- or understanding why more women don't attain enlightenment (when, in fact, it's easier for them to do so). In every instance, Dr. Lenz connects the heights of the mystical experiences directly to our everyday lives.

TOPICS:

Modular Mysticism: Storing Power
Modular Mysticism: Seeing
Instant Enlightenment
Sophisticated Sexuality
Modular Mysticism: Dress for Power
Modular Mysticism: Spiritual Crossroads
Modular Mysticism: How to Make Friends with God
Modular Mysticism: The Non-Doing of Meditation
Modular Mysticism: Why Don’t More Women Attain Enlightenment?
Modular Mysticism: The Sorcerer’s Explanation
Modular Mysticism: Love - the Fourth Level of Ecstasy
Modular Mysticism: Tibetan Yoga and the Secret Doctrine
Modular Mysticism: The Truth