I noticed in Baja a highway sign that said Rebasar. I said to myself, I bet this is where Twitchell got the name Rebazar Tarzs! I could almost picture the legendary Rod of Power in Darwins hand. Freeways knocked out Sorrento Rd., getting from the 5 to the 805, fitness fanatics head for Corner House, get those Mira Mesa signs out. He jokes about his Nevada cold, blaming it on the dust from the Indian burial grounds being dug up to build housing. No, I sigh, Im not afraid of those people.. Im greeted by a tall, handsome black man with a mustache and short-cropped hair graying slightly at the temples. 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. Garland decided to withdraw it. In Youth Ask A Modern Prophet, Harold Klemp writes, "The deep relationship between man and woman is a sacred token of human love. Gross and Gail Twitchell divorced in 1978. 'Ohoh! Wouldnt you want to know everything you possibly could about the history of this group and then make your choice? I left Eckankar because I was able to prove the concepts of Soul Travel to myself. I want Eckankar in some weird universe to keep going, because its fun for me. It affects those who have an unrealistic goal in ECK; those who want to Soul Travel or reach Self-and God-realization with practically no effort. The vivid orange-pink horizon stretches on endlessly beneath a nearly full moon. Around the same time, the Spiritual Counterfeits Project published its own journal, Eckankar, a Hard Look at a New Religion, based largely on lines manuscript, which they distributed to nearly every Eck center i in the world. I dont remember that second story. And just explain that Twitchell covered up his life. The upshot of it was, they didnt do anything.. I also have the evidence that David Christopher Lane is an informant for the F.B.l. That is, people have to find meaning in their lives, regardless. Nine years later she read Paul Twitchells Eckankar: Key to Secret Worlds. If I were any of you. Source: mallsofamerica.blogspot.com. I think that in Eckankar skepticism is healthy, he continues. Lane and I drive to La Jolla for leaden upscale Mexican food. Rebazar Tarzs. You only here it from those shills promoting the book or on Ford's sites. You got it. Shes very clean and clear about her business acumen. My group is for dumbshits. (In one illustration, the Rod of Power is depicted as a glowing white wand. The Mahanta is respected but not worshiped . He was obsessed. Everybodys sexuality is different than everybody elses. When I leave Richardss office its dusk. Lane attributes the initial success of Eckankar to Gails organizational abilities. He said, 'Some of us live the spiritual life, others intellectualize it. On the desk behind him sits a teddy bear. But her email was the exact reason why i left. I gave up drugs, and my grades went down. Its even available for community events. I anticipate our talk with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Lane places his hand to his face like a phone receiver, Hi, Fubbi, this is Gakko. I choke down the last gulp of my Green Garden vegetable cocktail and ask,. Hes listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not as having sold an article every day. Was I a fool to want Eckankar? This was in 76 or 77, and I was 20 years old, so its like All the President's Men. Im sure of it. He taps his finger on the table. I feel like Ive stumbled into a New Age greeting card or a novel by Iris Murdoch, try to imagine experiencing this extravagance on a regular basis. At this stage, Peter McWilliams, the guy who later wrote Life 102, was still pro-John-Roger, so he was putting his hands on the camera, that kind of scene, when they tried to interview John-Roger. We take our seats among the 50 or so other seekers, many of whom have flown in for the event. In the late 50s, Twitchell also became a staff member of L. Ron Hubbards Church of Scientology, another association that would later be denied. Twitchell died of a heart attack around one oclock in the morning on September 17, 1971, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Theyve made an open-eyed decision. Theres contradictions and scandals in every religion, Christianity included. What I found was so obvious that anybody could have discovered it. Lane is convinced John-Roger was involved. In the past, we thought that this was our little private esoteric religion. I hook my mike over the breadbasket and turn on the tape recorder. I wonder how long it takes new Eckists to even learn of his existence. So I do. Im not interested in all this other dialogue that David Lane is so focused on. Mother Teresas group. Spirit can express itself as sound or as bright or even colored lights. Im an extremely intuitive person, she says, so I feel things long before I understand them in my head. I wrote to Jerry, way to go, Jerry! For years he came to me every single day and would teach me, but I never visually saw him except for once.. 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. 