Eckankar - Hinduism - Oxford Bibliographies - obo I looked like a little kid. And curtain after curtain of gauze was quietly removed, and I saw stars behind stars behind stars, as in the magical Odeons of my youth. In 68 he was a convener, which means he held Eck satsangs [classes) in his home in Rosemead, California. McMahon looks as Irish as his name, with a large, soft face and a sad mouth that bends pleasantly when he smiles. If I had a really good arm, I could have thrown a baseball up the hill, without gravity, and maybe hit his house., Did you know this before you moved there?, We drive over and park a few blocks from the beach, in front of a posh, two-story wooden house with a cobblestone drive, surrounded by Torrey pines. Apparently Lane has equally conflicted feelings about me. The term God no longer had use for me. Eckankar threatened a lawsuit for the inappropriate use of their trademark symbol on the books cover. The ocean was rushingusually I hear a sound that is like electricity, kind of high pitched, but richer, fuller than just electrical buzzing. Outsiders would think they had stumbled into a convention of traveling salesmen. According to one brochure, which invites me to experience the miracle of spiritual growth and to climb the stairway to spiritual freedom, Eckankar membership is said to be renewable on a yearly basis. All that junk you gave Lane to write down came out of your own filthy minds, and mouths and you know filthy mouths must be cleaned out don't you. Im greeted by a tall, handsome black man with a mustache and short-cropped hair graying slightly at the temples. Recently I have had a spiritual crisis where I stopped believing in the concept of the Abrahamic God. John-Roger was a follower of Eckankar, begins Lane. I dont remember that second story. ET. I said, 'Where was John-Roger yesterday? The guy turned totally paranoid. Eckankar lost. It may be a game for Lane, but believers are playing for high emotional and intellectual stakes. Paul Twitchell. In Youth Ask A Modern Prophet, Harold Klemp writes, "The deep relationship between man and woman is a sacred token of human love. I really enjoyed the music, but it was kind of sad. We see that all the time.. What is Eckankar? Religious History & Beliefs - Study.com Geraldo was in New York, and I was on satellite hookup at Universal Studios in the San Fernando Valley. Anyway, there was an intensification of that, and I knew undoubtedly something was going on. Gross was in the habit of wearing light-blue leisure suits, and men throughout the audience mimicked his attire. ECKANKAR. When I get home, my hosts greet me with a Manhattan. Eckankar | Encyclopedia.com I would not put it past Twitchell to have simply coined the name from one of his trips to Baja.. I want Eckankar in some weird universe to keep going, because its fun for me. Plagiarism charges fall on deaf ears with Eckists because weve had experiences outside of book learning. Its difficult not to resent Lane, that temptress, that town gossip, that snake in Eden. Eckankar is cult just like Scientology. When he died in 1971, he was living in Del Mar. Lane leans down to better peer through his window. Three local Eckists agreed to speak with me. Late one afternoon, I visit transpersonal psychologist Charles Richards at his office in Del Mar. Its even available for community events. Here it is. "Dummie's Guide to Why People Leave Eck" by Sri Harold Klemp - narkive The phone wire had been disconnected. He said, 'Some of us live the spiritual life, others intellectualize it. I had my two sisters to take care of while my parents were being mixed up. Everything is mauve and cream: the water cooler, the paper cups, the walls, carpet, chairs, and even the stereo. Graeme Souness to leave Sky Sports after 'magnificent' 15 years The term Eckankar is also a word used to refer to the name of God in Sikhism. Eckankar then threatened Gruss with a $2.5 million lawsuit for publishing Peebless paper, for making a photocopy of it. When Driggs gets to the line away above the chimney tops, thats where youll find me, I focus on Grosss bulbous belly and red suspenders. I gave up drugs, and my grades went down. 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. But in buying a religion, youre supposed to wear these narrow blinders, so that if anybody disagrees you can block it out. 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. He lives in the San Diego area, but the location is a closely guarded secret. The way to get more income is to have new material, speculates Lane. I see Eck masters, I see Radhasoami masters, I see Rebazar Tarzs and Sudar Singh. McMahon seems suspicious of me, so I tell him that my current husband is an Irish Catholic from Long Island and that Im still very much in contact with my former husband, whos a higher initiate of Eckankar like himself. I'm a former member of this cult, in America. 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. So who was this mysterious Paul Twitchell? Besides my straight As, I had nothing to give me a sense of self-worth. Lane smiles to himself as if he were envisioning Paul Twitchell hunched over some Radhasoami text, scribbling away. Hes a character who has seized the imaginations of Eckists as completely as Ahab or Falstaff has seized ours.) Eckankar - Wikipedia After dinner, she confides, I walked along the beach and sat down beneath a tree to do a contemplation. I was a member for almost 15 years, but thanks to the internet, I found out the truth about it and got out. Gail Atkinson, who has long since broken with Eckankar, is said to live in wealthy seclusion in Palm Springs. Youre not going to say, Well, Im a dumbshit. Why I Left Eckankar He tells me hes currently working on a second book about Eckankar, entitled Gakko Came from Venus: Exploring the Hidden World of Eckankar, an Unauthorized Expedition. Today it is perhaps the most successful religious movement to come out of the 60s, claiming a worldwide membership in the tens of thousands. 