Coming Soon: I Am Rama

The Binge Cases: U R NEXT

Sony Music

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.0 • 4.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 June 2021

⏱️ 4 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0	To begin our practice today, I want you to have a seat on your meditation cushion.
0:11.6	Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
0:23.2	It's 1982, San Francisco.
0:26.5	Imagine you're looking for something more in life.
0:29.7	Even more than you're nine to five, more than working for the weekend.
0:34.1	So here you are, checking out a meditation teacher who goes by the name Rama.
0:39.3	You've seen his flyers around town.
0:40.9	He doesn't look like a monk.
0:43.4	Designer clothes, big mess, a blonde hair, mischievous smile.
0:48.0	You decided to give him a shot.
0:52.6	It's so much more than you expect.
0:55.4	The meditation takes you to a place you've never been before, but that's not all.
0:59.7	Rama has something else on offer, a program, a way for you to enjoy the lifestyle he enjoys.
1:06.0	Spiritual freedom and professional success.
1:08.9	And I mean success.
1:12.2	He made lots of money.
1:14.8	By the 90s, he had several homes and millions of dollars in the bank.
1:19.4	He's this intoxicating combination of a rock star, spiritual master and college professor,
1:26.9	and you can't get enough of him.
1:34.6	My life would not be what it is today, if not for Rama.
1:37.4	I know this for a fact.
1:39.6	The feeling hooked some followers for good, but others, they got out.
	...

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