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. The Making of a Spiritual Movement, which is not advertised or available in bookstores, has sold more than 10,000 copies. in his book, and on every single page I just had to make my own notes. As Yelman laughs, her stiff, angular body quivers with excitement. My personality is I want to do, ( not sit ) in a Satsang and discuss. The guys like an idiot, right? 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?. Hes a character who has seized the imaginations of Eckists as completely as Ahab or Falstaff has seized ours.) 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. But this is not oppressive at all. 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 Courier-Journal magazine, to which he was a regular contributor, reported that he sold 1800 stories and articles in three years. 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. Members are deluded into believing they make spiritual progress, while they are merely psychologically entrapped. "Race me!" 4-year-old Lucia demands. The Rod of Power was passed on to Harold Klemp. 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. Within two years Klemp fired Gross, accusing him of negativity, spiritual decay, and embezzlement. Eckankar threatened a lawsuit for the inappropriate use of their trademark symbol on the books cover. Some people who have ringing in their ears say that its horrible. I dont remember it looking this way, he says pensively. He extends his hand and smiles broadly. He took to unmasking frauds, but always with the hopes of finding a true medium. The sound current was very loud. 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.. When Yelman was six, her family moved to Texas. In Eckankar, since everyone is Soul, everyone is worthy. I imagine them as the tormented souls of all the cultists who have lost their faith because of Lane. 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. A few months later Gross and Twitchells widow married, sending more ripples of confusion throughout the fold. Instead, Twitchell wrote about Kirpal Singh and Swami Premananda. There he and his first wife, Camille, joined the Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism, a system of yoga founded by Swami Premananda. Lanes research into Eckankar is meticulously documented. Houdini longed to communicate with her beyond the grave. 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. When they find out youre talking to me, I guarantee that their lawyers will write. (My husband, who had never heard of Atkinson before, sees her as a kind of 60s super-vixen, like Pussy Galore. 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 January, it rains for 26 days. Eckankar teaches that it is possible to experience the Light and Sound through the proper use of spiritual exercises. McMahon generously drives me to my interview with holistic health practitioner Bettina Yelman, whose Del Mar office is just down the hall from Richardss. Lane leans across the cafe table, excitedly tapping his straw. He has no phone. It was hard to leave Eckankar too. All, I have been an official member of Eckankar for 10 years. There are ECK Temples, ECK Centers, and reading rooms in cities and towns across the . Hinkins also wrote to Charan Singh asking him to use his influence to get lane to stop doing research on him. The Temple of Eck in Chanhassen [Minnesota] is open to people of all faiths to come, to attend the worship services, maybe just to enhance their own beliefs. One interesting guy I met was Jerry Mulvin. As members are leaving in droves, the speaker looks into why. Any of these 900-plus masters may appear to spiritual seekers on the inner planes or in the physical world, often in disguise. Twitchell married his second wife, Gail Atkinson, in San Francisco in 1964. On October 22, 1965, Twitchell claimed to have received the Rod of Power from Rebazar Tarzs, becoming the 971st Living Eck Master. Signed, The Master. Another former Eckist named Gary Olsen started the MasterPath. I'd sign this but you SCUM BAGS aren't worth much more of my effort, just a bit more EFFORT and then it ends. Gross smiles to himself as he hits the vibes. Geraldo was in New York, and I was on satellite hookup at Universal Studios in the San Fernando Valley. 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. Lane shakes his head. Lane does arrive, at one oclock Thursday afternoon, on time to the minute. It was difficult coming to this country, trying to figure out the language, the new culture, and what to do. Thats one explanation. 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. We dont rely on the written word. When I called to sign up, they told me that I never had to go to a class if I didnt want to. My family is full of attorneys. The perplexed beggar was in hog heaven. This is God's love and intelligence, and it is EVERYWHERE." Simply put, Twitchell cut his connection with Radhasoami for good marketing reasons. He used to send me Christmas cards, he gave me his personal phone number, and he offered me $5000 to help with my research on Eckankar.. I think theres some sophomoric techniques, that its naive in terms of its psychology. And so I had handwriting analysis done on the writing on the diaries and on that NO MORE sign. The only. Peter Skelskey No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. The way to get more income is to have new material, speculates Lane. 