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{{Short description|Religious movement founded in 1965 by Paul Twitchell}}
''“ECK” (note capitals) redirects here. “Eck” was also a nickname for former pitcher [[Dennis Eckersley]].''
{{Distinguish|text=[[Ik Onkar]], the holy symbol in Sikhism}}
[[Image:USVA headstone emb-28.svg|thumb|Eckankar.]]
{{Multiple issues|
{{Primary sources|date=August 2018}}
{{COI|date=January 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox religion
| name = Eckankar
| image = Eckankar.svg
| imagewidth = 100
| alt =
| caption = The Eckankar "EK" symbol
| abbreviation =
| type = [[Dharma]] influenced [[new religious movement]]
| main_classification =
| orientation =
| scripture = Main: ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'' <br /> Minor: ''Autobiography of a Modern Prophet'' etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eckbooks.org/catalog/Books-3-1.html |title=Books |publisher= Online Bookstore |access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religionfacts.com/eckankar/texts |title=Eckankar sacred texts |publisher=ReligionFacts |access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
| theology =
| polity =
| governance =
| structure =
| leader_title = Leader
| leader_name = Harold Klemp<ref>Handbook of World Religions, Len Woods, The Livingston Corp., 2008, Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P. O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683: "Harold Klemp (1942-Current)--a native of Wisconsin and former divinity student, Klemp discovered Eckankar in the 1960s. In 1981 he became Sri Harold Klemp, the Mahanta, the Living Eckankar Master, the spiritual leader of Eckankar; Klemp's spiritual name is Wah Z, 'the Secret Doctrine.'" Ch. 14, ECKANKAR, p. 69</ref>
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| fellowships_type =
| fellowships =
| fellowships_type1 =
| fellowships1 =
| associations =
| area = Mostly worldwide
| headquarters = [[Temple of ECK]], [[Chanhassen]], [[Minnesota]], United States
| founder = [[Paul Twitchell]]
| founded_date = 1965
| founded_place = [[San Diego]], [[California]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116546831/?terms=%22paul+twitchell%22++%22Soul+Travel%22 |title=Search for "paul twitchell" "SoulTravel" |date=7 November 1965 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Chula Vista Star-News |access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
| separated_from =
| branched_from =
| merger =
| absorbed =
| separations =
| merged_into =
| defunct =
| congregations_type = Centres
| congregations =
| members =
| ministers_type =
| ministers =
| missionaries =
| hospitals =
| nursing_homes =
| aid =
| primary_schools =
| secondary_schools =
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| other_names =
| publications =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:EckTemple.jpg|thumb|The [[Temple of Eck]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S.]]


'''Eckankar''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛ|k|ə|n|ˌ|k|ɑːr}} {{respell|EK|ən|kar}}) is an American [[new religious movement]] founded by [[Paul Twitchell]] in 1965. The spiritual home is the [[Temple of ECK]] in [[Chanhassen|Chanhassen, Minnesota]]. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wiki|first=Eckankar |title=Introduction to Eckankar |url=https://eckankar.wiki/eckankar |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=eckankar.wiki}}</ref>
'''Eckankar''' is a [[new religious movement]] that focuses on spiritual exercises enabling practitioners to "experience the Light and Sound of God." Founded by [[Paul Twitchell]] in 1965, [[Sri Harold Klemp]] has been the spiritual leader of Eckankar since October 1981.


The movement teaches simple spiritual exercises, such as singing "''HU''{{hsp}}", called "a love song to God", to experience the Light and Sound of God and recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit.<ref>"[http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html HU: A Love Song to God] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028215421/https://www.eckankar.org/hu.html |date=2017-10-28 }}", Eckankar website, last modified 16 Jan. 2016. Retrieved 30 Jan. 2016.</ref><ref>"This sound develops through ten different aspects ... until it finally becomes Hu, the most sacred of all sounds. This sound Hu is the beginning and end of all sounds ... the echo of bells or gongs gives a typical illustration of the sound Hu. The Supreme Being has been called by various names in different languages, but the mystics have known him as Hu, the natural name, not man-made, the only name of the nameless which all nature constantly proclaims. The sound Hu is most sacred; the mystics of all ages called it Ismi-Azam, the name of the most High, for it is the origin and end of every sound as well as the background of each word. The word Hu is the spirit of all sounds ... This alone is the true name of God, a name that no people and no religion can claim as their own. ... All things and beings exclaim this name of the Lord, for every activity of life expresses distinctly or indistinctly this very sound. ... The mystery of Hu is revealed to the Sufi who journeys through the path of initiation." – [[Inayat Khan]], [http://www.hazrat-inayat-khan.org/php/views.php?h1=11&h2=8 ''The Mysticism of Sound''] / [http://www.soufi-inayat-khan.org/murshid/myst_son/gb_ms08.htm ''Abstract Sound''].</ref><ref>[[Hu (Sufism)|Hu]]</ref>
According to the Eckankar glossary, the term ''Eckankar'' means "Co-Worker with God". <ref>[http://www.eckankar.com/glossary.html#eck A Glossary of ECK Terms]</ref> It is likely drawn from the Sikh term, ''[[Ik Onkar]]''. Since 1985, Eckankar is described as “The Religion of the Light and Sound of God”. (Prior to 1985, Eckankar changed the descriptor following its name several times.)


