His critique was instrumental in my dropping out of Eckankar in the early 80s. Not the truth itself. When I woke up in the morning, I had an opportunity to ask questions. Eckankar Pre Philosophy. I figure Lane knows plenty about this. Any of these 900-plus masters may appear to spiritual seekers on the inner planes or in the physical world, often in disguise. Late one afternoon, I visit transpersonal psychologist Charles Richards at his office in Del Mar. My personality is I want to do, ( not sit ) in a Satsang and discuss. No, I sigh, Im not afraid of those people.. In a husky voice, smooth as malt whiskey, she sings, Dont blame me for falling in love with you. He took to unmasking frauds, but always with the hopes of finding a true medium. I wrote to him, and he wrote a real nice letter back, saying that we should get together and talk. Hes now in Scottsdale, Arizona. All that junk you told him made me sick. A line will leap out and inspire you. In October, at a seminar in Las Vegas, Gross was revealed to be the new Living Eck Master when Atkinson walked over to him and handed him a blue carnation. "There are three areas that cause people to leave ECK: First is discouragement. Remember, when Twitchell founded Eckankar in 1965, he was living in San Diego, at Point Loma. So I asked, 'Who is this enlightened being? It was Jerry Mulvin! I called him my friend, she continues. (In one illustration, the Rod of Power is depicted as a glowing white wand. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. But Eckists are such sweet people, I insist. That is, people have to find meaning in their lives, regardless. With all this information you have, you could start your own thing. I go, Jerry, I cant do that third-eye patch, turban, the flowing robe I cant do it.. Lane drives me back to Hillcrest. Remember, hed been kicked out of Swami Premanandas church in 1955. Theres so much shit. This was 79, 15 years ago. But Im amazed that after all the dirt hes dug up on religions, he could be seriously involved in any spiritual path. Eckankar - Reddit I only accept that thing which I can verify or that thing which I consider to be somewhat genuine. A few months later Gross and Twitchells widow married, sending more ripples of confusion throughout the fold. Sex. One time he said, I want to take you someplace. I said okay! The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters. I imagine we have a wide spectrum. I went to sleep, and in my sleep I seemed to hear a sound of singing.. Eckankar and I finally reached a point where decades of lies, of half truths, of disappointments, finally came to a head. His books were suppressed, and he was forbidden to associate himself with Eckankar or Eckankar teaching in any way, including the use of trademark terms such as Eck, EK, Living Eck Master, and Eckankar. When Gross protested, he was slapped with a lawsuit for business impropriety and copyright infringement. He extends his hand and smiles broadly. The Living Eck Master acts as the organizational head and as a guide to the aspirants spiritual journey. I left eckankar because it simply didn't work for me and I didn't realize that for a very long time. In order to burn off all their karma in this lifetime and to be released from the cycle of death and reincarnation, Eckists practice detachment from the vagaries of life. Dropping out, of a religion, one in which one attempts to focus ones every thought, every action on those teachings, is a horrible experience. Lane leans down to better peer through his window. I was never able to penetrate Richardss reassuring politeness until I turned the conversation from Eckankar to Freud, Adler, and lung. I am afraid my beliefs will cause conflict within the Eckankar community and it may be best that I leave Eckankar. On the Marie Vega [TV] show in Los Angeles, I said, John-Roger Hinkins robbed my house. He threatened to sue the TV station for a million dollars if they ever ran the program again. He looks professional but not stuffy in his blue suit jacket, gray shirt, and black boots. The Living Eck Master helps the souls that are embodied here on Earth to gain the spiritual insights that they need to grow and evolve spiritually., Yelman hugs me goodbye, and I take an endless rush-hour cab ride to Hillcrest, during which the driver asks me endless questions about Eckankar. But in buying a religion, youre supposed to wear these narrow blinders, so that if anybody disagrees you can block it out. The transaction was conducted ethically but the Left's attacks on Justice Thomas have nothing to do with ethics. Lane and his friends playfully call one another by the names " of Eck Masters. To come up with original material takes time, and time is money. The ocean was rushingusually I hear a sound that is like electricity, kind of high pitched, but richer, fuller than just