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?. This was 79, 15 years ago. Trending in reviews - amazon.com My only regrets were that I sold all my rock albums to pay for my membership. 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 just went off on him. Eckankar is against psychic . It was like in my imagination. Geraldo was in New York, and I was on satellite hookup at Universal Studios in the San Fernando Valley. It seems to me Im doing a huge favor to the Eckists, because now they can know what theyre joining, and if theyve read my book, theyve done all the research, and if they still think this is for me, then fine. I would just close my eyes and he would be there, and I would be there with him too. She agrees to provide us with an official photograph of Gross at the vibes, and I leave to find Lane. 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.. Sizing up his clean, homogenized attractiveness, I think, Tuck in his shirt and he could be on one of those infomercials, beside a pool selling motivational tapes how to lose weight, gain friends, make it rich in real estate with no money down. We spend roughly nine hours together, spread over two days. The treatment of critics, the phony official organizations that are merely cult front groups, and the lies are all the same. Del Mars beach is amazingly clean. Its hard to leave the magical vistas of Del Mar. So I may Ik damaging the organization, but the real essence of Eckankar is not the organization, its the Eck, that inner spirit., They read my book. If thats his focus in life, then he has a very limited view of life. McMahon explains that plagiarism isnt always what it seems. I only accept that thing which I can verify or that thing which I consider to be somewhat genuine. When it came out, I got a 25-page letter from a group called the Coalition for Civil and Spiritual Freedom. 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 . Finally, he agrees to come to the house, but Im doubtful that he will really appear. Lane leans down to better peer through his window. What is Eckankar? Religious History & Beliefs - Study.com According to Lane, all three letters are printed in the same typeface with the same malfunctioning capital A. An example is Jagat Ho. Hi, Im Dave." But her email was the exact reason why i left. He didnt bring up David Lane, but he requested that I not dwell on Darwin Gross. Lanes green eyes turn serious. and is being financed by them to do his dirty research. To top it off, their white helmets bore an insignia that was remarkably similar to Eckankars circular EK logo. Rosanne Cash sings, Some dreams die with dignity. I had out-of-the-body experiences, I had contact with spirit, I saw the blue light, saw all the things they talk about in the books prior to coming to Eckankar. Why Gen X isn't ready to leave the workforce - BBC Worklife But, while his friend Arthur Conan Doyle and other enthusiasts were impressed with the supernatural sideshows of mediums, Houdini, with his vast knowledge of magic techniques, could duplicate the effects. They sent letters about me claiming I was the negative force, that I. Thered be nothing to believe. Man, it was a nasty conversation. My personality is I want to do, ( not sit ) in a Satsang and discuss. I think of Rumi, the great Persian poet, who said, with all these false coins abounding, theres got to be something genuine in the midst of it.. Two different analysts verified they were all written by John-Roger Hinkins. Video explores the spiritual problems that may come, and explains how to deal wit. Eckankar and I finally reached a point where decades of lies, of half truths, of disappointments, finally came to a head. People always say, Leave us alone; Eckankar works. I do leave those people alone. Everybody Ive ever talked to who knows Gail says shes a very sharp person. After a year or so, he branched off and started his own group, MSIA, claiming that in 1963 he had a kidney stone operation and that after nine days of being in a coma he had been commissioned to be the Mystical Traveler Consciousness. At first Hinkins thought it was the legendary Rebazar Tarzs who came to him on the inner planes and passed on the keys to the Kingdom, but later, after seeing a photo of Radhasoami guru Sawan Singh, Hinkins decided that it was really Sawan Singh who had given him the mantle. John-Roger was a follower of Eckankar, begins Lane. Eckankar is the most direct path to becoming a coworker with the Sugmad. Initiations link Soul to the Eck (Holy Spirit), which can be seen as light and heard as sound. Sure! But when we go to the Hillcrest Village parking garage to retrieve Lanes car he cant find it. He also does private executive coaching. 