The treatment of critics, the phony official organizations that are merely cult front groups, and the lies are all the same. At this stage of the game I cant buy the crap that permeates religion, not just new religions, but religion in general. As Eckankar filled my life, I felt like I was entering Shangri-la; a new glistening world of love, of possibility opened before me. Recently I have had a spiritual crisis where I stopped believing in the concept of the Abrahamic God. 40 people in a hotel named Hanalei in San Diego for a man who used to draw thousands. What about Lanes plagiarism charges? I ask. 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. Clearly he is more comfortable with the fluid topography of waves, of meditation, of philosophical inquiry. I anticipate our talk with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Wouldnt you want to know everything you possibly could about the history of this group and then make your choice? Hes got his music. Man, it was a nasty conversation. This most incredible feeling came over me, literally like light inside of me. ECKANKAR. Its going to be interesting to see how this information gets back to me. 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!. 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. A skeptic goes to an Eckankar meeting, or anybodys meditation meeting, and says, Well, now wait a second, are you sure you saw the astral body of Rami Nuri? 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.. The problem is that nobody uses Occams Razor when it comes to spirituality. Source: mallsofamerica.blogspot.com. or call 1-888-L0VE-GOD (recorded message) 952-380-2200 (Eckankar Spiritual Center) You may write us at: ECKANKAR PO Box . In 68 he was a convener, which means he held Eck satsangs [classes) in his home in Rosemead, California. He was kind of dark complexioned. Eckankar took off like wildfire, growing from three students to thousands in less than three years. 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. Every thriller these days has a false ending and then a real ending, to the point that when I watch a pre-Carrie film, I am disappointed at how easily chaos is defeated. Lane believes, that Twitchell created the unbroken line of Vairagi Eck Masters, dating back some six million years to Gakko, who emigrated from the planet Venus. So I do. He said, 'Some of us live the spiritual life, others intellectualize it. 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. McMahon generously drives me to my interview with holistic health practitioner Bettina Yelman, whose Del Mar office is just down the hall from Richardss. People sit on park benches, push baby carriages along paths, jog beside the water. He totally doesnt know; he doesnt know what the guys talking about. 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. If you want to go and follow a group in which the founder lies to you, whether its about the spiritual masters on the inner planes, about his personal life, or about the sources of his information and his books, well, fine. T he attacks on Justice Thomas never stop. Blame Eddy for May Gray and June Gloom, Chamise and Buckwheat are blooming, All the Dylan Mulvaney San Diego connections. As he fetches me a glass of juice, I sit in his cozy living room, which is decorated with family photos, relics from Thailand, and McMahons own paintings, imaginary landscapes with lots of vivid blue. Shortly after . 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. I felt the world has gone by, but these people are still there.*. The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters. But Im amazed that after all the dirt hes dug up on religions, he could be seriously involved in any spiritual path. I imagine we have a wide spectrum. A line will leap out and inspire you. Within two years Klemp fired Gross, accusing him of negativity, spiritual decay, and embezzlement. I always have been. ECKANKAR was founded by Paul Twitchell (1909 - 1971) in California in the mid-1960s. Instead, Twitchell wrote about Kirpal Singh and Swami Premananda. So I said, 'You guys can get out of this simply, just explain that Twitchell plagiarized. Its a bitchin house.. I hope you all had your seatbelts fastened. Even more moving is Driggss rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Gross sits this one out on a rattan stool, his arms folded over his huge stomach, lost in thought. The Kal is similar to Satan, representing everything that is materialistic and evil, a being of vileness, wrath, and vengeance. After reading Eckankar books for a year and a half, Yelman went to a seminar in Las Vegas. Plagiarism charges fall on deaf ears with Eckists because weve had experiences outside of book learning. 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. Pine Avenue, right next to where I was living when I was doing my books in the 80s. "There are three areas that cause people to leave ECK: First is discouragement. He probably thought my recipe file was written in code and had secret information, or something like that. Once when I was driving down to Baja on one of my frequent surf trips, he continues, I noticed to my amazement a highway sign that said Rebasar. I dont know exactly what it means No Passing, or something like that. Lane tried in vain to place his controversial book with a major publisher. Grosss rise to power was steeped in controversy from the beginning. Accompanied by keyboardist and devotee Ron Kurz, Gross begins with Blues in E Flat. The music is great, lethargic and soothing, the kind of music one should listen to in a cocktail lounge with an umbrellaed drink. 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. So I came upon this theory called genealogical dissociation. I was very naive. 