electrical buzzing. Lane asks me if I want to see Twitchells Del Mar home. He lives in the San Diego area, but the location is a closely guarded secret. Dr. Bluth, Twitchells personal doctor and vice president of Eckankar at the time, has confirmed that he gave Twitchell books from the Radhasoami library. He wanted to make my research more available. Victims and Survivors: Escapees from the Eckankar cult (The Library of It was a P.O. When it came out, I got a 25-page letter from a group called the Coalition for Civil and Spiritual Freedom. Previously, my understanding of reality was contoured along the lines of the cultural landscape I was born into. Not long afterward I joined Eckankar, unaware of the dissension. Lane discovered information that led him to believe that Twitchell copied whole chapters from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details.. Several hundred members of Eckankar live in the San Diego area, but not all of them participate in local events. Harold Klemp. The problem is that John-Roger claims to be celibate. I actually kept my phone for years, explains Lane, untilone night when youre asleep and youve got to get up at four in the morning and go to school, you get a phone call saying, Were going to fucking kill you. You know what I mean? Outsiders would think they had stumbled into a convention of traveling salesmen. For years he came to me every single day and would teach me, but I never visually saw him except for once.. Houdini longed to communicate with her beyond the grave. In 1978 Richards moved from North Carolina to San Diego to pursue his graduate training in psychology. Im talking about the very form of that truth being copied. The bed was overturned, drawers were everywhere. Lane is convinced John-Roger was involved. Understand, hes got names coming out of the woodwork., So who do you think Rebazar Tarzs really is?. The think any actual activ long time member of Eckankar is very happy with Eckankar. I dont remember that second story. I dont think so. Grosss fastidious avoidance of the copyrighted term Eckankar is noticeably awkward and circuitous. ", Charles Richards: "David Lane is making a name for himself by being an antagonist to Eckankar.". The following evening, when the airport shuttle drops me off in front of my apartment, five guys are smoking crack beside a dumpster. We dont do that in Eckankar. It got to the point that it became a mythology in which Twitchell couldnt remember all the names. For tax purposes Twitchell moved Eckankar to Las Vegas, but he maintained residence in San Diego for the rest of his life. The inner form of the Living Eck Master, known as the Mahanta, works with students in the dreamstate and during their spiritual exercises. Those who become disheartened quit ECK for other paths that seem to require less drive and responsibility of them. It's. When you look at what we do relative to other religions, it basically is no different, we just have a different doctrine and somewhat different beliefs. Richards flashes me his dimples. Paul Twitchell. But some wont let you let em go. Its raining. In her Golden-Tongued Wisdom, Rosanne continues to sing, A cold hard rain comes pouring down. There was music and noise and clamor, and I turned to look at my friend. Question - alt.religion.eckankar.narkive.com When she begins her next selection, My Funny Valentine, I lose all objectivity*. If you've checked out the lives of the Eck Masters and found problems, do the same thing to all these "occult experts" because a lot of them had their stories . Cautiously I bring up David Lane. Although no meetings are required, the local Eckankar newsletter lists a variety of classes, book discussions, Hu chants, and lectures. My only regrets were that I sold all my rock albums to pay for my membership. Once we get to Del Mar, Lane pulls to the side of the road and examines a copy of Twitchells death certificate to get the exact address. Two figures emerge from the stilted style: the protean Paul Twitchell and his young, vivacious wife Gail, who, after Twitchells death, married his successor, Darwin Gross, in a Dynasty-like power play that troubled and thrilled the faithful. Although the Hindi/Punjabi term Ek Onkar (literally "One God/Power") was most likely derived from Guru N nak's Japj (the first set of hymns in the Sikh holy book, Gur Granth S hib), Twitchell altered its original phonetic spelling and definition, claiming that "Eckankar" was a Tibetan . According to Lane, all three letters are printed in the same typeface with the same malfunctioning capital A. It is a nonprofit religious organization and church, legally recognized in the United States and over 40 other countries. The Making of a Spiritual Movement, which is not advertised or available in bookstores, has sold more than 10,000 copies. Eckankar is still very much open