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? Im under your spell, but how can I help it. There is a double edge to this torch song; from the way she keeps glancing affectionately over at Gross, it is the Masters spell that Driggs cant be blamed for falling under. What is Eckankar? | GotQuestions.org In 1983 Lane and Brian Walsh issued a glossier version of The Making of a Spiritual Movement through their own Del Mar Press. Theres lots of stuff I know about Eckankar, lots of stuff that is real juicy and real scandalous, but I wanted to limit my book to some major salient features about plagiarism and cover-up. Let's just say that on a relative scale, Jim Jones and Jonestown is the worst and that Mother Teresa of Calcutta is the best in that range Eckankar is kind of in the middle, and I dont think it should rank with the most dangerous of cults. Del Mar Press agreed to change the cover on future editions. A friend from La Jolla gave me a copy of the article that David Lane is writing called the J. R. Controversy. Susan Rice to leave White House domestic policy post Eckankar then threatened Gruss with a $2.5 million lawsuit for publishing Peebless paper, for making a photocopy of it. Theres always been a complete reliance on the individuals own inner guides and not some pre-established protocol that everybody has to operate under. On tape Twitchell is asked about Rebazar Tarzs. His only interest was getting the message out about the light and sound of God., McMahon doesnt blame anyone for being skeptical. Since I dont want to play the awkward game of trying to figure out who one another is in public, I haggle. Although i had forgotten my. Several hundred members of Eckankar live in the San Diego area, but not all of them participate in local events. Maybe it was just some neurons firing in the right part of your brain or maybe you had too much dopamine in the frontal lobes or maybe you took an Excedrin four hours ago. We dont want that kind of explanation., Its a beautiful, sunny day. It has its positive aspects, a sense of community, a sense of focusing on the individual and his or her experiences of the divine. I open the door to a boyish 38-year-old with a full head of healthy brown hair. The minute he saw me he canceled all of his appointments and spent six hours with me., Lane leans across the table toward me and grins. We dont do that in Eckankar. Eckankar lost. "Actually, Eckankar is the one who has kept me going because they keep [after] me every time I try to come out with something. Apparently Lane has equally conflicted feelings about me. Wouldnt you want to know everything you possibly could about the history of this group and then make your choice? 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.. According to Lane, members of various cults have threatened lawsuits, written him letters with skeletons on them, broken into his apartment, made death threats, and generally harassed him. Eckankar set up a meeting with Lane at its international headquarters in Menlo Park. Now I "work" on the internet trying to help others to get out, or not join to begin with. What I found was so obvious that anybody could have discovered it. It's. ECKANKAR. ", Charles Richards: "David Lane is making a name for himself by being an antagonist to Eckankar.". We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. In Youth Ask A Modern Prophet, Harold Klemp writes, "The deep relationship between man and woman is a sacred token of human love. Though McMahon is obviously angry about Lane, he maintains a kind, gentle manner. I dont mean just an idea or a thought, Im talking about the reproduction of grammatical mistakes, semicolon misuse. Im an extremely intuitive person, she says, so I feel things long before I understand them in my head. Cult Survivors: Victims of the Eckankar cult (The Library of Truth): Sykes, Joe: 9781659942743: Amazon.com: Books Books Religion & Spirituality Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Try Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery Buy new: $6.99 Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns But in buying a religion, youre supposed to wear these narrow blinders, so that if anybody disagrees you can block it out. He may like the trappings, but not the actual duty of it. The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) - Religion - Nigeria - Nairaland All rights reserved. While a few people I met were off-the-wall, Eckists in general make wonderfiil friends, kind, caring, nonjudgmental. I dont remember that second story. Once I got into Eckankar I was suspicious that he probably was an Eck Master, but he never really said so., When Yelman was 12 and she moved with her family to California, the visitations ceased. For years he came to me every single day and would teach me, but I never visually saw him except for once.. by. I think it would be wrong of me to say that Eckankar is unique. Rebazar Tarzs, yeah, that Rebazar Tarzs. I'd heard rumors about why he left but I wanted to see for myself. And just explain that Twitchell covered up his life. The upshot of it was, they didnt do anything.. I keep discovering more and more offshoots, in India as well as here its like a virus, it keeps reproducing itself., You know the ins and outs of how religions are organized, and you're a charismatic person. I had the following experience, I was taken back to the crucifixion. It never existed. It was exciting, someplace to go! Then his whole manner changed he leaned forward in his chair, his voice emphatically rose and fell. Im surprised to meet a casually dressed middle-aged man with graying hair, who seemed much younger on the phone. Im worried about getting lost, he says, exasperated. Lane shakes his head. Twitchell claimed that Eckankar was based on his own bilocation experiences and those of previous saints in various religions. 