Eckankar

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Eckankar.
Eckankar.
"ECK" (note capitals) redirects here. "Eck" was also a nickname for former pitcher Dennis Eckersley.

Eckankar, Path of the Light and Sound of God. Eckankar is a teaching founded by Paul Twitchell in 1965. It exists in most countries throughout the world, and is run largely on a volunteer basis through "ECK Centers". Eckankar's headquarters is in Chanhassen, Minnesota (close to Minneapolis), and is home to (currently) the Temple of ECK, an outdoor Chapel, and an administrative building with paid staff. The teaching was first known as the "Ancient Science of Soul Travel" and is now called "The Religion of the Light and Sound of God".

The teaching emphasizes the value of personal spiritual and physical experiences as the most natural way back to God and does not advocate reliance on external authority, books or dogmatic beliefs. The term "Soul Travel" is copyrighted by Eckankar. It describes one of the basic tenets of the teaching; Soul (awareness or consciousness) can leave the body in full consciousness and travel in other worlds. The current spiritual leader of Eckankar (since October 1981) is Sri Harold Klemp. Eckankar offers membership and mail out discourses to interested parties, as well as support groups who meet to discuss the teaching at what is known as "Satsang". Membership is open to all, it is not a requirement to leave your current faith in order to join.

There are few personal requirements to be an ECKist, however certain spiritual practices are recommended for spiritual growth. Chief among these is daily practice of the Spiritual Exercises of ECK for 15-20 minutes a day. The most basic ECK Spiritual Exercise is singing the word HU (pronounced like the "hue".) There are no dietary requirements, sexual taboos, or enforced ascetic practices. The teaching puts forward no religious holidays, but acknowledges the ECK Spiritual New Year on October 22nd.

The teaching states that Eckists (students of Eckankar; also called chelas) must prove the veracity of the path for themselves. Eckists believe it is possible to achieve self-realization and God-realization in this lifetime. The emphasis has shifted in current times away from out of body experiences to experiencing God's Love in everyday matters. The final spiritual goal of all ECKists is to become conscious co-workers with God. This is the meaning of the term "Eckankar" ... ECK means ONE, ANKARA means Worker. Eckankar therefore means "Worker with the One" or in modern terms, a coworker with the Divine. Some suggest this word comes from the opening words of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, which reads: ik-oNkaar. (Which means "One Universal") see Wikipedia Ek Onkar

Contents

Eckankar teaches that spiritual experience and spiritual liberation in this lifetime are available to all. By actively exploring the spiritual worlds through Soul Travel [1], dreams [2], and other spiritual techniques you can awaken and become aware of your true nature as Soul. Eckankar's belief is that Soul is eternal and is the individual's true identity, not the body or the mind. You are Soul; you exist because God loves you. You are on a journey of Self-Realization and God-Realization.

Eckankar uses the term ECK in a similar context where Christians commonly use Holy Spirit. The teaching states that this "spirit" can be experienced as spiritual Light and Sound [3] These are given as the twin aspects of God, and it is stressed that the student can experience this divine essence personally. This ECK [4], or audible stream of life, has been described in various ways in all religious texts. EG: In the beginning there was the "word". In the Vedic Scripts, it is called Shabda or the Bani, and all major religions at some point refer to these aspects of Spirit, the Light and Sound.

Eckankar is different because it stresses these aspects as essential to spiritual growth. It claims to teach the student (chela) how to recognize and experience the Light and Sound of God through the use of spiritual exercises. It gives specific techniques that a student can practice in order to attain enlightenment based on these twin aspects of divinity.


Light and Sound: the Light and Sound of God are the cornerstones of the teaching. These twin aspects are said to be something any individual can experience. It is claimed that an individual can learn to consciously lift themselves out of their body by tuning into these aspects of Spirit.

Early Origenist philosophers and Gnostics followed similar beliefs. There are indications in the Christian Bible that also indicate this belief: 2 Corinthians 12: I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.

KARMA and REINCARNATION: These are primary beliefs in Eckankar. The ECK (Holy Spirit) helps purify oneself of karma, making it possible to accept and understand ourselves and our place in the universe, gaining wisdom, charity, and freedom in the process. If you attain Self Realisation, you are set free from the Awagawan, the endless wheel of life, or what we call reincarnation.

Spiritual Practice: Spiritual unfoldment can be accelerated through conscious contact with the ECK, Divine Spirit. This contact can be made via the Spiritual Exercises of ECK [5]and the inner and outer guidance of the Living ECK Master.