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. I'd heard rumors about why he left but I wanted to see for myself. Lanes research indicates, however, that Twitchell was born between 1908 and 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky. Clearly Lane is not a blind follower. Soul, being a spark of God, is on a journey to find its way home to God, or the Sugmad. But, Dave, I ask in exasperation, after all this time, why are you persisting?, Rarely in life do you ever get to play detective, he says. 1:08. In her Golden-Tongued Wisdom, Rosanne continues to sing, A cold hard rain comes pouring down. In 1977, noting the similarities between Radhasoami and Eckankar, a religious movement founded in San Diego in 1965 by the late Paul Twitchell, Lane wrote a term paper comparing the two for an undergraduate religious studies class at California State University-Northridge. You know, just a natural progression. Understandably, he changed the names of his sources, because he didnt want people to know about his past. The Living Eck Master acts as the organizational head and as a guide to the aspirants spiritual journey. 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? I got sick a lot when I was a baby. answer the question why i left eckankar, which will help you get the most accurate answer. Moreover, a free left arm could be used to deflect spear strikes in combat. 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. The suggested annual membership donation for individuals is $120, a bargain in the miracles-and-freedom market. Very top secret, for they were really scared of upsetting John-Roger. I had huge phone bills, because I had called this professor or this person. Lane tried in vain to place his controversial book with a major publisher. Last year, former cult member Peter McWilliams published a scathing tell-all, Life 102: What to Do When Your Guru Sues You; Novembers Vanity Fair linked Arianna Huffingtons allegiance to MSIA to her husbands unsuccessful senate campaign; and the March issue of Playboy ran a detailed expose. He didnt bring up David Lane, but he requested that I not dwell on Darwin Gross. It gets tiresome., For ten years I was a member of Eckankar,one of the groups Lane has written about most extensively. Eckankar and I finally reached a point where decades of lies, of half truths, of disappointments, finally came to a head. 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. To top it off, their white helmets bore an insignia that was remarkably similar to Eckankars circular EK logo. Thats really what it is for me. When I came back to the States, I read a book by Paul Twitchell called The Tigers Fang. You are wondering about the question why i left eckankar but currently there is no answer, so let kienthuctudonghoa.com summarize and list the top articles with the question. I dont go into Eck centers and walk around and say, Here, read my book. All Im saying is that Twitchell was lying to his constituency. Imagine it youve got a lot of new clientele out there ready to buy your stuff. We have a different focus and intent, thats all. It wasnt like this last time around. ", Charles Richards: "David Lane is making a name for himself by being an antagonist to Eckankar.". In a husky voice, smooth as malt whiskey, she sings, Dont blame me for falling in love with you. David Lanes critiques of Eckankar may be well documented and rational, but religious devotion is not about rationality. Naturally the threat made me want to do more research. Through daily spiritual exercises, one can shift ones awareness from the physical world and soul travel to these higher planes. He seems gently ecstatic, but so tired. Due to eckankar's policy that one not ever request initiations, many suffer in silence, sensing justifiably that something isn't quite right, yet fear to even ask about the possibility of an error. 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. But its my vivid imagination, the projections of my own mind, my own day-to-day experiences. I was one of the those stooges for decades until I came down with a pathological. This guys pretty smart, because he knows that if he pays attention to me, thats a good way of buying me off, so he can spin-doctor my research. He does that all the time. We talk about the Hu as a prayer song or a love song to God, instead of saying its a chant or mantra. It was like an outpost of spirituality. I called John-Roger immediately. Again, I am reminded of Houdini, whose interest in spiritualism was awakened with his dearly loved mothers death. 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. I was never able to penetrate Richardss reassuring politeness until I turned the conversation from Eckankar to Freud, Adler, and lung. The treatment of critics, the phony official organizations that are merely cult front groups, and the lies are all the same. Eckankar got wind of the new edition, and their lawyers began corresponding with Garland. The term Eckankar is also a word used to refer to the name of God in Sikhism. The religion seems to be centered around spiritual experiences, particularly experiencing the "Light and Sound of God." On tape Twitchell is asked about Rebazar Tarzs. (Such a quake did occur in 1812.) An Eckankar representative, claiming to be a member of the Berkeley-based anti-cult group Spiritual Counterfeits Project, asked Gruss for a copy of Peebless report. Initially he refuses to come to the Hillcrest home where Im staying, preferring to meet in a nearby restaurant. Video explores the spiritual problems that may come, and explains how to deal wit. I really enjoyed the music, but it was kind of sad. Sipping his virgin strawberry margarita, Lane says, I got a sense of authenticity when he played his vibes, like thats who he really was, a musician, instead of trying to be a master. Id really start believing Id had a spiritual experience, Id wake up feeling like, Wow! Eckankar works because it doesnt make you have experiences that are impossible to have., What about soul travel, visiting higher planes of existence? Lane swallows his pizza. But if I belonged to an organization that did. His critique was instrumental in my dropping out of Eckankar in the early 80s. 2023 San Diego Reader. Id be very careful where I go and what I do and who I talk to, you wouldn 7 want anyone to get hurt now, would you? Three local Eckists agreed to speak with me. JN Sykes was a member of the Eckankar cult ('the cult') from February 1980 to June 1993. Twitchell told his second wife, Gail, that he was born in the early 20s. Finally, as a last resort, Lane suggests we exit the parking garage and then walk down the ramp where we drove in. by. The following evening, when the airport shuttle drops me off in front of my apartment, five guys are smoking crack beside a dumpster. Finally, he agrees to come to the house, but Im doubtful that he will really appear. Hes touring the Southwest, as we speak. Eckists left and right were smiling at the guy, stopping for long chats, and tossing money into his cup. That he could notJ>e was his tragedy. I wonder if this is not Lanes tragedy too. Youre not going to say, Well, Im a dumbshit. The teachings of Eckankar are presented to the public through books, free brochures, advertised meetings and lectures, and, of course, word of mouth. The inner form of the Living Eck Master, known as the Mahanta, works with students in the dreamstate and during their spiritual exercises. After leaving the Self-Revelation Church, Twitchell dove into the Radhasoami movement. I have a nightmare in which Lane and I go to the wedding reception of a couple we do not know, and Lane abandons me. The ocean was rushingusually I hear a sound that is like electricity, kind of high pitched, but richer, fuller than just electrical buzzing. When Fox settled the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, the conventional wisdom was that it would alter little about . Im a mystical agnostic materialist. Gross enters and takes his position behind the gold-toned vibes. He basically took Eckankars money, while saying it was really for Eckankar purposes. Excommunicated from Eckankar, his lifetime agreement terminated, Gross was suddenly penniless. Two different analysts verified they were all written by John-Roger Hinkins. ET. They sent letters about me claiming I was the negative force, that I. I did my spiritual exercises daily as much as probably anyone in eckankar. At the time I didnt know who he was. He went nuts. Besides my straight As, I had nothing to give me a sense of self-worth. Around his neck hangs a similar pendant. He may have been Rebazar Tarzs. He came up with the name Sudar Singh from the name Sudarshan Singh he just cut off the shan part of it and put Sudar. Usually he mixes Indian names with Chinese names [from] popular Tibetan or Taoist books, and hell conflate the two. Answer. A lot of people have. Eckankar believes that God exists in two parts, the Light and Sound, known as ECK. How-to video gives tips on how to survive after leaving the Eckankar cult. My parents raised me not to write in books, and so I didnt. He offshooted from Eckankar and founded this religion called the Divine Science of Light and Sound. It was like in my imagination. I need 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. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group. Lifes kind of sad. I bet youve fantasized about it. We have to make sure for ourselves that what were experiencing is truth and not an illusion.. It controls their minds using sophisticated thought control systems, and demand absolute obedience to Klemp and to the cult. And they looked at me like, Whats this geek doing? We sat down, and they were really uptight, because they knew the impact of my research. Yelman is stunning tall and extremely thin, clad in a pale-beige pantsuit, her natural blond hair pulled back into a bun, the bangs teased like feathers across her forehead. Shortly after . Understand, hes got names coming out of the woodwork., So who do you think Rebazar Tarzs really is?. Shortly afterward, Twitchell claimed, a 500-year-old Tibetan monk, Rebazar