to and supportive of whatever religion a person belongs to. McMahon generously drives me to my interview with holistic health practitioner Bettina Yelman, whose Del Mar office is just down the hall from Richardss. Opinion | Tucker Carlson's Great Replacement - New York Times I ask, ever so casually, Is it true that you have some friends who are Eckists?, How do they justify that you are doing things that might damage the group?, They differentiate the message from the medium. Are your tax dollars being spent by this group? So they interviewed me, and I had this rainbow tie on, and Geraldo and I were going at each other. What I find interesting is that his material doesnt shake the belief of most Eckists., This is why, he responds immediately. We have a different focus and intent, thats all. Dont you feel like the Great White Hunter attacking the endangered rhinoceros? Lane responds with animation. Eckankar - religious cults, sects and movements - Apologetics Index "We use more discriminating intelligence when we buy a used car than when we buy a religion, says philosophy professor and cult-buster David Christopher Lane. In 1942, after a stint in the Navy, Twitchell moved to New York, where he continued his journalism career, attended many churches, and read extensively on spiritual subjects. He may like the trappings, but not the actual duty of it. Eckankar teaches that it is possible to experience the Light and Sound through the proper use of spiritual exercises. And they said, He taught you everything he could teach you, and you agreed that it was complete. It was so satisfying, it was so true, really true, true to the core of my being., So was your childhood teacher an Eck Master?. by. The next day Channel 8 news came out and did as their lead story Cult Researcher Robbed. They took a copy of my article The J.R. Controversy. But they didnt name John-Roger.. Eckankar is a classic case in point. Why Harlan Crow Purchased Clarence Thomas's Mother's Home Former Eckankar re-visits the movement | San Diego Reader To top it off, their white helmets bore an insignia that was remarkably similar to Eckankars circular EK logo. He totally doesnt know; he doesnt know what the guys talking about. As I stroll toward the ocean, through a lush, affluent neighborhood, disappointment creeps over me like the tide. When I leave Richardss office its dusk. But Lane had the jump on all of them when back in 1984 he wrote The J.R. Aside from the fact that Eckankar has techniques and tools that are incredible and not really matched by other groups, I think the freedom that is allowed to the members is a wonderful thing.". My hobbit-like suburban existence was agitated by these chemicals of consciousness, and like any powerful initiatory . Soul, being a spark of God, is on a journey to find its way home to God, or the Sugmad. Lane shakes his head. Yelman received hers while at an Eck seminar in Hawaii. I left Eckankar because I was able to prove the concepts of Soul Travel to myself. Grosss uplifting music is claimed to have miraculous healing powers. At this stage, Peter McWilliams, the guy who later wrote Life 102, was still pro-John-Roger, so he was putting his hands on the camera, that kind of scene, when they tried to interview John-Roger. Sitting at our outside table, high above Camino Del Mar, surrounded by sky and ocean, I feel as if were gods feasting on petty human concerns. Eckankar ( or ECK) is a religious movement started in 1965 by Paul Twichell, a student of sound current yoga who modified the beliefs of the latter into his own spiritual movement, i.e., ECK . He is a reserved man whose dimpled smile betrays a sense of humor. Shes very clean and clear about her business acumen. There he and his first wife, Camille, joined the Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism, a system of yoga founded by Swami Premananda. Do people get mad at Ralph Nader for saying that a Pinto blows up? In Understanding Cults, Lane published The Criminal Activities of John-Roger Hinkins, a laborious account of Hinkinss alleged break-in and smear campaign. Driving the news: " As the only person to serve as both National Security Advisor and Domestic Policy Advisor, Susan's record of public service makes history," Biden said of the former UN ambassador and national . Last April the current Living Eck Master, Harold Klemp, spoke at a three-day major seminar at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Because Gross had been in Eckankar less than two years, his appointment shocked and disturbed many Eckists. Actually in the moment it was okay, I hardly noticed it. . Sri harold klemp is the 973rd living eck master in an unbroken line of eck masters. The former members of Eckankar make a mistake in here thinking procedure. Gross was in the habit of wearing light-blue leisure suits, and men throughout the audience mimicked his attire. A friend from La Jolla gave me a copy of the article that David Lane is writing called the J. R. Controversy. To me, if people want to get into those kinds of discussions, fine, and Ill kick it around with them for a while, too, if they want to talk on that level. We close our eyes and chant Hu together for several minutes. This most incredible feeling came over me, literally like light inside of me. Moreover, people within John-Rogers group have confirmed that on the day of the robbery he was in San Diego., Lane didnt sue Hinkins, but he did go public with his story. It was difficult coming to this country, trying to figure out the language, the new culture, and what to do. I never stopped, not even for a minute even though they, pardon my expression, treated me like shit. As I walk away he yells after me, Hang in there!. Im worried about getting lost, he says, exasperated. Why I Let My Granddaughter, 4, Lose - WSJ So he puts up a thousand bucks and out comes this funky. I stood up and said, You know, Im a member of the community, Im a coach in the Little League, Im involved with the schools. I gave a list of my involvements with the community, and then I said, Im an Eckist and I believe in God. Im not interested in all this other dialogue that David Lane is so focused on. He was a pro-bowler as well as a higher initiate in Eckankar. Man, it was a nasty conversation. I got one of his disciples. 1:08. The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) - Religion - Nigeria - Nairaland Im a mystical agnostic materialist. . Curated stories, fun places to hang out and top events. Then his whole manner changed he leaned forward in his chair, his voice emphatically rose and fell. Gross and Kurz are joined by vocalist Kim Driggs, an attractive woman with dark shaggy hair. His only interest was getting the message out about the light and sound of God., McMahon doesnt blame anyone for being skeptical. He publishes books through an organization called Be Good to Your Self, located in Las Vegas. It went through the roof a lot quicker than he expected. WHY I LEFT THE MASTER. Id really start believing Id had a spiritual experience, Id wake up feeling like, Wow! Eckankar works because it doesnt make you have experiences that are impossible to have., What about soul travel, visiting higher planes of existence? Lane swallows his pizza. I am skeptical of paranormal claims, because I believe we need to shave more with Occams Razor. Occams Razor?, The principle of competing theories, developed in the 14th Century by a guy named William of Occam, who said that if you have competing theories, go for the simplest theory first if it explains the issue fully. Here's something you might be interested in. I see Eck masters, I see Radhasoami masters, I see Rebazar Tarzs and Sudar Singh. See! she exclaims. Hes told me he surfs, and in his knee-length khaki shorts, plum-colored T-shirt, and sandals, he looks like a surfer. In Texas, she says, a disembodied being began visiting her. I think it would be wrong of me to say that Eckankar is unique. Eckists are all over the world, and in different walks of life, and from different political orientations, different socioeconomic levels. His voice changed, Well, we cant reveal that information. Was he in San Diego? No reply. He does that all the time. Its even available for community events. I dont think Twitchell imagined that Eckankar would blossom the way it did. Thered be nothing to believe. As we wander aimlessly back and forth between the second and third levels of the garage, I smile at my surfer companions inability to negotiate this concrete urban maze. The way to get more income is to have new material, speculates Lane. I dont have a real axe to grind., At a Hillcrest cafe, Lane confides, The people who scare me are John-Rogers people, not Eckankars. John-Roger Hinkins, founder of the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSI A, pronounced Messiah), has gotten a lot of bad press lately. Eckankar - Hinduism - Oxford Bibliographies - obo Then he mailed some of the stolen documents anonymously to Eckankar under the assumption that they would use it against me and I would think Eckankar robbed my house. I did my spiritual exercises daily as much as probably anyone in eckankar. The human soul is eternal and is on a spiritual journey of reincarnation to discover and improve the true self thereby realizing his own true inner divinity. Lanes green eyes turn serious. Eckankar does not help people find God. I would raise my head to the stage in rapt silence, devouring every word the Grosses spoke. Founded in 1965 by Paul Twitchell, one-time disciple of Swami Premananda, Kirpal Singh, and L. Ron Hubbard, Eckankar owes much of its theology to Radhasoami. box with John-Rogers own name signed to it., Four or five months later, on October 5, 1984, Lanes apartment in Del Mar was burglarized. He may have been Rebazar Tarzs. As we shake hands I notice hes wearing a gold ring with an embossed EK logo. In 1979 he called me from Northridge, where he was living at his girlfriends aunts house. I was excited 20 years old, in the moment of discovering something new. FFCA home - Ritual abuse But he was describing my experiences. He has no phone. . Lane has countered with a point-by-point rebuttal, When God Responds: Sri Darwin Gross versus David Lane, which hes including in his new book, Gakko Came from Venus. All rights reserved. So Harold said, Hey, why should we make this difficult for people? I could almost picture the legendary Rod of Power in Darwins hand. He was obsessed. I taped them for five hours. The accusations leveled against Hinkins included embezzling money, plagiarizing from the teachings of Paul Twitchell and others, skirting zoning laws, illegally obtaining airfare discounts, setting up tape recorders throughout his house to obtain information that he would later use to appear psychic, and sexual misconduct. In my copy of The Making of a Spiritual Movement, he signs himself the Kal force, Dave. The Kal force, remember, is the power of negativity. The Cadillac of Cults. I cant understand why he would be doing this, because the Eckists have never gone out of their way to hurt him; but he claims that they did, I think, in one regard. I found all this fun, interesting stuff. We talk about the Hu as a prayer song or a love song to God, instead of saying its a chant or mantra. I dont go into Eck centers and walk around and say, Here, read my book. All Im saying is that Twitchell was lying to his constituency. People sit on park benches, push baby carriages along paths, jog beside the water. In fact, we find more in common with people of other religious or spiritual beliefs than we have with people who dont have any religious or spiritual beliefs, simply because they have a commitment to spirit on some level., Im curious about how Eckankar has changed since I left it in the early 80s., Well, Richards says slowly and thoughtfully in a charming Southern accent, I think the present Living Eck Master has not changed the essence of the teachings, which is basically about self-realization and god-realization in the most direct way the individual can achieve that. At 17, Lane, who was raised Catholic in the San Fernando Valley, became interested in Radhasoami, a branch of surat shabd yoga founded in India in the 19th Century. I met a guy from Vietnam whose whole family traveled here to San Diego by boat, guided by Rebazar Tarzs, whos one of the Eck Masters thats written about in the books. After reading Eckankar books for a year and a half, Yelman went to a seminar in Las Vegas. Saturday afternoon, when we arrive at the hotel, Lane keeps disappearing into the bathroom. Those answers were so far-reaching in their depth and breadth, they still help me today, nine years later. The 69-year-old joined the broadcaster in 2008 after 22 years in football management. Instead, Twitchell wrote about Kirpal Singh and Swami Premananda. Eckankar did work for me, mainly because its spiritual exercises, like using the mantra OM or HU and focusing on the third eye, are legitimate and used by similar religions that predate Eckankar. When he finishes the song, he takes off his shoes to be closer to the keys. The atmosphere in the room is homey and protective. And the sex though Eckankar in no way encourages sexual contact among its members with that degree of trust and the sense of two souls meeting, the sex was great. In days of old the barrier [sic] of bad news to the King was done away with. I wanted Bettina Yelmans calm, I wanted Charles Richardss benevolence, I wanted Kevin McMahons assurance. I dont want to tweak his day. You only here it from those shills promoting the book or on Ford's sites. Eckankar lost. I dont know what that is.. Initially he refuses to come to the Hillcrest home where Im staying, preferring to meet in a nearby restaurant. Basically, I feel that David Lane is making a name for himself by being an antagonist to Eckankar. Jerry Mulvins suggestion that you start your own cult must have been intriguing on some level. He offshooted from Eckankar and founded this religion called the Divine Science of Light and Sound. On October 22, 1965, Twitchell claimed to have received the Rod of Power from Rebazar Tarzs, becoming the 971st Living Eck Master. While Lane is in the bathroom, I try, to no avail, to get permission to photograph the event. You can imagine how I felt, exclaims Lane. Answer. In their own words, "The ECK is spirit. When the Vietnamese fellow was in San Diego, he saw a poster for an Eckankar event that had a picture of Rebazar Tarzs on it, and he recognized him. Why is Eckankar not uplifting? - YouTube