CLAIRE DANES - GOD ADVISED LEE TO PART WAYS WITH DANES

Australian rocker BEN LEE parted ways with actress CLAIRE DANES because God told him to - not because she dumped the singer to date BILLY CRUDUP.

The 26-year-old musician, who embarked on a romance with Danes when he moved to New York City in his late teens, was appalled by reports she ditched him to date the ALMOST FAMOUS hunk.

While Danes and Crudup are now an item, Lee says the spiritual path he travelled down following the death of his father led to him ending their six-year relationship.

He tells SEVENTEEN magazine, "As I got more serious about my spirituality, Claire and I started to grow apart. I felt I couldn't look to her to give me strength anymore - I had to find it inside me.

"I even had a dream where a voice said, 'God is separating you, go willingly.' I woke up and I was like, 'Wow, it really does have to end.'

"After being together for six years, Claire and I had to go our separate ways."

Lee went on to embrace the philosophies of Indian spiritual teacher NARAYANI AMMA and also travelled to India to visit his temple in Tamil Nadu.

He adds, "I had a feeling Amma could help me find what I'd been looking for spiritually after my dad's death and my breakup with Claire."