==Etymology==
Eckankar headquarters are in [[Chanhassen, Minnesota]] (southwest of [[Minneapolis]]). At this site there are the Eckankar Temple, an outdoor chapel, an administrative building, and the ECK Spiritual Campus.
Twitchell was known for adapting [[Sanskrit]] words into English, and the word ''Eckankar'' is likely Twitchell's adaptation of the sacred [[Sikhism|Sikh]] phrase ''[[Ik Onkar]]'', meaning "One ''[[Om]]''". ''Eck'' is intended to mean the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]], as found in the biblical and Christian terminology.<ref name="Cosmic 2009" />{{rp|55}} According to the Eckankar's glossary, the term ''Eckankar'' means "co-worker with God".{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


==Teachings==
== History ==
The movement was founded in 1965 by Paul Twitchell ([[spiritual name]]: Peddar Zaskq), who remained its spiritual leader (called "Living ECK Master") until his death in September 1971. He was succeeded by Darwin Gross (spiritual name: Dap Ren). On October 22, 1981, Harold Klemp (spiritual name: Wah{{Nbsp}}Z) was announced the spiritual leader. Between 1981 and 1987, both Gross and Klemp claimed being the Living ECK Master, and to be the Inner Master, and had their own followers.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


Eckankar's headquarters were originally in [[Las Vegas]], Nevada. In 1975, under the leadership of Gross, the organization was moved to [[Menlo Park, California|Menlo Park]], California. In 1986, Klemp moved the base of operations to [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota.<ref>"'Soul Travelers' Move", ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'', 24 August 1986.</ref>
One of the basic teachings is that God is Love.
One of the basic tenets is that soul (awareness or consciousness) can leave the body in full consciousness and travel freely in other planes of reality. Eckankar emphasizes personal spiritual experiences as the most natural way back to [[God]]. <ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/SEW/ Eckankar: Spiritual Exercise of the Week</ref> These are attained via "soul travel", shifting the awareness from the body to the inner planes of existence.


Eckankar is registered as a nonprofit religious organization in the United States. It reports members in more than 120 countries, and its teachings have been translated into more than 25 languages.<ref>https://www.eckankar.org/explore/faqs/ and Multifaith Information Manual, 6th Edition, Canadian Multifaith Federation, Toronto, p. 181. "Eckankar subordinate churches have been legally recognized as nonprofit organizations with religious purposes in up to 40 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Ghana, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and others."</ref> The exact number of members, known as ECKists, is undisclosed. The world headquarters and [[Temple of Eck|Temple of ECK]], Eckankar's Spiritual Center, are in [[Chanhassen, Minnesota]],<ref>Religions in Minnesota, "(New) Religious Movements)—Eckankar—Global Eckankar" by Lauren Alexander, https://religionsmn.carleton.edu/exhibits/show/eckankar/global-eckankar. "It is estimated that ECKists can be found in anywhere between one hundred to one hundred and twenty countries across the globe. The presence of Eckankar is particularly strong in Africa and Europe, and two such strongholds are located in Nigeria and Germany. Eckankar texts are translated into multiple languages.</ref><ref>Sam Barnes, "Members of Temple Say They Have the Passport for Spiritual Travels," West—Star Tribune, Wednesday, January 18, 2006. ". . .The Temple of ECK in Chanhassen. . . . is the international center of a religious movement that claims tens of thousands of followers worldwide in more than 120 countries.</ref><ref>Nolan Zavoral, "Eckankar's Soul Travel Opens Roads to Insight," Faith & Values, Star Tribune, Saturday, October 25, 1997. "Eckankar, claiming more than 50,000 followers worldwide, moved its headquarters to the Twin Cities at the turn of the '90s. Each year, more than 15,000 people visit the Temple of Eck, an $8 million structure rising like a pyramid from rippling waves of prairie grass in Chanhassen."</ref> on a {{Convert|174|acre|ha|adj=on}} campus with {{Convert|2|mi|km}} of contemplation trails open to the public.<ref>Ibid. Sam Barnes, "Members of Temple Say They Have the Passport for Spiritual Travels," West—Star Tribune, Wednesday, January 18, 2006. ". . .The Temple of ECK in Chanhassen. . . . is located on a 174-acre site on the northwest corner of Hwy 5 and Powers Boulevard."</ref><ref>Andrew Hazzard and Meghan Davy-Sandvold, "Spiritual Movements Ancient and Modern Develop Roots in the Southwest Metro," Southwest News Media, August 31, 2018, https://www.swnewsmedia.com/chanhassen_villager/spiritual-movements-ancient-and-modern-develop-roots-in-the-southwest-metro/article_1672e9c7-e5ca-533e-856d-f2f2eb45d2ea.html "The temple sits on 174 rolling prairie off Powers Boulevard. Two miles of contemplation paths wind through the prairie and are open to the public."</ref>
Certain [[mantra]]s are used to facilitate spiritual growth. One important spiritual exercise of Eckankar is the singing or chanting of ''[[Hu (Sufism)|hu]]''. The ''Hu'' has been used in the [[Sufi]] traditions and other paths, and is seen to be a “love song to God.” It is pronounced like the name “Hugh” in a long drawn out breath and is sung for about 20 minutes. Eckists sing it alone or in groups for spiritual upliftment. This practice is claimed to allow the student to step back from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain soul’s spiritual viewpoint.


The Eckankar "EK" symbol appears on the list of ''Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers'' by the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Administration |first=National Cemetery |title=Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers - National Cemetery Administration |url=http://www.cem.va.gov/hmm/emblems.asp |access-date=16 March 2018 |website=www.cem.va.gov}}</ref> Sources estimate that there were around 50,000 followers in the 1990s.<ref>"Eckankar," by David V. Barret, Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements, ed. Peter B. Clarke, Routledge, 2006. "Eckankar claims to have tens of thousands of members worldwide, many of whom also continue to be members of other religions." p. 160</ref><ref>Ibid. Len Woods (2008) Handbook of World Religions. "Though Eckankar doesn't publish membership figures, conservative estimates put the number of adherents to fifty thousand. Followers study at over three hundred Eckankar centers in more than a hundred countries around the world." p. 69</ref>
Dreams are regarded as an important teaching tool. Members often keep a [[dream journal]] to facilitate study. <ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/dream.html Dreams: A Source of Inner Truth</ref> According to followers of Eckankar, dream travel often serves as the gateway to soul travel<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html Soul Travel</ref> or the shifting of one’s consciousness to ever-higher states of being.