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. But the woman I remember was mousy, with a broad smile; no Bond girl was she. Besides my straight As, I had nothing to give me a sense of self-worth. Eckankar got wind of the new edition, and their lawyers began corresponding with Garland. On the wall to my right is a framed print of the yin-yang symbol with a feather fixed to it. Lane pauses and thinks for a bit. To come up with original material takes time, and time is money. Her enormous eyes seem to sparkle. Through daily spiritual exercises, one can shift ones awareness from the physical world and soul travel to these higher planes. Though McMahon is obviously angry about Lane, he maintains a kind, gentle manner. It is a nonprofit religious organization and church, legally recognized in the United States and over 40 other countries. Two different analysts verified they were all written by John-Roger Hinkins. Theres so much shit. The Making of a Spiritual Movement, which is not advertised or available in bookstores, has sold more than 10,000 copies. Now I "work" on the internet trying to help others to get out, or not join to begin with. Remember, when Twitchell founded Eckankar in 1965, he was living in San Diego, at Point Loma. ", Charles Richards: "David Lane is making a name for himself by being an antagonist to Eckankar.". Not the truth itself. 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? Video explores the spiritual problems that may come, and explains how to deal wit. Lane looks like hes swallowed a mouse, grinning and biting his finger. Dont miss out. So you were awake when you had this experience? I ask, intrigued. 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. So, Im not scared of attorneys. They had this little tape recorder, and I was impressed I thought it was very professional. I think they expected somebody who was more academic looking. Although the book was already typeset. This is God's love and intelligence, and it is EVERYWHERE." 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. "Actually, Eckankar is the one who has kept me going because they keep [after] me every time I try to come out with something. One interesting guy I met was Jerry Mulvin. Not long afterward I joined Eckankar, unaware of the dissension. At one Eckankar seminar in Florida, a panhandler happened to station himself outside the hotel where the seminar was held. 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. She was a Buddhist, and I became interested in Buddhism. Eckankar does not help people find God. Another man named Sri Michael Turner, in Tucson, claims to be the 974th Living Master of the Midnight Sun. Naturally the threat made me want to do more research. See! she exclaims. Nine years later she read Paul Twitchells Eckankar: Key to Secret Worlds. Friday afternoon I visit 22-year veteran of Eckankar Kevin McMahon in his Cardiff home. The two students shared notes. About four weeks later Lanes guru in India, Charan Singh, received a letter, supposedly from another follower in San Diego, criticizing Lane and quoting from his wifes stolen diaries. Other students of Radhasoami have objected to Lanes critical stance in The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship, published by Garland. After dinner, she confides, I walked along the beach and sat down beneath a tree to do a contemplation. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful information Grosss young, perky assistant, Dawn, explains, Frankly, there have been lawsuits." Eckankar, which is now called the Religion of Light and Sound, teaches that each individual is Soul inhabiting a human body. Recently I have had a spiritual crisis where I stopped believing in the concept of the Abrahamic God. According to Lane, all three letters are printed in the same typeface with the same malfunctioning capital A. I found all this fun, interesting stuff. In 1983 Lane and Brian Walsh issued a glossier version of The Making of a Spiritual Movement through their own Del Mar Press. I met David Lane in San Diego. After Id talked to him for a couple of hours, Jerry said, Dave, why dont you start your own religion? Star Wars was no ordinary action flick, we concluded, but a profound spiritual saga. But if I belonged to an organization that did. Hired at the height of the Covid pandemic, Parkway softball coach Eva Burley has left her position to return to Texas to care for her father, who has been diagnosed with ALS. So I asked, 'Who is this enlightened being? It was Jerry Mulvin! This is helf to be the sustaining force of all life and the equivalent of the Holy Spirit. While Lane is in the bathroom, I try, to no avail, to get permission to photograph the event. Read full review of Eckankar Helpful? If you were going to visit a new city, wouldnt you want a guide, wouldnt you want to stay away from the places where the prostitutes are, from the dark streets and the hoodlums? I wrote to him, and he wrote a real nice letter back, saying that we should get together and talk. Through a process that Lane himself does not completely understand, someone photocopied this manuscript and circulated it around the country. 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. Yelmans studies at UCSD brought her to San Diego in 1974. Fie has a personal thing against Eckankar, he briskly replies. The religion seems to be centered around spiritual experiences, particularly experiencing the "Light and Sound of God." Sure! But when we go to the Hillcrest Village parking garage to retrieve Lanes car he cant find it. Im sure of it. He taps his finger on the table. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group. by. In Texas, she says, a disembodied being began visiting her. It was exciting, someplace to go! When I ask him what Eckankars position is on Lanes research, Richards, whos been in Eckankar for 20 years, says he doesnt know. Lane attributes the initial success of Eckankar to Gails organizational abilities. A friend from La Jolla gave me a copy of the article that David Lane is writing called the J. R. Controversy. David Lane lives in the San Diego area, but the location is a closely guarded secret. I asked what happened to my friend, my childhood master. JN Sykes was a member of the Eckankar cult ('the cult') from February 1980 to June 1993. Theyre very much like physical exercises, but theyre for Soul, to strengthen Souls connection with spirit. My only regrets were that I sold all my rock albums to pay for my membership. Remember, hed been kicked out of Swami Premanandas church in 1955. While a few people I met were off-the-wall, Eckists in general make wonderfiil friends, kind, caring, nonjudgmental. One exclaims, Arent you afraid of those Eckankarists, arent you afraid what theyre going to do?, I take a guilty sip of my drink. Last April the current Living Eck Master, Harold Klemp, spoke at a three-day major seminar at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. The suggested annual membership donation for individuals is $120, a bargain in the miracles-and-freedom market. He has no phone. Lane leans across the cafe table, excitedly tapping his straw. The Far Country, Lane claims to have found more than 400 plagiarized paragraphs. No, I was excited that somebody would pay attention to my research, Lane exclaims. They say, the message works for me, the contemplation works for me. McMahon, who was raised Catholic in New York City and on Long Island, has always been interested in spirituality. How would you address that issue?, Richards takes a long, reticent pause before he answers. Tucker Carlson's Great Replacement. He looks like Santa, I think, like a fallen Santa. 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. I got one of his disciples. I lean and whisper to him, You are so opaque. I am surprised by my cruelty. There was a lot going on. She speaks so softly, I move the microphone closer. I would ask a question and get an answer, and I would jot it down. Much of Grosss current teachings center around the easy-listening jazz he performs on the vibes. Then, Lane says excitedly, John-Roger committed the biggest mistake. Cautiously I bring up David Lane. . 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". Spirit can express itself as sound or as bright or even colored lights. I talked to Twitchells first wife. Lanes still a member of Kadhasoami, but hes been reluctant to talk about it, beyond mentioning that his guru Charan Singhs death in 1990 has thrown him into a state of crisis. I wanted Bettina Yelmans calm, I wanted Charles Richardss benevolence, I wanted Kevin McMahons assurance. I am afraid my beliefs will cause conflict within the Eckankar community and it may be best that I leave Eckankar. All, I have been an official member of Eckankar for 10 years. After a few more tunes. Operating, as I do now, in a professional arts world in which people want a rsum before deciding whether to talk to you, I miss the support of the Eckankar community. I am afraid my beliefs will cause conflict within the Eckankar community and it may be best that I leave Eckankar. I turn on the stereo and stare out the window. 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. Simply put, Twitchell cut his connection with Radhasoami for good marketing reasons. As members are leaving in droves, the speaker looks into why. Should I send this to the IRS? 'Should I send this to Eckankar? Little notes he was making to himself. 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. In a way it was like an abandonment. But some wont let you let em go. Its raining. As the great Houdini wrote, The yellow thread of exposure seems to be inextricably woven into all fabrics whose strength is secrecy. Houdini, like Lane, was a man whose obsessions drove him to expose religious frauds. The maker of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch, said on Tuesday that two of its executives were taking a leave of absence after the beer was featured in a social media . 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. No, I sigh, Im not afraid of those people.. It has its positive aspects, a sense of community, a sense of focusing on the individual and his or her experiences of the divine. May 1, 2023 6:30 AM. People always say, Leave us alone; Eckankar works. I do leave those people alone. I know that here in San Diego, when we had our Eck center, elderly members of Eckankar who were sitting at the center got threatening telephone calls from Christian organizations., No, it had nothing to do with him. "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. This feels like all the atoms in the universe moving around, its like a rushing sound in the background. Lane discovered information that led him to believe that Twitchell copied whole chapters from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details.. On tape Twitchell is asked about Rebazar Tarzs. Grosss movements are frail and slow as he removes his dark-blue jacket to reveal a short-sleeved white shirt and tan pants held up with wide red suspenders. In what century was he born? 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. If he cant take your soul back to God, he improves your bowling game, money-back guarantee. We both laugh so loudly at Lanes joke, the couple at the next table, who have been covertly eyeing the tape recorder, stare at us openly. For years he came to me every single day and would teach me, but I never visually saw him except for once.. I hook my mike over the breadbasket and turn on the tape recorder. Lane phoned Hinkins to ask him about these charges. As I stroll toward the ocean, through a lush, affluent neighborhood, disappointment creeps over me like the tide. Im just saying that if he had a personal problem with some Eckists, this is not an indictment against Eckankar, this is an indictment against the individuals hes had contact with. 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.. But her email was the exact reason why i left. 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.
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