Frequently Asked Questions

1. How did the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism come to be formed?

Through the generosity of Dr. Frederick Lenz ("Rama" to his friends and associates) his will provided for finalizing the formation, and funding, of a foundation as described in the Foundation's Mission Statement. Aside from a donation to the Audubon Society, most of the Estate's assets, including all of Dr. Lenz’ intellectual works, were donated to the Foundation.

2. How is the Foundation organized?

At the request of Dr. Lenz, Norman Marcus and Norman Oberstein, his long-time professional advisors, were placed in charge of the Foundation. Dr. Lenz’ father, Frederick Lenz, Jr., joined them on the Board of Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors formed an Advisory Committee, consisting of Dr. Lenz’ former students and business associates (all practicing Buddhists), together with two nationally-respected Zen practitioners who are in a position to give the Foundation a broad perspective and assist the Board in reaching out to the broader Buddhist community. The Advisory Committee consists of:

3. What are the plans for the Foundation?

In accordance with Dr. Lenz’ directions, the Foundation is to be perpetual, meaning that it is intended to continue in its work indefinitely. Accordingly, it will make grants to other Buddhist organizations and educational institutions, as well as possibly funding its own programs, to carry out the Foundation’s purposes while at the same time seeking to grow its endowment in order to insure its longevity.

The Foundation will rely primarily on volunteer assistance (such as the Advisory Committee discussed above), investment revenue, revenue generated from the sale of Dr. Lenz’ intellectual property used in support of its mission, and unsolicited individual donations and bequests as its primary means of generating income and growth. Since the Foundation is not a public charity, it will not engage in fund-raising activities.

4. Who can apply for grants and when will grants be received?

Please see the Foundation’s Policy on Grant-Making for details.

Here is a brief summary:

1. Grants will only be made to qualified not-for-profit organizations whose goals are commensurate with those of the Foundation and which have already received their exempt status from the appropriate governmental authorities.
2. Unsolicited grant proposals are not requested and will not be considered. If, however, a letter outlining an idea for a grant is sent to the Foundation, and if the Foundation responds with a request for a full proposal, then a proposal may be written and submitted to the Foundation for consideration.
3. For information on grant-making activity, click here.

5. Will Dr. Lenz’s teachings and other intellectual properties be available to the public?

In an effort to make the public aware of the concept of American Buddhism, the Foundation is offering Dr. Lenz’s teaching audio tapes and transcripts of those audio tapes, plus additional books written by Dr. Lenz, videos and Zazen music. The intent is to make copies of these works available in attractive and high quality formats. As more of these intellectual properties become available, the Foundation will seek to add to its archives and make them available to the public. The intellectual property is accessible through an easy-to-use online storefront with immediate shipping and credit card payment capabilities. Special pricing is available to teachers of meditation.

This page will be updated with more FAQs on a periodic basis, and we welcome your questions. Please direct them to: info@fredericklenzfoundation.org

Thank you!

"Buddhism does not have a start and an ending. It was not started by any historical figure. It's a body of ways and beliefs and traditions which, when practiced correctly, will enable a person to experience enlightened states of mind."

Rama – Dr. Frederick Lenz