Eckankar teaches that "spiritual liberation" in one’s lifetime is available to all and that it is possible to achieve self-realization (the realization of oneself as soul) and God-realization (the realization of oneself as a spark of God) in one’s lifetime. The membership card for Eckankar states: “The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take soul by its own path back to its divine source.”

The emphasis has shifted in current times away from out of body experiences to expansion of awareness through experiencing God’s love in everyday matters. The final spiritual goal of all Eckists is to become conscious co-workers with God.

==Origins==

Paul Twitchell founded Eckankar in 1965, although it claims that the basis for the Eckankar teachings date back to the beginning of human life. An early Eckankar teacher is ''[[Gakko]]'' from Venus. (''Shariyat Ki Sugmad''&mdash;Illuminated Way Press)

Paul Twitchell sourced many modern and ancient religious teachings in his creation of the Eckankar Teaching, though it should be noted that the main sources appear to be [[Sufism]] and a little known teaching in India called “The Parent Faith.” (This is where other light and sound teachings such as [[Sant Mat]] also derived their roots.) (''The Whole Truth''&mdash;Doug Marman)

Eckankar headquarters were based in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] and then [[Menlo Park, California]] until the present Living Eck Master, Sri Harold Klemp, moved the base of operations to Minnesota. Eckankar was founded as a business; however, the Panel of Administrators urged Twitchell to conform to usual standards, and the teaching was registered as a [[NPO|non-profit organization]] (for tax reasons). Later, Sri Harold Klemp changed it to a recognized religious institution. Currently, Eckankar is accepted as a religion by the US Army, Boy Scouts, and many other public institutions.


==Beliefs==
==Beliefs==
Some scholars believe that Eckankar beliefs draw in part from the [[Sikhism|Sikh]] and [[Hinduism|Hindu]] religions,<ref>{{cite book |author=George D. Chryssides |title=The A to Z of New Religious Movements |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2001 |location=Oxford, UK |page=298 |quote=Emanating from the Radhosoami Satsang (q.v.) background, which is a synthesis of Hinduism and Sikhism (qq.v.), Eckankar teaches a form of surat sabda yoga&nbsp;...}}</ref> in particular the [[Radha Soami]] movement.<ref>[[J. Gordon Melton|Melton, J. Gordon]] (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc. {{ISBN|0-7876-6384-0}}. p. 1056.</ref><ref name="JonesRyan">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2007 |title=Eckankar |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Facts On File |place=New York |url={{Google books|OgMmceadQ3gC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |series=Encyclopedia of World Religions. [[J. Gordon Melton]], Series Editor |pages=144–146 |isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020070415/https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |archive-date=2022-10-20 |surname2=Ryan |given2=James D. |surname=Jones |given=Constance A. |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=2024-02-22 }}</ref> However, [[J. Gordon Melton]] finds significant differences between Radha Soami teachings and Eckankar.<ref>17. Ibid. ^Melton, J. Gordon, Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th Edition). (q.v.) "ECKANKAR is distinguished from the Sant Mat tradition in significant ways. ECKANKAR, for example, teaches that the ultimate state for each individual is that of a co-worker with God, not oneness with God; inner techniques are more active spiritual exercises than yogic practices; and Eastern austerities (vegetarianism, extended meditation) are not espoused. Twitchell also presented a different vocabulary than that of Sant Mat teachings." It is arguable that Eckankar's denial of its reliance on Sant Mat's yogic practices, and Twitchell's assertion of a unique vocabulary were intended to distinguish Eckankar from its partial origins in the older established religion Sikhism and the Sant Mat teachings.</ref>


One of the basic tenets is that [[soul]] (the true self) may be experienced separate from the physical body and, in full consciousness, travel freely in "other planes of reality." Eckankar emphasizes personal spiritual experiences as the most natural way back to God.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/SEW/ Eckankar: Spiritual Exercise of the Week] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110819181428/http://www.eckankar.org/SEW/ |date=2011-08-19 }}. eckankar.org</ref> These are attained via Soul Travel: shifting the awareness from the body to the inner planes of existence.<ref name="Cosmic 2009">Klemp, Harold. ''A Cosmic Sea of Words, The ECKANKAR Lexicon''. Minneapolis: Eckankar, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-57043-286-6}}</ref>{{rp|187}}
Primary to the teaching is the belief that Man’s consciousness can leave the body at will (soul travel) and explore the inner planes of creation. Also, the doctrine of karma and reincarnation is strongly supported.


Certain [[mantra]]s or chants are used to facilitate spiritual growth. One important spiritual exercise of Eckankar is the singing or chanting of ''HU'', and is viewed in Eckankar as a "love song to God". It is pronounced like the English word "hue" (or "hyoo") in a long, drawn-out breath and is sung for about twenty minutes to half an hour. ECKists sing it alone or in small groups.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}} ECKists believe that singing HU draws one closer in state of consciousness to the Divine Being and that it can expand awareness, help one experience divine love, heal broken hearts, offer solace in times of grief, and bring peace and calm.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html HU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028215421/https://www.eckankar.org/hu.html |date=2017-10-28 }}. eckankar.org</ref> ECKists believe this practice allows the student to step back from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain Soul's spiritually higher viewpoint.
Soul is seen as the true self, and it wears a mind, emotions and the physical body in the same way as we might put on layers of clothes. Soul can thus leave the body and return at will, when it learns how. Dreams are seen as very important, with books such as ''The Art of Spiritual Dreaming'' forming part of the essential reading for all Eckankar students (''Chelas'').


