why i left eckankar

Nobody wins, so we just let it sit there. Understand, hes got names coming out of the woodwork., So who do you think Rebazar Tarzs really is?. I keep waiting for Gross to give a speech, but he never does. People typically define cults, first of all, as based around worshiping a personality. Several hundred members of Eckankar live in the San Diego area, but not all of them participate in local events. I dont give them any value. He reminds me of the bloated, near-death Elvis, only fatter and older. At the time I didnt know who he was. Garland decided to withdraw it. In Understanding Cults, Lane published The Criminal Activities of John-Roger Hinkins, a laborious account of Hinkinss alleged break-in and smear campaign. Not long afterward I joined Eckankar, unaware of the dissension. On the wall to my right is a framed print of the yin-yang symbol with a feather fixed to it. You got it. The mastership of Darwin Gross is a black cloud in Eckankar history, a history that Eckankar wants to erase. The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters. The idea that people are leaving Eckankar based on what they read in a single book is IMO an advertizing tactic to sell more copies. And I saw into the vast soft interior of the universe which was slowly and gently turning itself inside out. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group. 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. Its going to be interesting to see how this information gets back to me. I wrote to Jerry, way to go, Jerry! It may be a game for Lane, but believers are playing for high emotional and intellectual stakes. But Eckists are such sweet people, I insist. It lacks the wit, passion, and narrative drive of his other books. That is, people have to find meaning in their lives, regardless. In 1950 the Twitchells moved to the church compounds, but five years later Twitchell was asked to leave the church for personal misconduct. That same year he and his wife separated. Darwin Gross. 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. 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. Writing this summary of beliefs, I consulted Eckankar materials, but I didnt need to. Their divorce was final in 1960. But he was describing my experiences. Eckankar is a classic case in point. Its hard to leave the magical vistas of Del Mar. People always say, Leave us alone; Eckankar works. I do leave those people alone. I need it. On October 22, 1965, Twitchell claimed to have received the Rod of Power from Rebazar Tarzs, becoming the 971st Living Eck Master. Twitchell coined the word Eckankar (a Punjabi word meaning "One God" or "Supreme Reality") from Guru Nanak's Japji, as found in the Sikh's holy scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib. In the course of his research, Lane discovered information that led him to believe that Twitchell copied whole chapters from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details, and misled people concerning the origin of Eckankars doctrines. Lanes research into Eckankar is meticulously documented. The Making of a Spiritual Movement, which is not advertised or available in bookstores, has sold more than 10,000 copies. The courtship was over. In order to help the reader understand where I'm coming from, I am an active higher initiate in Eckankar who has been on the path since the mid-80's. I first read this book over a decade ago because I knew Ford as an acquaintance and I respected him as a dedicated leader in Eck. Though McMahon is obviously angry about Lane, he maintains a kind, gentle manner. Burley, who . Answer. Dropping out, of a religion, one in which one attempts to focus ones every thought, every action on those teachings, is a horrible experience. The phone wire had been disconnected. How wonderful after Eckankar, when I was able to experience the exquisiteness of other musicians and various teachers and realize fully: "This is it. Im greeted by a tall, handsome black man with a mustache and short-cropped hair graying slightly at the temples. 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. The Living Eck Master acts as the organizational head and as a guide to the aspirants spiritual journey. And I dont mean fun in a mean way, I mean, I find Paul to be incredibly imaginative and very interesting to investigate.. I wonder how long it takes new Eckists to even learn of his existence. Recently I have had a spiritual crisis where I stopped believing in the concept of the Abrahamic God. Wouldnt you want to know everything you possibly could about the history of this group and then make your choice? I called John-Roger immediately. Clearly he is more comfortable with the fluid topography of waves, of meditation, of philosophical inquiry. The Mahanta is respected but not worshiped . He basically took Eckankars money, while saying it was really for Eckankar purposes. Excommunicated from Eckankar, his lifetime agreement terminated, Gross was suddenly penniless. Many events are open to the public, including the Sunday worship services, which tackle spiritual topics of broad interest. Eckists have said that detractors (critics of Eckankar) are people who quit Eckankar because it didn't work for them, or because they failed at the path, and thus can't be taken seriously. Hes now in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Courier-Journal magazine, to which he was a regular contributor, reported that he sold 1800 stories and articles in three years. 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. Now what do you do when your group is charging money and does not follow any of the restrictions of this Indian group it evolved out of, one whose teachings are free? 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. The think any actual activ long time member of Eckankar is very happy with Eckankar. Rebazar Tarzs, yeah, that Rebazar Tarzs. "Race me!" 4-year-old Lucia demands. In a way it was like an abandonment. Probably a composite cover name for three people: Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, which was started 500 years ago; Sawan Singh, who was Kirpal Singhs guru; and Swami Premananda. 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 looks like Santa, I think, like a fallen Santa. Rather, hes tried to make the teachings more accessible to the average person whos interested in religion or spirituality but may not be familiar with a lot of the terms that weve used in the past., What alternative terms have been developed?, Instead of talking about contemplations or the nurat or the surat technique for the light and sound, we just say we do spiritual exercises. David Lane lives in the San Diego area, but the location is a closely guarded secret. Lane and his friends playfully call one another by the names " of Eck Masters. Dont you all have innocent" friends visit you and live near you? Lane leans across the cafe table, excitedly tapping his straw. Lane shakes his head. They would say that in any college or institution. Why do you make a point of fingering Eckankar?, I do think Christianity has fucked up more people in its history than Eckankar ever has. For the past 20 years, Lanes books and articles accusing several new religious movements of plagiarisms, lies, inconsistencies, and scandals have raised a fury among true believers. But Im amazed that after all the dirt hes dug up on religions, he could be seriously involved in any spiritual path. Why you can trust Sky News Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness is to step down after 15 years. The treatment of critics, the phony official organizations that are merely cult front groups, and the lies are all the same. But he refuses to reveal details for publication and will only repeat the facts as listed on the death certificate. A left-handed grip will rotate the left side of the chest, and thus most of the heart, toward an enemy, while a right-handed grip will rotate it away. 40 people in a hotel named Hanalei in San Diego for a man who used to draw thousands. 