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. I dont think Twitchell imagined that Eckankar would blossom the way it did. I think that in Eckankar skepticism is healthy, he continues. It went through the roof a lot quicker than he expected. Eckankar threatened a lawsuit for the inappropriate use of their trademark symbol on the books cover. But some wont let you let em go. Its raining. In the meantime, Lane graduated from Northridge, visited India, and enrolled at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, where in 1979 he met Brian Walsh. I have nice feelings toward Eckankar. Finally, as a last resort, Lane suggests we exit the parking garage and then walk down the ramp where we drove in. I came home around 12:30 in the afternoon, and the place was ransacked. Do people get mad at Ralph Nader for saying that a Pinto blows up? Its a bitchin house.. 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. Should I send this to the IRS? 'Should I send this to Eckankar? Little notes he was making to himself. Remember, hed been kicked out of Swami Premanandas church in 1955. Dont miss out. Nine years later she read Paul Twitchells Eckankar: Key to Secret Worlds. Followers of Eckankar believe that beyond the physical world there are many other realms existing at higher vibratory rates. I hook my mike over the breadbasket and turn on the tape recorder. They say you can never damage the Eck spirit, because its life. Curated stories, fun places to hang out and top events. As members are leaving in droves, the speaker looks into why. 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. Eckankar is still very much open to and supportive of whatever religion a person belongs to. I dont give them any value. When a group of Eckists and I went to see the Bloomington, Indiana, premiere of Star Wars, we were thrilled by the light sabers of the Jedi knights. TOP 9 why i left eckankar BEST and NEWEST Dr. Bluth, Twitchells personal doctor and vice president of Eckankar at the time, has confirmed that he gave Twitchell books from the Radhasoami library. Hes now in Scottsdale, Arizona. 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. He and Gross have been sparring since 1977. Dropping out, of a religion, one in which one attempts to focus ones every thought, every action on those teachings, is a horrible experience. Eckankar got wind of the new edition, and their lawyers began corresponding with Garland. Although the book was already typeset. But even in his formality I instinctively trusted him. This is where Ive got to be careful. Scientology is worse but that is a difference in degree and magnitude. We talk about the Hu as a prayer song or a love song to God, instead of saying its a chant or mantra. Lane asks me if I want to see Twitchells Del Mar home. "There are three areas that cause people to leave ECK: First is discouragement. The Living Eck Master gives support and guidance for the things that we choose to do. Yelman pauses for emphasis. My family is full of attorneys. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world I dont think so. Lane and Walsh had put a circle with a slash through it over Eckankars logo, which is EK formed into a circle. The Far Country, Lane claims to have found more than 400 plagiarized paragraphs. Discomfort spreads across his face as I continue, You were the Master most of the time I was in it. Holding my hand, he looks deep into my eyes and says, Im still the Master. Lane can be such a card. My hobbit-like suburban existence was agitated by these chemicals of consciousness, and like any powerful initiatory . Eckankar has members in over 120 countries around the world, and its teachings have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. Its the reason, I believe, that he plagiarized so blatantly.. No, I sigh, Im not afraid of those people.. FFCA home - Ritual abuse 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 . At this stage of the game I cant buy the crap that permeates religion, not just new religions, but religion in general. Secondly, we dont have any kind of communal living. They were dressed up in suits. . In their own words, "The ECK is spirit. The similarities are there because they are both cults. I wrote to Jerry, way to go, Jerry! Why I Let My Granddaughter, 4, Lose - WSJ Among those two explanations, Occams Razor points to the simpler one, I overslept. I said, 'Where was John-Roger yesterday? The guy turned totally paranoid. In 1978, after five years of study, he was initiated into Radhasoami in India by the late Maharaj Charan Singh. 