Tarzs, appeared to him and instructed him to move to San Diego. The air is cool as I listen to the soft lapping of waves. Sri Harold Klemp has immense financial resources available to guide the spiritual lives of his tens of thousands of believers. I mean, I couldnt get in the door, so I had to climb through the bedroom window. Understand that if you read the sacred works of all the religions, such as the Bhagavad-Gita, the Bible, or the Koran, youre going to see references almost exactly alike. He tells me a phenomenal story about an American writer and a European writer who, unbeknownst to one another, wrote identical books and sent them to the same publisher. I would raise my head to the stage in rapt silence, devouring every word the Grosses spoke. The former members of Eckankar make a mistake in here thinking procedure. During their first six months of membership, new Eckists usually receive what is known as their first initiation in the dreamstate. Lane pays for my coffee and his Coke, and we sit down at a small, dark table. It was a P.O. The Far Country, Lane claims to have found more than 400 plagiarized paragraphs. He publishes books through an organization called Be Good to Your Self, located in Las Vegas. WHY I LEFT THE MASTER. Sri harold klemp is the 973rd living eck master in an unbroken line of eck masters. Lane tells me that former Living Eck Master Darwin Gross is appearing February 11 at the Best Western Hanalei Hotel. My research has helped because its made me more discriminating, more critical-minded. With only a post office box and an answering service to connect me to him, Lane seems as slippery as Houdini. Not the truth itself. If we were to rely on books as the source of our knowledge and our truth, wed be really hurting, because wed be all going in different directions. I became a teenager and all this other stuff was grabbing my attention., I keep looking around at Yelmans office. The spiritual exercises are a form of prayer. Experts say there are two main reasons many members of Gen X, roughly defined as people born roughly between 1965 and 1980, aren't ready to leave the workforce. Twitchell was living in Point Loma in 1965 when he started teaching workshops and selling booklets on how to leave your body. A representative at the Eckankar international office assured me that no one is turned away for lack of funds. 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. 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. I dont have a real axe to grind., At a Hillcrest cafe, Lane confides, The people who scare me are John-Rogers people, not Eckankars. John-Roger Hinkins, founder of the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSI A, pronounced Messiah), has gotten a lot of bad press lately. In what century was he born? In 68 he was a convener, which means he held Eck satsangs [classes) in his home in Rosemead, California. 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. They were dressed up in suits. Hed read the book and wanted me to visit him. 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. Lane asks me if I want to see Twitchells Del Mar home. In the Army he traveled to Thailand, where he met his wife. 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. He and Gross have been sparring since 1977. May the Force be with you.). T he attacks on Justice Thomas never stop. Youre right, every world religion has got its problems. Eckankar is one of the New Age religions, started in 1965 by journalist Paul Twitchell. "There are three areas that cause people to leave ECK: First is discouragement. Then, Lane says excitedly, John-Roger committed the biggest mistake. Two years ago you were living at your girlfriends aunts house, not making much money on the pro-bowling scene, and now youre God., Lane rolls his eyes. Blame Eddy for May Gray and June Gloom, Chamise and Buckwheat are blooming, All the Dylan Mulvaney San Diego connections. I ask Lane to tell me about Twitchells mysterious death. 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. 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. I dont remember it being this nice. Eckankar has members in over 120 countries around the world, and its teachings have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. I was excited 20 years old, in the moment of discovering something new. When you look at what we do relative to other religions, it basically is no different, we just have a different doctrine and somewhat different beliefs. Richards flashes me his dimples. What it means is that I ultimately dont know. The Living Eck Master descends from an unbroken line of Vairagi Masters. The disciples felt used and manipulated for spiritual reasons., After the secret meeting. In 1978 Richards moved from North Carolina to San Diego to pursue his graduate training in psychology. Lane discovered information that led him to believe that Twitchell copied whole chapters from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details.. Before founding Eckankar, Twitchell was involved in yoga, self-realization groups, and Scientology.
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