Cult News

Former truck driver now “cult” leader Ronald Lloyd Spencer calls himself “Buddha Maitreya.” But it seems being “Buddha” is just not enough for the Californian.

According to a listener Spencer claimed on his radio show, “that [the Dalai Lama of Tibet] will retire next July and in recognition of ‘Buddha Maitreya’…crown him…and hand over all…ashrams…as well as [his] spiritual seat” to Spencer.

This announcement was made on Spencer’s “Shambhala Hour” program, which is broadcast in the Bay area, Santa Cruz and Omaha, Nebraska.

The self-proclaimed “Buddha Maitreya’s” new position of spiritual authority was supposedly decided upon during a “transcontinental phone call” between Spencer and the revered Tibetan religious leader.

Right.

Ron Spencer has now brought new meaning to that classic rock song “California Dreaming.”

The Mt. Shasta guru reportedly has a penchant for pot smoking. Was this dream was discerned through a cloud of Cannabis smoke?

Officials associated with the Dalai Lama deny any recognition whatsoever has been given to Spencer by His Holiness and describe his claims as “nonsense.”

Spencer has also said that he and the Dalai Lama will occupy “throne seats next to each other.”

It may be time for the self-proclaimed “Buddha” to find a new “throne,” but not one anywhere near the Dalai Lama’s spiritual seat.

Perhaps Ron Spencer should set his sights on finding a seat in a restroom. He seems full of something, but it doesn’t appear to be “holiness.”

Matt Hale may be an obnoxious hate monger, but he managed to get a law degree. The problem is he can’t use it to make a living.

No one will grant the founder of the “World Church of the Creator” a law license.

But the ever-persistent bigot is back in court with a practicing attorney to argue his case again, reports Copley News Service.

Somewhat like the old adage, “You can’t keep a good man down,” Hale appears to be proof that some bad men are just as buoyant.

CultNews.com was first to break the story that Hale was promoting himself through Internet listings as a lawyer, despite repeated court rulings that he could not practice law. According to the State’s County Attorney though, he could get away with such antics through a technical legal loophole.

Hale’s latest effort to exercise his First Amendment rights is stumping for public office. He is running for city council in East Peoria, Illinois. However, the last person to publicly endorse Hale’s character seems to have been Benjamin Smith. Smith subsequently went on a racist killing spree and then committed suicide.

Hardly the kind of endorsement that will get Mr. Hale elected.

The White Supremacist’s prospects for public office look as promising as his law career. Hale couldn’t get elected town dogcatcher. But he might take a shot applying for a janitorial position at the local pound. Maybe then he could find some practical use for his law degree— to paper a pen.

A former truck driver who now runs a “cult” in California has proclaimed himself “Buddha Maitreya” and announced on radio that he and the Dalai Lama of Tibet are working together.

Ronald Lloyd Spencer, known to his followers as “Buddha Maitreya,” says that he and the Dalai Lama will soon be “sitting on throne seats next to each other.” Spencer runs “therapy and retreat centers” in Mt. Shasta, California and Omaha, Nebraska.

He made these and other bizarre claims on his radio shows, which are broadcast in the Bay area of San Francisco on 1450 KFST FM, KNRY 1240 AM in Santa Cruz and in Omaha on KKAR Talk. His official website the so-called “Tibetan Foundation” contains material about his group and events.

However, it seems that Mr. Spencer is a liar.

A former secretary who served His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is now at Stanford University said the would-be Buddha’s claims are “totally untrue and baseless.” Secretary Tenzin Geyche Tehton added that what Spencer says concerning the Dalai Lama is “totally nonsense” and simply “rubbish.”

But visit the self-proclaimed Buddha’s website you may see him being crowned and read grandiose claims about his abilities and authority.

It seems Mr. Spencer collects donations for “lifesaving assistance,” which may explain how he managed to arrange various photo ops to show supporters and to post at his website.

However, according to those who know “His Holiness Buddha Maitreya” as just Ron, his sordid past includes theft, sexual abuse, fraud and “brainwashing.” One of his victims referred to him as little more than a “con man.”

Spencer may say that donations “help in the restoration of [Tibetan] monasteries,” but you won’t find a detailed and independently audited financial statement on his website, to demonstrate dollar-for-dollar how the money is spent.

One former Spencer confidant observed, “I pity the poor monasteries that cannot possibly have the slightest hint about how he is using them.”

Spencer also sells an array of pricey metaphysical contraptions and amulets, some supposedly designed for “etheric healing.” He claims, “all profit from sales is donated to Tibetan monastery renovations and sponsorship of exiled Tibetans.”

Ron Spencer staffs his “Soul Therapy and Shambhala Retreat Centers,” largely with Americans he calls “monks.” These devotees manufacture the contraptions he hawks, but often receive little more than room and board.

Of course the “monks” do benefit from the spiritual teachings of their “Buddha,” an eclectic mix of “New Age” beliefs that includes everything from the “Archangel Michael” to the “Lost Continent of Atlantis.” Spencer even promotes theories about UFOs.

However, these are certainly not doctrines His Holiness the Dalai Lama would recognize.

Moreover, though Spencer’s monks may be celibate their “Buddha” is not. He has been divorced, remarried and has children. And this “Buddha Maitreya” also has a history of recreational drug use and is a hemp enthusiast.

Well, it’s a free country and as they say, “Whatever floats your boat.” But it seems Spencer’s sailing shouldn’t be subsidized by trading on the respected name of the Dalai Lama of Tibet.