Dreams are regarded as important teaching tools, and members often keep [[dream journal]]s to facilitate study.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/dream.html Dreams: A Source of Inner Truth]. eckankar.org</ref> According to followers of Eckankar, dream travel often serves as the gateway to Soul Travel,<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html Soul Travel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050628081239/http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html |date=2005-06-28 }}. eckankar.org</ref> also known by Eckankar as [[Out-of-body experience|out of body experience]] (OBE), or the shifting of one's consciousness to ever-higher states of being. Soul travel was a new term created by Twitchell.
The beliefs that each individual is responsible for their own destiny, and that our decisions determine our future, are core subjects. Eckankar students meet in ''[[satsang]]'', which means “spiritual meeting,” to discuss books and discourses. Questioning of the stated beliefs is not opposed, and indeed is recommended for new students. In this respect, Eckankar is quite different from other teachings.


Eckankar teaches that "spiritual liberation" in one's lifetime is available to all and that it is possible to achieve Self-Realization (the realization of oneself as Soul) and God-Realization (the realization of oneself as a spark of God) in one's lifetime. The membership card for Eckankar states: "The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take Soul by Its own path back to Its divine source."
Many people report that they are drawn to this belief because it confirms to them the validity of experiences they have had prior to their even having heard about the group. These experiences are generally with either the light or sound, or some of the Eck Masters. Many of these stories are recorded in the numerous books and magazines published by the organization.


The final spiritual goal of all ECKists is to become conscious "co-workers" with God.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}}<ref>''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'', Books One and Two, 65</ref>
A common example is when an adult recalls meeting one of the Eckankar teachers as a child and recalls this when finding a picture of that Master on the wall of an Eckankar center, or at friend's home, or in one of the group's publications.


The leader of Eckankar is known as "the Living ECK Master" (LEM). Eckankar claims that only a man can be the LEM as Soul needs the atom structure of a male body in the physical world to become the spiritual leader; a choice made before birth. Eckankar now claims that some leaders, Twitchell and Klemp, for example, also hold the title "Mahanta", which refers to the inner aspect of the teacher. During Gross' ten year leadership 1971-1981 the nonprofit religious organization claimed he was the Mahanta. The leader functions as both an inner and outer guide for each member's individual spiritual progress.
Eckankar does not proselytize, and as the group it seems to attract membership from those who find confirmation of personal experiences and understandings after reading the books, meeting with an member, or seeing one of the many videos available to the public.


ECKists believe that contact with a divine spirit, which they call the ''ECK'', can be made via the spiritual exercises of ECK and the guidance of the living ECK Master. It is held that the ECK Masters are here to serve all life irrespective of religious belief. The main Eckankar website includes a list of Masters, some of whom are historical figures.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/index.html Official Eckankar Masters List]. eckankar.org</ref>
After membership, adherents claim that the techniques given in the discourses and books of Eckankar provide individuals with the means by which to have direct and clear inner and outer experiences of the Light and Sound and with the Eck Masters. Members commonly speak pf how a dream of inner experience has helped them resolve some issue in their life. Some claim to have learned the art of reading their own past lives and garnering healing or understanding from this. Most report a gradual growth in consciousness that they have experienced through the teachings and initiations. There is a 20-25 year program of discourses provided by the group to members.


The ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'', which means "Way of the Eternal", is the holy scripture of Eckankar.<ref>Klemp, Harold, 1998, Cosmic Sea of Words: The Eckankar Lexicon. Eckankar, Minneapolis.</ref> It comprises two books that tell of spiritual meaning and purpose as written by the Mahanta.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}} There are also a series of [[Satsang]] writings that are available with yearly membership in Eckankar. There are Satsang classes available to study discourses with others, as well as individually.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|177}}
==Current status==


Some of the key beliefs taught in the ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'' include Soul Travel, [[karma]], [[reincarnation]], love, Light and Sound, and many other spiritual topics. ECKists believe Sugmad is the endless source from which all forms were created, and that the ECK, the Sound Current, flows out of Sugmad and into lower dimensions.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59, 187, 194}}
Eckankar claims an active membership base in over one hundred countries throughout the world, including the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]].<ref>http://www.eckankarnigeria.org</ref><ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/ekcenters.html Eckankar around the World]</ref> 26,000 American Eckists were estimated in 2001 (data from interviews with 50,000 Americans) and 36,700 in 2004.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html Top Twenty Religions in the United States, 2001]</ref> Estimates from varying authors <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_264.html|title=43,941 adherent statistic citations: membership and geography data for 4,300+ religions, churches, tribes, etc|author=Adherents.com}}</ref> varies from 50,000 to 500,000. <ref>''Godwin, John''. '''Occult America'''; Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc. (1972); pg. 114. “But within the metaphysical world [Twitchell] looms large indeed. With an estimated 500,000 followers worldwide, fifteen centers in the US and four overseas, and a weekly mailbag of some 10,000 letters...”</ref> Eckankar does not publish their own membership figures. Seminars are held worldwide throughout the year, with attendance ranging up to 10,000 participants.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}


Primary to the teaching is the belief that one may experience the perspective of Soul beyond the limits of the body. Also, the concepts of [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]] help to explain situations in life as the playing out of past causes.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|186–187}}
Eckankar’s 50,000-square-foot main “Temple of ECK”<ref>[http://www.eckankar.com/Temple/index.html Eckankar: The Temple of ECK in Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA</ref> was dedicated in [[Chanhassen]], [[Minnesota]] on October 22, 1990. As of late 2007, the largest capacity Eckankar Temple was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, [[Nigeria]], [[Africa]], with a total capacity of 10,000.


The beliefs that individuals are responsible for their own destiny and that their decisions determine their future are important concepts to Eckankar. Eckankar students meet in open public services and classes to discuss personal experiences, topics, books and discourses.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}}
Eckankar has produced dozens of books, videos, CDs, and tapes on a variety of spiritual topics. Membership is based on a suggested donation: members receive discourses, and they are invited to study at home or in the company of other members in Eckankar ''Satsang'' classes. Eckankar does not attempt to convert individuals to their religion. They do, however, advertise their presence and distribute literature to interested persons.


==Ceremonies and rites==
Recently, there has been an increase of membership in Africa,{{Fact|date=September 2007}} and a large temple houses some 10,000 members at their annual gathering. Eckankar centers are located in almost every capital city in the world,{{fact|date=February 2008}} and are staffed by volunteer workers.
There are few personal requirements to be an ECKist; however, certain spiritual practices are recommended. Chief among these is daily practice of the "Spiritual Exercises of ECK" for 15–20 minutes.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|189}} The most basic ECK spiritual exercise is singing the syllable ''HU''. A wide variety of spiritual exercises are offered, and members are encouraged to create their own. Study of ECK books and written discourses, alone or in groups, is also encouraged. There are no dietary requirements, taboos, or enforced ascetic practices. Eckankar does not require potential members to leave their current faith to join.


There are a number of ceremonies an ECKist can experience as part of the teaching, including a Consecration ceremony for initiating the young and infants, a Rite of Passage into adulthood (around age 13), a Wedding ceremony, and a Memorial service.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|186}}
The Eckankar “EK” symbol appears on the list of Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.<ref>[http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers - Burial & Memorials]</ref>


September 17 is celebrated as Founder's Day in honor of Paul Twitchell. October 22 is celebrated as the spiritual new year.<ref>{{cite book |title =Handbook of World Religions| author=Len Woods|page = 73| year = 2008|publisher = Barbour Publishing, Ohio}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eckankar.org/abouteckankar.pdf|title=About Eckankar: An Overview of Eckankar and its Teachings (PDF)|date=2003}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Ceremonies and Rites==

There are few personal requirements to be an Eckist; however, certain spiritual practices are recommended. Chief among these is daily practice of the "spiritual exercises" of ECK for 15-20 minutes a day. The most basic ECK spiritual exercise is singing the word ''hu''. There are no dietary requirements, sexual taboos, or enforced ascetic practices. Eckankar does not require potential members to leave their current faith to join.

There are a number of rituals an Eckist can experience as part of the teaching:

* ''ECK Consecration Ceremony'' : Celebrating the entrance of the young and infant into Eckankar, and new life in the light and sound of God.
* ''ECK Rite of Passage'' : Celebrating the passage from youth into adulthood, usually around thirteen.
* ''ECK Wedding Ceremony'' : Celebrating the marriage bond as two Eckists commit their lives to one another before God.
* ''ECK Memorial Service'' : Honors the journey of soul and welcomes it into the worlds beyond the physical.

Eckists celebrate a spiritual new year on October 22, as well as “Founder’s Day” on September 17.

==ECK masters==
{{main|ECK master}}

ECKists believe contact with Divine Spirit, which they call the ''ECK'', <ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/glossary.html#eck A Glossary of ECK Terms]</ref> can be made via the spiritual exercises of ECK and the guidance of the living ECK master. It is held that the ECK masters are universalists who are here to serve all life irrespective of religious belief.

In the teachings of Eckankar the following masters are among the better known:
* Kata Daki : An ECK Master in the Ancient Order of Vairagi Adepts. She helps people get back on their feet during hardship.
* Gopal Das : The Mahanta, the Living ECK Master in Egypt, 3000 B.C., who founded the mystery cults of Osiris and Isis; the guardian of the fourth section of the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad on the Astral Plane; he teaches at the Temple of Golden Wisdom there. Gopal Das is said to be youthful but mature in appearance, fair-skinned, clean-shaven, and with longish light-colored hair.
* Rebazar Tarzs : The officially-designated “torchbearer” (for continuity) of Eckankar in the lower worlds; the spiritual teacher of many ECK masters including Peddar Zaskq, or Paul Twitchell, to whom he handed the Rod of ECK Power in 1965. Said to be over five hundred years old, Rebazar Tarzs was Tibetan by birth and lives in a hut in the Hindu Kush mountains. He is said to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an athletic physique, dark skin, closely-cropped black hair and beard, and piercing black eyes. (See the section on Accusations of Plagiarism concerning where words ascribed to Rebazar Tarzs first appeared in print.)
* Rami Nuri : The ECK Master who is the guardian of the holy book, the ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'', on the Pinda Lok, the physical world, at the House of Moksha, Temple of Golden Wisdom in the spiritual city of Retz on the planet Venus. The letter M appears on his forehead. He also once served as the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master.

==Related groups==

Some groups, such as ATOM, and John Roger’s [[Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness|MSIA]], appear to have split from the main body of the Eckankar, though Roger denies further connection to Eckankar beyond having once been a student of Paul Twitchell. In the 1970s MSIA became known for distributing free “Smiley” stickers and cards with happy messages to people on the street.

More recently, former Eckist [[Ford Johnson]] formed a spiritual organization based on the idea that one does not need a master or spiritual guru to achieve spiritual enlightenment.<ref>[http://www.thetruth-seeker.com/openletter.asp The Truth Seeker</ref> <ref>[http://www.higherconsciousnesssociety.org/aboutHCS.asp Higher Consciousness Society</ref> Other groups created by former Eckists, like Michael Owens’ "The Way of Truth"<ref>[http://www.thewayoftruth.org/default.htm The Way of Truth :: Path to God Realization]</ref> and Gary Olsen’s "MasterPath",<ref>[http://www.masterpath.org/ MasterPath: Light and Sound is the Cutting Edge of Spirituality</ref> recruit members to apparently Eckankar-like organizations.