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. No. I felt the world has gone by, but these people are still there.*. 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. Pine Avenue, right next to where I was living when I was doing my books in the 80s. I dont know what that is.. Writing this summary of beliefs, I consulted Eckankar materials, but I didnt need to. Be very careful with Eckankar. He took to unmasking frauds, but always with the hopes of finding a true medium. We have a different focus and intent, thats all. I left eckankar because it simply didn't work for me and I didn't realize that for a very long time. Lane says, He got them from his Indian books on Radhasoami, or Julian Johnsons The Path of the Masters, or from With a Great Master in India. Answer. I never thought he was gay until everybody said, 'Heilo-o, looks like he likes you a little too much, Dave. One of his major disciples, Victor Toso, later revealed that he had kind of a quasicrush on me., Did John-Roger ever make any moves on you?, I was flattered that here was a spiritual master who was spending hours with me instead of dissing me or suing me. The other one is, I overslept. Signed, The Master. Another former Eckist named Gary Olsen started the MasterPath. Well, the upshot of it is, we were friendly for five years, and then in 1983 four of his closest disciples defected. Twitchell told his second wife, Gail, that he was born in the early 20s. In the early 70s, when I joined, I was dysfunctionally shy, a borderline agoraphobic, afraid to talk to salesladies in department stores. McMahon, who was raised Catholic in New York City and on Long Island, has always been interested in spirituality. The two students shared notes. Combine these two forces, the creativity of Paul Twitchell with the organizational skills of Gail Lane opens his hands in a gesture indicating anything could happen. Since its early days Eckankar has always really been a religion. For a year and a half or two years, says Lane, it was a shoestring operation. The reason I turned my back on Eckankar for good was discovering the plagiarism in their bible, which other Eckists told me was divinely inspired. Lane and his friends playfully call one another by the names " of Eck Masters. In one article Lane shows me, Twitchell is reported to have piercing blue eyes, to sleep only four hours a night, to read 5000 words a minute, to eat little, and to have the ability to be in all places at the same time.. 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. This is not the type of individual who was looking for riches he didnt dress well, he didnt have a lot of possessions or anything. Yelman tells me she was born in Germany. I always have been. Actually, Eckankar is the one who has kept me going because they keep [after] me every time I try to come out with something. Grosss uplifting music is claimed to have miraculous healing powers. Its even available for community events. Another man named Sri Michael Turner, in Tucson, claims to be the 974th Living Master of the Midnight Sun. The Living Eck Master acts as the organizational head and as a guide to the aspirants spiritual journey. People typically define cults, first of all, as based around worshiping a personality. In Understanding Cults, Lane published The Criminal Activities of John-Roger Hinkins, a laborious account of Hinkinss alleged break-in and smear campaign. 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!. An example: I claim the reason I missed our appointment last night was because Elvis was on Venus and sucked me up into a space capsule. I think it was a resistance to being in the physical world and being fully embodied, and so I tried to exit a few times. There is, indeed, something ethereal about this frail woman. Cult Survivors: Victims of the Eckankar cult (The Library of Truth) In Texas, she says, a disembodied being began visiting her. I left Eckankar because I was able to prove the concepts of Soul Travel to myself. When they find out youre talking to me, I guarantee that their lawyers will write. Peoples experiences dont matter to David Lane. (Such a quake did occur in 1812.) For years after I left Eckankar, I was plagued with wrenching spasms of primal fear, emptiness, collapse, and betrayal. This must not be true. Theyre very much like physical exercises, but theyre for Soul, to strengthen Souls connection with spirit. He took my wifes diaries and made hand-written notes in the margins. I told him I didnt plan to write about him, but letters [started going] around the country saying that I was a gay FBI agent in San Diego, that I had researchers working for me that I wasnt paying. 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. Sri harold klemp is the 973rd living eck master in an unbroken line of eck masters. The inner form of the Living Eck Master, known as the Mahanta, works with students in the dreamstate and during their spiritual exercises. The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters.