Eckankar
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Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God is a new religious movement brought forth in 1965 that emphasizes the value of personal experiences as the most natural way back to God. A fundamental spiritual exercise of Eckankar is singing or chanting HU—pronounced "hue". Eckankar followers sing it [1] (http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html) alone or in groups (hear an example) for spiritual upliftment.
Eckankar offers several dozen books [2] (http://www.eckankar.org/Books/) on a variety of spiritual topics. Membership in Eckankar [3] (http://www.eckankar.org/Membership/) is based on a suggested donation [4] (https://www.eckankar.org/cgi-bin/memberform.cgi); members receive discourses [5] (http://www.eckankar.org/Membership/discourse.html) they are invited to study in the company of other members in Eckankar Satsang classes [6] (http://www.eckankar.org/Membership/activities.html).
The current spiritual leader of Eckankar (since October 1981) is Harold Klemp [7] (http://www.eckankar.org/Harold/).
"The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take Soul by Its own path back to its divine source." –The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Book Two
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Teachings
[8] (http://www.eckankar.org/whatis.html)
Eckankar teaches that spiritual experience and spiritual liberation in this lifetime are available to all by actively exploring the spiritual worlds through Soul Travel [9] (http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html), dreams [10] (http://www.eckankar.org/dream.html), and other spiritual techniques. Eckankar's belief is that Soul is eternal and is the individual's true identity, not the body. You are Soul; you exist because God loves you. You are on a journey of Self- and God-Realization.
Often called the Holy Spirit, the Light and Sound [11] (http://www.eckankar.org/light.html) are twin aspects of God. Known in Eckankar as the ECK, it sustains all life. Eckankar teaches how to recognize the Light of God. It also teaches simple spiritual exercises to experience the Light and Sound of God. Karma and reincarnation are primary beliefs in Eckankar. The ECK (Holy Spirit) helps purify ones-self of karma (sin), making it possible to accept the full love of God in this lifetime, gaining wisdom, charity, and freedom. ECKists believe that giving love and service to their family and community is one way to increase their understanding of God’s love.
Spiritual unfoldment can be accelerated through conscious contact with the ECK, Divine Spirit. This contact can be made via the Spiritual Exercises of ECK [12] (http://www.eckankar.org/spex.html)and the guidance of the Living ECK Master. A friend and guide, the Living ECK Master's spiritual purpose is to link Soul to the Light and Sound of God; Eckankar always has a living spiritual master.
Origins
[13] (http://www.eckankar.org/abouteckankar.pdf)
Eckankar began as a formal religion circa 1965. Their headquarters, main Temple [14] (http://www.eckankar.org/Temple/) and spiritual campus are in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
The origin of Eckankar, according to its followers, is timeless. (See also Alternate Views below). One major hallmark is teaching spiritual exercises to learn Soul Travel to step back from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain Soul's spiritual viewpoint.
According to various biographies, Eckankar founder Paul Twitchell studied many of the world's religions [15] (http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/hisSearch.html), from Surat Shabda Yoga under Kirpal Singh, to Scientology. In Eckankar, he brought together [16] (http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/behindscenes.html) many teachings that he felt were most important to the development of Soul. After Twitchell, Darwin Gross was temporarily leader until current leader Harold Klemp [17] (http://www.eckankar.org/Harold/) began in 1981.
Eckankar has an active membership base [18] (http://www.eckankar.org/ekcenters.html) in over one hundred countries [19] (http://www.eckankar.org/Membership/activities.html) throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa [20] (http://www.eckankarnigeria.org/addbk.htm). Seminars are held worldwide throughout the year [21] (http://www.eckankar.org/Seminars/regional.html), with attendance ranging up to 10,000 participants [22] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A37JIDBLYH0QT/ref=cm_aya_rev_more/104-1791708-1946336?%5Fencoding=UTF8). 36,694 U.S. Eckankar members were estimated for 2004 [23] (http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html), with worldwide estimates varying from 50,000 - 500,000 and up [24] (http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_264.html). (Eckankar does not publish their own membership figures.) Their largest building under construction (in Africa) has a planned capacity of over 9,000 people.
Alternate Views
Spiritual masters aren't necessary
Eckists believe God's plan is for us to serve one another, and those most spiritually advanced, the ECK Masters, are here to serve all life irrespective of religious belief or bodily form. ECK Masters will not interfere in the sacred state of consciousness of another being without their permission [25] (http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/whoaremasters.html).
Teachings don't fit my experience
Some Eckists have started their own groups after believing they received inner guidance to change Eckankar and finding Eckankar did not agree. For example, in an open letter, former Eckist Ford Johnson confesses surprise that Eckankar did not agree with his interpretation of an inner experience[26] (http://www.confessionsofagodseeker.com/), and so he created and now promotes his own [27] (http://www.higherconsciousnesssociety.org/aboutHCS.asp) spiritual organization, and is critical of religions generally and Christianity and Eckankar specifically.