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 . Instead, Twitchell wrote about Kirpal Singh and Swami Premananda. Why you can trust Sky News Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness is to step down after 15 years. Since its early days Eckankar has always really been a religion. My parents raised me not to write in books, and so I didnt. Hinkins also wrote to Charan Singh asking him to use his influence to get lane to stop doing research on him. They looked just like the Rod of Power! Gail, after Twitchells death, married his successor, Darwin Gross, in a. Religions in Minnesota Religions in Minnesota Acts of Intolerance Because of the frequency and duration and escalation of these incidents, coupled with religious slurs being painted over sacred signs, property, and our roadway, it's religious bigotry. But some wont let you let em go. Its raining. At this stage of the game I cant buy the crap that permeates religion, not just new religions, but religion in general. The Mahanta is respected but not worshiped . We close our eyes and chant Hu together for several minutes. Incredibly, I was awake, but still in my inner world at the same time. The bed was overturned, drawers were everywhere. To top it off, their white helmets bore an insignia that was remarkably similar to Eckankars circular EK logo. I dont give them any value. Rebazar Tarzs. 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. The two students shared notes. Gross enters and takes his position behind the gold-toned vibes. Lanes research into Eckankar is meticulously documented. 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. Im worried about getting lost, he says, exasperated. He offshooted from Eckankar and founded this religion called the Divine Science of Light and Sound. I dont remember it looking this way, he says pensively. I used to be in Eckankar, I tell him. No. In Understanding Cults, Lane published The Criminal Activities of John-Roger Hinkins, a laborious account of Hinkinss alleged break-in and smear campaign. But its my vivid imagination, the projections of my own mind, my own day-to-day experiences. Lane pays for my coffee and his Coke, and we sit down at a small, dark table. So you get this juxtaposition, Lane really going off on John-Roger and McWilliams trying to protect J.R.s reputation. *, After such an exhausting chronicle, I feebly inquire, Are you still doing research on John-Roger?. . At the time I didnt know who he was. Im a mystical agnostic materialist. I just went off on him. or call 1-888-L0VE-GOD (recorded message) 952-380-2200 (Eckankar Spiritual Center) You may write us at: ECKANKAR PO Box . He took my wifes diaries and made hand-written notes in the margins. You can imagine how I felt, exclaims Lane. The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters. The loss of my old loves and Grosss loss of status become merged in an ineffable sadness. The only. 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. This is helf to be the sustaining force of all life and the equivalent of the Holy Spirit. This is where Ive got to be careful. A Violent Theory Explains Why Most Humans Are Right-Handed A line will leap out and inspire you. People always say, Leave us alone; Eckankar works. I do leave those people alone. Im talking about the very form of that truth being copied. Friday afternoon I visit 22-year veteran of Eckankar Kevin McMahon in his Cardiff home. Though Eckankar does not try to coerce disillusioned members to remain on the path, Eckists are warned that when they drop out, their spiritual growth stops, and they are at the mercy of the Kal, the negative force of the universe. They knew what I had done with Eckankar, and they thought, Well, he can do this with J.R. So there was a secret meeting in a Santa Monica condominium with these defectors. 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. Lane shakes his head. He also does private executive coaching. Then his widow, Gail Atkinson, had a vision in the night in which Twitchell named Gross. In another lifetime I may have had a connection with Rebazar Tarzs, and so that would be a good way of linking me back in. He never had much money. 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. 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. Sitting in this pathetic room with its riotously floral turquoise-and-purple carpet, it feels as if nobodys dreams will ever come true. "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. Hed read the book and wanted me to visit him. I was on the Holy Grail of research.". Curated stories, fun places to hang out and top events. Hes big, coughing, not in the best of health, and he doesnt have any money. You only here it from those shills promoting the book or on Ford's sites. How To Remove Nano Tape From Wall, Romance Author Conventions 2023, Butterfield Country Club Menu, What To Wear To Lake Como Wedding, Articles W
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