Spiritual Master: The teaching states that the Living ECK Master's spiritual purpose is to link Soul to the Light and Sound of God; Eckankar always has a Living ECK Master. It is stated that there are degrees of Mastery, recognised by an inner hierarchy called "The Brotherhood of the Vairagi". This is a brotherhood of Monks dedicated to Detachment, and it is claimed they have existed since the Dawn of Time. The current Master is always a member of this Brotherhood. (See "Eck Masters" in this article)

Personal Responsibility: The aspect of the Student creating their OWN connection with the Divine is strongly emphasised. Personal responsibility, personal effort, personal interaction with the Divine are all stressed and dependence on outer authority is downplayed. Paradoxically, there are sets of guidelines for behaviour within the teaching.

Spiritually-Charged Words: One important spiritual exercise of Eckankar is the singing or chanting of HU. The HU has been used in the Sufi traditions and other paths, and is seen to be a "love song to God". See [6]—pronounced "hue," and sung gently over and over for about 20 minutes. Eckists sing it alone or in groups during worship services, seminars, and Satsang (classes) (hear an example) for spiritual upliftment. Another aspect of Eckankar is using a variety of Sacred Words (or Mantras) to experience Soul Travel. This practice is claimed to allow the Chela to step back from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain Soul's spiritual viewpoint.

OM (AUM) is recognized as the word for the Mental plane, but is not generally used as a spiritual mantra in Eckankar.

Dreams: Dreams are regarded as an important teaching tool. Members are urged to keep a dream journal to facilitate study. It is said that a person can become capable of exploring other planes of existence, through understanding Dreams and learning to practice Soul Travel.

There is a large body of literature that discusses these and many other spiritual principles in detail that the Chela can study at his/her leisure.

The Master is not Worshipped:

Apologists for Eckankar state that the "Living ECK Master" of Eckankar is not someone to be worshipped or idolized, but used as a role model or stepping stone to achieving the enlightened state within themselves, and for each individual to lift themselves in consciousness until they are a Master unto themselves. However, there in only one official Master recognized by Eckankar, and his name is Harold Klemp. Mr. Klemp is the only member of Eckankar recognized as a "Master" by the Eckankar organization and its membership.

A basic goal of Eckists is to work off karma and achieve Self-Realization and God-realization in this lifetime. The stated goal on the back of every membership card reads: "The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take Soul by Its own path back to its divine source." –The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Book Two.

Membership

Anyone can join Eckankar. The only requirement for membership is contact information and submission of a requested donation. This membership contributions ($150) is renewable yearly. Membership is required to gain Eckankar initiations. At any time a member may request up to a five-year rest period from membership without compromising his study record or initiations. However, members who do not renew by the end of that period are dropped from membership rolls. [7]: A donation is requested however a wavier or discount is generally given in matters of hardship. Membership gives access to certain meetings and also the quarterly "Mystic World" where the leader of the teaching address students directly on a number of issues.

Initiations

Members in Eckankar receive monthly discourses and a quarterly newsletter. Individual spiritual progress is reflected in a series of initiations spanning many years. From Eckankar's web site [8]: "Most ECKists receive their First Initiation during the first year of membership, and it often comes in a dream. ECKists take at least two years to explore the ECK teachings to prove to themselves what Eckankar has to offer. After two years, you may decide to make a deeper commitment to your spiritual awakening and request the Second Initiation."

Eckankar differs from many other teachings in this regard, in that there is a waiting period before you can commit to greater involvement. Further initiations for active members occur at different points throughout the Eckists life (varies according to the individual). There is a larger general body of older initiates called High Initiates (or "H.I's") who have devoted themselves to the teachings of the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master.

Eckankar began as a formal teaching circa 1965. Paul Twitchell, the founder, started Eckankar as a business, changing it soon after to a Not For Profit organization. It was based in Las Vegas and Los Angeles until the present Master Sri Harold Klemp moved the basis of operation to Minneapolis. He also changed the Non-Profit status of the teaching to that of a religion under the laws of the United States. The headquarters and main Temple [9] as well as the yet to be formed spiritual campus are in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

The origin of Eckankar, according to its followers, is timeless. Images relating to the "EK" symbol used by present day Eckankar have been found in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.[citation needed] A 1930's book set in the pre-dynastic period of Egypt "The Winged Pharaoh" by Joan Grant, while fictional, does mention a teaching remarkably similar to present day Eckankar.