Johnson emphasizes his Higher Consciousness Society is not a religion but a "Non-profit spiritual educational society (based on) the principle that Soul is a reflection of, and possesses the attributes and characteristics of ALL THAT IS (GOD)" that exists to "help others (to) move beyond saviors ... messengers ... and all other 'helpers,'" and "to provide instruction, by teachers who are experienced in inner travel, to those seeking to personally explore the inner 'mansions' of GOD ..."[28] (http://www.higherconsciousnesssociety.org/aboutHCS.asp#purpose)
Teachings were borrowed
This type of criticism of religious authors dates back to the authors of the Christian Gospels, who borrowed writings both from each other and from the Old Testament.
Accusations against religious movement founders are particularly common[29] (http://www.cesnur.org/testi/msia.htm). The Mormon prophet Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was accused of having derived the Book of Mormon from various sources. Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910), was accused of having plagiarized from a manuscript allegedly authored by German philosopher Francis Lieber (1800-1872). Ellen G. White (1827-1915), at the origins of the Seventh-day Adventists, was accused of using several Christian sources. It is commonly accepted among New Age spiritual adherents that spiritually evolved authors, perhaps by sharing inner sources, do sometimes produce similar writings.
Comments regarding Eckankar include: Eckankar is a mixture of ancient wisdom and new terminology; Eckankar is a rehash of yoga and related elements, and so on. Eckankar considers Twitchell "a master compiler (who) gathered the golden teachings that were scattered around the world and made them readily available to us."[30] (http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html)
However, after Twitchell's death in 1971, David C. Lane, a member of the Sant Mat derivative RadhaSoami Satsang Beas, charged that Eckankar was also a derivitave of Sant Mat, but through plagiarization. Of the 100 or so groups in the Radhasoami tradition, Lane is critical of those (outside his chosen group) that he regards as unorthodox or unauthorized Western derivations[31] (http://www.cesnur.org/testi/msia.htm). Eckankar believes spiritual truth is spiritual truth and not the possession of a single person or group.
Teachings were invented
Some critics point out that Eckankar could have been invented by the founder, reincarnation is a fallacy, and so forth.
Teachings are fearful
Eckankar writings repeatedly and explictly state that members should feel free to leave Eckankar unbound by any guilt or fear. Critics contend that while Eckankar promotes itself as a path to ending karma and reincarnation, early Eckankar writings speak harshly of karma and reincarnation, causing some to have trouble releasing fears after leaving Eckankar.
Teachings discourage independent thinking
Critics contend that by valuing direct personal spiritual experience over thought and analysis, Eckankar may be—in cult-like fashion—discouraging independant thinking. Eckists believe that by valuing personal experience first, one becomes more self-reliant. The number of those leaving Eckankar or having a perception that Eckankar has cult-like features is not known.
External links
General Reference:
- ECKANKAR, Religion of the Light and Sound of God (http://www.eckankar.org) Official Main Site.
- Overview of Eckankar and its teachings (http://www.eckankar.org/abouteckankar.pdf) PDF file: requires Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) to view. (By Eckankar.)
- The Spiritual Exercise of singing HU (http://www.eckankar.com/hu.html) HU, an ancient spiritual practice and name for God. (By Eckankar.)
- References to HU found in the literature of the world (http://www.sourcetext.com/hupage/) The HU page. (Not Eckankar affiliated.)
- Eckankar The Religion of Light and Sound (http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/ecka.html) Religious Movements, University of Virginia, Nicole Beacon. (Not Eckankar affiliated.)
Plagiarism Discussion:
- David Lane and Doug Marman discuss plagiarism. (http://www.littleknownpubs.com/DialogPreface.htm) By Marman: Dialogue in the Age of Criticism.
- David Lane and Doug Marman discuss plagiarism. (http://vclass.mtsac.edu:940/dlane/eck1.htm) By Lane: The Great ECK Debate.
Ex-members:
- A Former Member Revisits the Movement (http://www.geocities.com/eckcult/dodie.html) 16,209-word article with interviews.
- Criticisms by Ben Douglass (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.religion.eckankar/messages/19e050e94439a464,46825b6a1925c28a,e357fa1e4e94fb8f,9eeae8319a16c742,0c6ccdae13be6495,6a5a90227f5a281e,124a937d3ca76bd0,1cf58f0fc53d1f4f,dfdb6093a7f1c0ad,93bb9d37c5b015a0?hl=en&thread_id=c0b11de465fd13b1&mode=thread&noheader=1&q=Message+To+The+Seeker+Looking+At+Eckankar+For+The+First+Time&_done=%2Fgroup%2Falt.religion.eckankar%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fthread%2Fc0b11de465fd13b1%2F19e050e94439a464%3Ftvc%3D1%26q%3DMessage+To+The+Seeker+Looking+At+Eckankar+For+The+First+Time%26#doc_46825b6a1925c28a) Message To The Seeker 547 words. On alt.religion.eckankar (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.religion.eckankar)
- Higher Consciousness Society (http://www.higherconsciousnesssociety.org/aboutHCS.asp) Ford Johnson's self-created spiritual organization.de:Eckankar