The current leader of Eckankar has stated that members should feel free to leave Eckankar unbounded by guilt or fear. But critics contend that, while Eckankar promotes itself as a path to ending [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]], Eckankar writings also speak of karma and reincarnation returning to members who leave Eckankar.<ref>http://www.caic.org.au/eastern/eck/subtle.htm</ref>

==Accusations of plagiarism==

After Twitchell’s death in 1971, [[David C. Lane]], then a member of the [[Sant Mat]] derivative ''[[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]'', charged Eckankar was a ''Sant Mat'' derivative, and that many Twitchell books used some passages of other groups’ books without crediting their authors. Twitchell’s ''The Far Country'' was said to contain the most plagiarism (of [[Julian Johnson]]’s ''Path of the Masters'').

Eckankar has never directly admitted that Twitchell used plagiarized material. The official Eckankar website goes as far to say that “Paul had taken it [the ECKANKAR teachings] and built upon it from many different areas, and he then moved it more than a step further.” (''The Writing of Paul Twitchell'') <ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html The Writing of Paul Twitchell<]</ref>

A defence for Twitchell's plagiarism was published in 2007 by a long standing Eckankar High Initiate, Doug Marman <ref>[http://www.littleknownpubs.com spiritualdialogues.com</ref> He has published a biography of Paul Twitchell ''The Whole Truth'' that adheres to most academic standards of research. Accordingly, Marman lists several books that he feels Twitchell used as uncredited sources.

In relation to this book Twitchell’s widow (Gail) has written "... finally, someone got the whole thing right... Paul's work [put in] in the proper perspective."<ref>[http://spiritualdialogues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=1 spiritualdialogues.com]</ref>

Twitchell's original biographer, Brad Stieger has also written and commended this work as the most researched and authoritative to date on Paul Twitchell. [http://www.littleknownpubs.com The Whole Truth]


==Criticism==
==Criticism==
In his book, ''Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America'', written in 1977, [[David C. Lane]] writes:

{{Blockquote|This lineage, known as the Vairagi masters in Eckankar, allegedly traces its genealogy back through some 970 Living Eck Masters to Rama, an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. In other versions, the teachings go even further back to Gakko, a spiritual essence that traveled from the city of Retz on the planet Venus to Earth six million years ago&nbsp;... In addition, Sudar Singh and Rebazar Tarzs are not genuine historical personages but literary inventions developed by Twitchell to conceal his past associations.<ref>{{cite book |title =''Eckankar'' in Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America (ed Eugene V. Gallagher and W. Michael Ashcraft)Volume 3: Metaphysical, New Age, and Neopagan Movements|pages = 115|first = David Christopher|last = Lane| year = 2006|publisher = Greenwood Press}}</ref>}}
Internet communities of ex-members and critics, such as the Usenet newsgroup alt.religion.eckankar, include criticisms dating back over ten years. Eckankar has been labeled a [[cult]] by some critics, both former members and [[Christian]] writers.<ref>[http://www.icoc.us/view/?pageID=317591 Internet Church of Christ - List of Cults and Religions N-Z]</ref> Christians criticize this belief system as one man's attempt to create a religion he invented, rather than accepting Truth (Jesus Christ) which is so readily apparent everywhere. One cannot create "peace" in themselves, as peace is a gift from the Holy Spirit (as found in the New Testament).

In the introductory level, Eckankar states that spiritual truth is not the possession of a single person or group, and that the many paths all lead to the same goal. However, Eckankar states it is the most direct path to the highest heaven. The ''[[Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad]]'', Eckankar’s “Bible,” unambiguously states that Eckankar is the most direct path to God.

Some outspoken ex-Eckists believe it is unethical or “wrong” not to "wake up" current Eckankar adherents to what they claim they are not being told, and some critics cite former leader Twitchell's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckankar#Plagiarism_discussion claimed plagiarism] as a reason to leave Eckankar.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Ancient Teachings of the Masters]]
*[[Sri Harold Klemp]]
* [[Contemporary Sant Mat movement]]
*[[ECK master]]
*[[Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad]]
* [[Marjan Davari]]
*[[Sri Paul Twitchell]]
* [[New religious movement]]
*[[Sri Darwin Gross]] Living ECK Master 1971-1983 [http://www.darwingrosstruthfile.homestead.com/dgtf.html]
*[[Karma]]
*[[Surat Shabd Yoga]]
*[[Radha Soami]]
*[[Sant Mat]]
*[[Contemporary Sant Mat movement]]
*[[Reincarnation]]
*[[Ik Onkar]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==Further reading==


* Dogra, Ramesh Chander & Gobind Singh Mansukhani, ''Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture'', Vikas, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0706994995}}.
* Eckankar [http://www.eckankar.org Official Website]; [http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/eckankar.htm ReligonFacts.com]
* Ellwood, Robert S. and Partin, Harry B. (1988), ''Religious and Spiritual Groups in Modern America'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
* HU Song [http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html Official Eckankar page]; [http://www.sourcetext.com/hupage/ World Literature References]
* Lane, David Christopher, ''The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar'', Del Mar, California: Del Mar Press, 1990. {{ISBN|0-9611124-0-9}}.
* Eckankar—Ancient Wisdom for Today [https://www.eckankar.org/FreeBook/ Free Downloadable Book]
* Marman, Doug (2007). ''The Whole Truth: The Spiritual Legacy of Paul Twitchell'', Ridgefield, Washington: Spiritual Dialogues Project. {{ISBN|978-0-9793260-0-4}}.
* Paul Twitchell&mdash;Eckankar's Founder [http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/index.html Official Eckankar page], [http://www.om-guru.com/html/saints/twitchell01.html by J. Denosky]
* Woods, Len, (2008). ''Handbook of World Religions''. Barbour Publishing, Ohio.


==External links==
===Ex-Members and Alternate Views===
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.geocities.com/eckcult/dodie.html A Former Member Revisits the Movement.] 16,209-word article with interviews.
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.eaec.org/cults/eckankar.htm Eckankar] European-American Evangelistic Crusades
* [https://eckankar.wiki/ Wiki Website]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eckcult The Unauthorized Eckankar Page]
* [http://www.higherconsciousnesssociety.org/aboutHCS.asp Higher Consciousness Society] Ex-Eckankar High Initiate Ford Johnson's organization.
* [http://www.msia.org Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness] Official website, claiming no relation to Eckankar. Founder was an Eckankar member over 30 years ago.
* Anonymous site by someone claiming to be a former member. [http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/eckankarsurvivors/rogue1.html Anonymous]
* Site by someone claiming to be a former High Initiate. [http://www.stormpages.com/truthbeknown66/ Eckankar, A Spiritual Hoax]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EckankarSurvivorsAnonymous Eckankar Survivors Anonymous]


{{New Religious Movements}}
===Plagiarism discussion===
{{Sant Mat}}
* David Lane and Doug Marman discuss plagiarism:
{{Authority control}}
[http://www.littleknownpubs.com/Dialog_Ch._One.htm Dialog in the Age of Criticism.]
[http://elearn.mtsac.edu/dlane/ekdebates.htm The Great ECK Debates]
* A dialog evolved from plagiarism claims and discussions on alt.religion.eckankar newsgroup. [http://spiritualdialogues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28 Dialog]
* Eckankar Critique [http://vclass.mtsac.edu:930/phil/center.htm Twitchell Plaigarism]


[[Category:1965 establishments in Nevada]]
[[Category:Contemporary Sant Mat]]
[[Category:Radha Soami]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:Shabd paths]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1965]]
[[Category:Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]

[[de:Eckankar]]
[[fa:اکنکار]]
[[fr:Eckankar]]
[[nl:Eckankar]]
[[sv:Eckankar]]

Latest revision as of 08:50, 13 November 2024

Not to be confused with Ik Onkar, the holy symbol in Sikhism.
Eckankar
The Eckankar "EK" symbol
TypeDharma influenced new religious movement
ScriptureMain: Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad
Minor: Autobiography of a Modern Prophet etc.[1][2]
LeaderHarold Klemp[3]
RegionMostly worldwide
HeadquartersTemple of ECK, Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States
FounderPaul Twitchell
Origin1965
San Diego, California[4]
The Temple of Eck in Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S.

Eckankar (/ˈɛkənˌkɑːr/ EK-ən-kar) is an American new religious movement founded by Paul Twitchell in 1965. The spiritual home is the Temple of ECK in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Eckankar is not affiliated with any other religious group.[5]

The movement teaches simple spiritual exercises, such as singing "HU ", called "a love song to God", to experience the Light and Sound of God and recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit.[6][7][8]

Etymology

[edit]

Twitchell was known for adapting Sanskrit words into English, and the word Eckankar is likely Twitchell's adaptation of the sacred Sikh phrase Ik Onkar, meaning "One Om". Eck is intended to mean the Holy Spirit, as found in the biblical and Christian terminology.[9]: 55  According to the Eckankar's glossary, the term Eckankar means "co-worker with God".[citation needed]

History

[edit]

The movement was founded in 1965 by Paul Twitchell (spiritual name: Peddar Zaskq), who remained its spiritual leader (called "Living ECK Master") until his death in September 1971. He was succeeded by Darwin Gross (spiritual name: Dap Ren). On October 22, 1981, Harold Klemp (spiritual name: Wah Z) was announced the spiritual leader. Between 1981 and 1987, both Gross and Klemp claimed being the Living ECK Master, and to be the Inner Master, and had their own followers.[citation needed]

Eckankar's headquarters were originally in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1975, under the leadership of Gross, the organization was moved to Menlo Park, California. In 1986, Klemp moved the base of operations to Minneapolis, Minnesota.[10]

Eckankar is registered as a nonprofit religious organization in the United States. It reports members in more than 120 countries, and its teachings have been translated into more than 25 languages.[11] The exact number of members, known as ECKists, is undisclosed. The world headquarters and Temple of ECK, Eckankar's Spiritual Center, are in Chanhassen, Minnesota,[12][13][14] on a 174-acre (70 ha) campus with 2 miles (3.2 km) of contemplation trails open to the public.[15][16]

The Eckankar "EK" symbol appears on the list of Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[17] Sources estimate that there were around 50,000 followers in the 1990s.[18][19]

Beliefs

[edit]

Some scholars believe that Eckankar beliefs draw in part from the Sikh and Hindu religions,[20] in particular the Radha Soami movement.[21][22] However, J. Gordon Melton finds significant differences between Radha Soami teachings and Eckankar.[23]

One of the basic tenets is that soul (the true self) may be experienced separate from the physical body and, in full consciousness, travel freely in "other planes of reality." Eckankar emphasizes personal spiritual experiences as the most natural way back to God.[24] These are attained via Soul Travel: shifting the awareness from the body to the inner planes of existence.[9]: 187 

Certain mantras or chants are used to facilitate spiritual growth. One important spiritual exercise of Eckankar is the singing or chanting of HU, and is viewed in Eckankar as a "love song to God". It is pronounced like the English word "hue" (or "hyoo") in a long, drawn-out breath and is sung for about twenty minutes to half an hour. ECKists sing it alone or in small groups.[9]: 59  ECKists believe that singing HU draws one closer in state of consciousness to the Divine Being and that it can expand awareness, help one experience divine love, heal broken hearts, offer solace in times of grief, and bring peace and calm.[25] ECKists believe this practice allows the student to step back from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain Soul's spiritually higher viewpoint.

