He also does private executive coaching. Yelman flickers in her pink-and-cream chair like a pale flame. Actually in the moment it was okay, I hardly noticed it. McMahon, who was raised Catholic in New York City and on Long Island, has always been interested in spirituality. Lets try to make it easy for them to at least understand what were doing, what were about, and what the potential of the teaching is. A lot of people would see Eckankar as a cult. Im also aware that in at least two previous lifetimes I was killed because of my beliefs, specifically in reference to Eckankar, and so I think some of that karma was still sitting heavily on my chest, so to speak., Im impressed with Yelmans absolute assurance. The Mahanta is respected but not worshiped . In the early 70s, when I joined, I was dysfunctionally shy, a borderline agoraphobic, afraid to talk to salesladies in department stores. I was confident that soon James would see the light and become a disciple of Eckankar. Sitting in this pathetic room with its riotously floral turquoise-and-purple carpet, it feels as if nobodys dreams will ever come true. He was a pro-bowler as well as a higher initiate in Eckankar. Through a process that Lane himself does not completely understand, someone photocopied this manuscript and circulated it around the country. How-to video gives tips on how to survive after leaving the Eckankar cult. Anyway, there was an intensification of that, and I knew undoubtedly something was going on. Members receive a monthly discourse, which they have the option of studying alone or in classes. I met David Lane in San Diego. I am afraid my beliefs will cause conflict within the Eckankar community and it may be best that I leave Eckankar. This is helf to be the sustaining force of all life and the equivalent of the Holy Spirit. I keep waiting for Gross to give a speech, but he never does. His quest for knowledge and experience of God is without question. Pine Avenue, right next to where I was living when I was doing my books in the 80s. Gross actually received the mantle on the inner planes when he was handed, not a flower, but the Rod of Power. He had to make it seem like its his own creation, because if he linked the two hed lose his potential clientele., It was to hide these past connections. So I sent my term paper to Eckankar, and then they turned around two months later and said they were going to sue me if I published it. Apparently Lane has equally conflicted feelings about me. Youre not going to say, Well, Im a dumbshit. 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. Its hard to leave the magical vistas of Del Mar. 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. He focuses a lot on past things, Paul Twitchell and how much his writings look like the writings of a teaching Lane happens to be in. He didnt bring up David Lane, but he requested that I not dwell on Darwin Gross. Yet it has a sweetness to it. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Instead of asking people to be really skeptical of things, its asking them to believe almost anything. But, Dave, I counter, when you talk to Eckists they always tell you, Im a totally skeptical person. The Rod of Power was passed on to Harold Klemp. In 1978 Richards moved from North Carolina to San Diego to pursue his graduate training in psychology. What I found was so obvious that anybody could have discovered it. Eckankar is one of the New Age religions, started in 1965 by journalist Paul Twitchell. I would ask a question and get an answer, and I would jot it down. Its membership today is primarily in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The beggar you meet on the street may really be an Eck Master. 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. Once we get to Del Mar, Lane pulls to the side of the road and examines a copy of Twitchells death certificate to get the exact address. Charan Singh forwarded it to Lane. In 68 he was a convener, which means he held Eck satsangs [classes) in his home in Rosemead, California. 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. Whenever I saw Gross and Atkinson, I would be seated in an auditorium, surrounded by thousands of avid followers, each hoping at some point to receive the darshan, the Masters gaze. Totally aware, she says seriously. I also have the evidence that David Christopher Lane is an informant for the F.B.l. But Eckists are such sweet people, I insist. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group. A friend from La Jolla gave me a copy of the article that David Lane is writing called the J. R. Controversy. Rebazar Tarzs, yeah, that Rebazar Tarzs. In the past, we thought that this was our little private esoteric religion. But he was describing my experiences. Remember, when Twitchell founded Eckankar in 1965, he was living in San Diego, at Point Loma. . "Race me!" 4-year-old Lucia demands. 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. This is not seen as coldness or indifference but as a precursor to unconditional love. But her email was the exact reason why i left. Apparently, says Lane, Darwin took $2.5 million and put it into a front corporation in Oregon called Dharma Corporation. He invited me to his house in Mandeville Canyon, a beautiful house, a mansion. Remember, hed been kicked out of Swami Premanandas church in 1955. I saw myself very clearly as the roman centurion responsible for maintaining order and preventing any trouble. Star Wars was no ordinary action flick, we concluded, but a profound spiritual saga. 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. Lanes research indicates, however, that Twitchell was born between 1908 and 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky. Why is one faith trying to knock somebody traveling the same path to God? The term God no longer had use for me. Eckankar teaches that it is possible to experience the Light and Sound through the proper use of spiritual exercises. 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. And there was a big note on a box that said, NO MORE. No jewelry was gone only research stuff, including materials for my doctoral dissertation., He took my wifes personal diaries, a camera which he must have thought had film in it, videotapes, an address book, and my recipe file containing my favorite recipe for Del Mar lentil loaf. April 25, 2023, 1:58 p.m. In the late 50s, Twitchell also became a staff member of L. Ron Hubbards Church of Scientology, another association that would later be denied. They were dressed up in suits. Signed, The Master. Another former Eckist named Gary Olsen started the MasterPath. Some letters contained threats against me and my informants. They were gods to me, and one doesnt question the mating patterns of gods. Secondly, we dont have any kind of communal living. I figure Lane knows plenty about this. Del Mars beach is amazingly clean. One of the disciplines that we employ is the law of discrimination. His clothes seem to be tossed onto his rather stocky body. All rights reserved. When I came back to the States, I read a book by Paul Twitchell called The Tigers Fang. Grosss young, perky assistant, Dawn, explains, Frankly, there have been lawsuits." 1:08. Gail, after Twitchells death, married his successor, Darwin Gross, in a. The teachings of Eckankar are presented to the public through books, free brochures, advertised meetings and lectures, and, of course, word of mouth. I went to sleep, and in my sleep I seemed to hear a sound of singing.. I see Eck masters, I see Radhasoami masters, I see Rebazar Tarzs and Sudar Singh. Where do you think Twitchell got these names?. As we shake hands I notice hes wearing a gold ring with an embossed EK logo. Lane imagines himself driving, Let me see, I turned left here, now right, then I drove straight for a bit. Using this gyroscopic homing pigeon technique, he leads me straight to his little white Nissan. Peebles, says Lane, got so disgruntled when he realized there was some kind of fraud being perpetuated that he wrote Eckankar himself about these findings. Peebles returned to his Baptist roots and sent his paper to Professor Ed Gruss of the Los Angeles Baptist College. And just explain that Twitchell covered up his life. The upshot of it was, they didnt do anything.. Nobody knew hed been married before. Various Eckists say they witnessed the ceremony. Cautiously I bring up David Lane. He looks professional but not stuffy in his blue suit jacket, gray shirt, and black boots. 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. 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. 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 is where Ive got to be careful. The report made claims of tax irregularities and personal misconduct by an Eckankar leader. Other students of Radhasoami have objected to Lanes critical stance in The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship, published by Garland. Radhasoami is a yogic teaching that, according to Lane, is designed to enable the soul or consciousness to ascend beyond the physical body to higher spiritual regions by means of an internal sound or life current. Central to the teachings of Radhasoami, continues Lane, is the necessity of a living human master competent in initiating disciples into the practice and technique of listening to the inner sound, contemplating the inner light, and leaving the human body at will. The Indian guru Kirpal Singh figures prominently in Twitchells early writing.
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