2 0 Share Reply More Q His disciples told me he would pick a guy every night out of the staff and claim that they needed to have sex with him in order to increase their aura or they needed, pardon my language, a rectal innerphase in order to burn off karma., He has thus thing called aura innerphasing, where you do aura balancing, soul balancing, etheric balancing. Grosss rise to power was steeped in controversy from the beginning. Lanes research indicates, however, that Twitchell was born between 1908 and 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky. One interesting guy I met was Jerry Mulvin. I think theres some sophomoric techniques, that its naive in terms of its psychology. With the popularity of the Ghostbusters logo. The disciples felt used and manipulated for spiritual reasons., After the secret meeting. I called him my friend, she continues. Hes big, coughing, not in the best of health, and he doesnt have any money. It is mainly because eckankar systematically schools the follower to be dependent on the person of the living eck master and his organization as the only "reliable" source of information and to suppress a mature and less naively subjectivistic view on his own experiences, with suggestions of severe repercussions and spiritual loss in case he acts by. April 25, 2023, 1:58 p.m. This is God's love and intelligence, and it is EVERYWHERE." Its had to be recognized as such in this country to operate as a nonprofit organization. Thats his axe to grind with Eckankar. I would raise my head to the stage in rapt silence, devouring every word the Grosses spoke. I got one of his disciples. Eckankar's stance on sexual relations, although overtly heteronormative, speaks to the religion's appreciation of the sex act as an important and meaningful experience in human life. Whereas Sudar Singh [another memorable character in Twitchells cosmology] isKirpal Singh. In The Making of a Spiritual Movement, Lane quotes many passages from Twitchells magazine articles written in the 60s in which Twitchell cites Swami Premananda, Kirpal Singh, Meher Baba, Guru Nanak, Kabir, and even Jesus. His only interest was getting the message out about the light and sound of God., McMahon doesnt blame anyone for being skeptical. I kind of [thought he was a fraud, but at the time he was being nice to me so I wasnt in the mood to expose him. I want Eckankar in some weird universe to keep going, because its fun for me. When youre traveling, you want to have fun; you want to see pretty things. Within two years Klemp fired Gross, accusing him of negativity, spiritual decay, and embezzlement. Each year Eckankar holds three of these U.S. seminars, which can draw 6000-plus people. I found all this fun, interesting stuff. Twitchell was living in Point Loma in 1965 when he started teaching workshops and selling booklets on how to leave your body. He may like the trappings, but not the actual duty of it. "Actually, Eckankar is the one who has kept me going because they keep [after] me every time I try to come out with something. 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. After she finishes, Gross says, She can belt one out, cant she? 2023 San Diego Reader. Gail, after Twitchells death, married his successor, Darwin Gross, in a. Many Eckists regard this death with the same mixture of awe and curiosity with which we regard the death of JFK. Thats really what it is for me. Other students of Radhasoami have objected to Lanes critical stance in The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship, published by Garland. 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. Gross was in the habit of wearing light-blue leisure suits, and men throughout the audience mimicked his attire. He invited me to his house in Mandeville Canyon, a beautiful house, a mansion. Twitchell claimed that Eckankar was based on his own bilocation experiences and those of previous saints in various religions. In The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, Ruth Brandon writes, He terribly wanted to be convinced. Hes listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not as having sold an article every day. Much of Grosss current teachings center around the easy-listening jazz he performs on the vibes. 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. Seriously, what could one say about anybody that left a long held teaching based solely on words in one book? Lane discovered information that led him to believe that Twitchell copied whole chapters from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details.. I had my two sisters to take care of while my parents were being mixed up. If you left Eckankar because of the lies of the founders and their actions, don't spread garbage about totally unrelated things that were largely debunked after the 1980s "Satanic Panic". Im sure of it. He taps his finger on the table. Second, everybody has to dream at night, or most people dream at night, and Eckists dream about Fubbi Quantz or Rebazar Tarzs or Paul Twitchell. I would just close my eyes and he would be there, and I would be there with him too. Just when I thought the story was over, a new development pops up, like the arm jutting from the grave at the end of Carrie. 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. It was hard to leave Eckankar too. Hes a friendly guy with lots of dreams of his own, but I just want to stare at the streams of headlights along the highway. 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. As I stroll toward the ocean, through a lush, affluent neighborhood, disappointment creeps over me like the tide. In 1979 he called me from Northridge, where he was living at his girlfriends aunts house. The spiritual exercises are a form of prayer. Source: mallsofamerica.blogspot.com. Six members of Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS have been placed on administrative leave after a video showed multiple emergency personnel punch and kick a person in an apparent brawl while on . 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. Finally, as a last resort, Lane suggests we exit the parking garage and then walk down the ramp where we drove in. 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.

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