"Out Of Body" experience (known in Eckankar as "Soul Travel") is not new to the world's religions. In Christianity, for example, the Apostle Paul claims, "I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know." (2 Cor. 12:2) (Biblical scholars now generally accept the "person in Christ" is most likely Paul himself.)[citation needed]

The books of Eckankar contain a good deal of information about historical spirituality, and current practice. In addition to its teachings on dreams and soul travel, the present leader, Sri Harold Klemp, has written extensively about Eckankar and recommends books by Paul Twitchell, the late founder (books like Stranger by the River, The Flute of God, and ECKANKAR - The Key to Secret Worlds). Mr. Klemp also refers students to many "outside" sources, including alternative health practices and education. Many of Eckankar's Chelas have also written commentaries and books on the faith.

According to various biographies, Eckankar founder Paul Twitchell studied many of the world's religions, from Surat Shabda Yoga under (Kirpal Singh) to Scientology. Paul Twitchell reportedly read over 30,000 books on spiritual and other topics and was a prolific writer.

The most authoritative sources for the origins of the teaching are covered in Doug Marman's book "Dialogues in the Age of Criticism". (See bottom notes) Here he presents evidence of Twitchell studying under Sudarshan Singh who ran a now defunct teaching called "The Parent Faith". Most of the current Light and Sound teachings appear to have derived from the same source.

Paul Twitchell claimed that Eckankar was a compilation of the best of all teachings, reformed into a modern "Science of Soul Travel". In Eckankar, he brought together [10] many teachings that he felt were most the important for the development of Soul. After Twitchell, Darwin Gross was the leader for 10 years until he appointed Harold Klemp in October 1981. After a significant and public conflict, Gross set up his own spiritual teaching. His teachings are similar to Eckankar but called the Ancient Teachings of Masters, or ATOM for short. Gross has also written several books and discourses. This change in Eckankar leadership has been hotly debated, but currently there seems little dispute. Certainly the great majority of Eckists have remained loyal to Sri Harold Klemp.

Eckankar has an active membership base [11] in over one hundred countries throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa. [12]. According to a 2001 survey of 50,000 Americans, there were an estimated 26,000 American Eckists in 2001 and an estimated 36,700 American Eckists in 2004.[1]

Seminars are held worldwide throughout the year, with attendance ranging up to 10,000 participants. Worldwide estimates varying from 50,000 - 500,000 and up [13]. Eckankar does not publish their own membership figures.

Eckankar's 50,000 square foot main "Temple of ECK" [14] was dedicated in Chanhassen, Minnesota on October 22, 1990. As of early 2007, the largest capacity Eckankar Temple was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, Africa, with a total capacity of 10,000.

Eckankar has produced dozens of books, videos, CDs, and tapes on a variety of spiritual topics. Membership is based on a suggested donation: members receive discourses they are invited to study at home or in the company of other members in Eckankar Satsang classes. Eckankar does not attempt to convert individuals to their religion. They do, however, advertise their presence and distribute literature to interested persons.

Hotels that house Eckankar functions generally speak well of the attendees. There is no practice of a uniform dress code, but Eckists strive neither to smoke nor drink, and these teachings appear to have attracted individuals from all levels of society.

Recently, there has been an increase of membership in Africa, and a large temple houses some 10,000 members at their yearly gathering. Eckankar centers are located in almost every capital city in the world, and are staffed by volunteer workers.

It was once said of Eckankar that it is the world's least known international religion. There is no public record of any major religious figures in the world taking note of the teaching; however, it is reported that one of the early adherents, Ms Anya Foos, had a long-lasting religious correspondence with the late Pope John Paul II.

In addition to frequent gatherings in which members sing or chant HU, which they use as a 'love song to God' the following are also experienced during an Eckists life:

ECK Consecration Ceremony: Celebrating the entrance of the young and infant into Eckankar, and new life in the Light and Sound of God.
ECK Rite of Passage: Celebrating the passage from youth into adulthood, usually around thirteen.
ECK Wedding Ceremony: Celebrating the marriage bond as two Eckists commit their lives to one another before God.
ECK Memorial Service: Honors the journey of Soul and welcomes It into the worlds beyond the physical.

Eckists celebrate a spiritual new year on October 22nd, as well as "Founder's Day" on September 17th.

ECKists believe contact with Divine Spirit, which they call the ECK [15], can be made via the Spiritual Exercises of ECK and the guidance of the Living ECK Master. It is held that the ECK masters are Universalists who are here to serve all life irrespective of religious belief. However, it is claimed by the teaching that ECK masters will not interfere in the sacred state of consciousness of another being without their permission.

Eckankar puts up images of their Masters at: ECK Masters Another official view is:Who are Masters?.

In the teachings of Eckankar the following Masters are significant:

Kata Daki: An ECK Master in the Ancient Order of Vairagi Adepts (Eckankar teaches all Masters are from thie Order). Although her true age is beyond belief, she appears to be in her mid-twenties to early thirties. She is five and a half feet tall. Her light brown (honey-blond) hair often falls to her shoulders, but she changes hairstyles to fit her duties. She enjoys helping people get back on their feet during hardship.

Gopal Das: The Mahanta, the Living ECK Master in Egypt, 3000 B.C., who founded the mystery cults of Osiris and Isis; the guardian of the fourth section of the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad on the Astral Plane; he teaches at the Temple of Golden Wisdom there. Gopal Das is often described as having the physical appearance of Jesus Christ.

Rebazar Tarzs: The torchbearer of Eckankar in the lower worlds; the spiritual teacher of many ECK Masters including Peddar Zaskq, or Paul Twitchell, to whom he handed the Rod of ECK Power in 1965; said to be over five hundred years old, Rebazar Tarzs lives in a hut in the Hindu Kush mountains and appears to many as he helps the present Living ECK Master in the works of Eckankar.

Rami Nuri: The ECK Master who is the guardian of the holy book, the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, on the Pinda Lok, the physical world, at the House of Moksha, Temple of Golden Wisdom in the city of Retz, Venus. The letter M appears on his forehead. He served as the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master.

Eckankar teaches that these Masters have influenced many spiritual creations and works. These Masters are approachable and experienced through spiritual exercises and contemplation, and members are encouraged to develop personal relationships with them.

Skeptics question the existence of these purported Eck Masters as no hard evidence has emerged to substantiate them, other than the self-reported personal experiences of numerous Eckists around the world. It is alleged in David Lane's book, "Eckankar: The Making of a Spiritual Movement," that these masters were created and put in place of other Sant Mat gurus so as Paul could start a religion of his own.

Some splinter groups, such as ATOM, and John Roger's MSIA, have separated from the main body of the Eckankar. MSIA became known during the 1970's by distributing free "Smiley" stickers and cards with happy messages to people on the street. Roger's teaching is certainly similar, and while he acknowledges he was a student of Paul Twitchell, he denies any further connection.

As is common with most religions throughout history, including Christianity and others, some former followers have opted to start their own religions and organizations. For example, in an open letter, former Eckist Ford Johnson confessed surprise that Eckankar did not agree with his interpretation of an inner experience [16], and so he created and now promotes his own [17] spiritual organization.

Other splinter groups do not have webpages, but are active in webforums. Varied views are expressed in these forums. Such people as Michael Owens, Gary Olsen and others are former members of the teaching who claim to have achieved God Realization and now actively recruit members to their own version of Eckankar.

The current leader of Eckankar has stated that members should feel free to leave Eckankar unbounded by guilt or fear. But critics contend that while Eckankar promotes itself as a path to ending karma and reincarnation, Eckankar writings also speak of karma and reincarnation returning to members who leave. Eckankar.[18]

After Twitchell's death in 1971, David C. Lane, then a member of the Sant Mat derivative RadhaSoami Satsang Beas, charged that Eckankar itself was a derivative of Sant Mat, and that almost all of Twitchell books used passages of other groups' books without crediting their authors. Of these, Twitchell's "The Far Country" was said to be the greatest example of Twitchell's plagiarism of Julian Johnson's "Path of the Masters."[19] (Note: The Far Country is no longer published by Eckankar.)

Discussions about plagiarism including the views for and against have been outlined by long standing member, Doug Marman.[2] (Dialogues in the Age of Criticism)

Eckankar has been labeled a cult by some critics, including those who, like Paul Twitchell, have started their own religions and seek to recruit followers of their own.

On the introductory level Eckankar states that spiritual truth is not the possession of a single person or group, and that the many paths all lead to the same goal. However, this is contrary to repeated statements in Eckankar books and discourses that Eckankar is the only true path to the highest heaven. The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Eckankar's "Bible" unambiguously states that Eckankar is the only direct path to God.


Alternate views


Lane, David C: "The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar" [20]

Marman, Doug: "Dialogue in the Age of Criticism" A dialogue evolved from Plagiarism claims and discussions on alt.religion.eckankar newsgroup.Little Known Pubs

  1. ^ Adherents.com: Top Twenty Religions in the United States, 2001
  2. ^ http://www.littleknownpubs.com "Dialogue in the Age of Criticism" Accessed September 21, 2006

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