Dreams are regarded as important teaching tools, and members often keep dream journals to facilitate study.[26] According to followers of Eckankar, dream travel often serves as the gateway to Soul Travel,[27] also known by Eckankar as out of body experience (OBE), or the shifting of one's consciousness to ever-higher states of being. Soul travel was a new term created by Twitchell.

Eckankar teaches that "spiritual liberation" in one's lifetime is available to all and that it is possible to achieve Self-Realization (the realization of oneself as Soul) and God-Realization (the realization of oneself as a spark of God) in one's lifetime. The membership card for Eckankar states: "The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take Soul by Its own path back to Its divine source."

The final spiritual goal of all ECKists is to become conscious "co-workers" with God.[9]: 59 [28]

The leader of Eckankar is known as "the Living ECK Master" (LEM). Eckankar claims that only a man can be the LEM as Soul needs the atom structure of a male body in the physical world to become the spiritual leader; a choice made before birth. Eckankar now claims that some leaders, Twitchell and Klemp, for example, also hold the title "Mahanta", which refers to the inner aspect of the teacher. During Gross' ten year leadership 1971-1981 the nonprofit religious organization claimed he was the Mahanta. The leader functions as both an inner and outer guide for each member's individual spiritual progress.

ECKists believe that contact with a divine spirit, which they call the ECK, can be made via the spiritual exercises of ECK and the guidance of the living ECK Master. It is held that the ECK Masters are here to serve all life irrespective of religious belief. The main Eckankar website includes a list of Masters, some of whom are historical figures.[29]

The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, which means "Way of the Eternal", is the holy scripture of Eckankar.[30] It comprises two books that tell of spiritual meaning and purpose as written by the Mahanta.[9]: 59  There are also a series of Satsang writings that are available with yearly membership in Eckankar. There are Satsang classes available to study discourses with others, as well as individually.[9]: 177 

Some of the key beliefs taught in the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad include Soul Travel, karma, reincarnation, love, Light and Sound, and many other spiritual topics. ECKists believe Sugmad is the endless source from which all forms were created, and that the ECK, the Sound Current, flows out of Sugmad and into lower dimensions.[9]: 59, 187, 194 

Primary to the teaching is the belief that one may experience the perspective of Soul beyond the limits of the body. Also, the concepts of karma and reincarnation help to explain situations in life as the playing out of past causes.[9]: 186–187 

The beliefs that individuals are responsible for their own destiny and that their decisions determine their future are important concepts to Eckankar. Eckankar students meet in open public services and classes to discuss personal experiences, topics, books and discourses.[9]: 59 

Ceremonies and rites

[edit]

There are few personal requirements to be an ECKist; however, certain spiritual practices are recommended. Chief among these is daily practice of the "Spiritual Exercises of ECK" for 15–20 minutes.[9]: 189  The most basic ECK spiritual exercise is singing the syllable HU. A wide variety of spiritual exercises are offered, and members are encouraged to create their own. Study of ECK books and written discourses, alone or in groups, is also encouraged. There are no dietary requirements, taboos, or enforced ascetic practices. Eckankar does not require potential members to leave their current faith to join.

There are a number of ceremonies an ECKist can experience as part of the teaching, including a Consecration ceremony for initiating the young and infants, a Rite of Passage into adulthood (around age 13), a Wedding ceremony, and a Memorial service.[9]: 186 

September 17 is celebrated as Founder's Day in honor of Paul Twitchell. October 22 is celebrated as the spiritual new year.[31][32]

Criticism

[edit]

In his book, Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America, written in 1977, David C. Lane writes:

This lineage, known as the Vairagi masters in Eckankar, allegedly traces its genealogy back through some 970 Living Eck Masters to Rama, an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. In other versions, the teachings go even further back to Gakko, a spiritual essence that traveled from the city of Retz on the planet Venus to Earth six million years ago ... In addition, Sudar Singh and Rebazar Tarzs are not genuine historical personages but literary inventions developed by Twitchell to conceal his past associations.[33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Books". Online Bookstore. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Eckankar sacred texts". ReligionFacts. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. ^ Handbook of World Religions, Len Woods, The Livingston Corp., 2008, Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P. O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683: "Harold Klemp (1942-Current)--a native of Wisconsin and former divinity student, Klemp discovered Eckankar in the 1960s. In 1981 he became Sri Harold Klemp, the Mahanta, the Living Eckankar Master, the spiritual leader of Eckankar; Klemp's spiritual name is Wah Z, 'the Secret Doctrine.'" Ch. 14, ECKANKAR, p. 69
  4. ^ "Search for "paul twitchell" "SoulTravel"". Chula Vista Star-News. 7 November 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Wiki, Eckankar. "Introduction to Eckankar". eckankar.wiki. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  6. ^ "HU: A Love Song to God Archived 2017-10-28 at the Wayback Machine", Eckankar website, last modified 16 Jan. 2016. Retrieved 30 Jan. 2016.
  7. ^ "This sound develops through ten different aspects ... until it finally becomes Hu, the most sacred of all sounds. This sound Hu is the beginning and end of all sounds ... the echo of bells or gongs gives a typical illustration of the sound Hu. The Supreme Being has been called by various names in different languages, but the mystics have known him as Hu, the natural name, not man-made, the only name of the nameless which all nature constantly proclaims. The sound Hu is most sacred; the mystics of all ages called it Ismi-Azam, the name of the most High, for it is the origin and end of every sound as well as the background of each word. The word Hu is the spirit of all sounds ... This alone is the true name of God, a name that no people and no religion can claim as their own. ... All things and beings exclaim this name of the Lord, for every activity of life expresses distinctly or indistinctly this very sound. ... The mystery of Hu is revealed to the Sufi who journeys through the path of initiation." – Inayat Khan, The Mysticism of Sound / Abstract Sound.
  8. ^ Hu
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Klemp, Harold. A Cosmic Sea of Words, The ECKANKAR Lexicon. Minneapolis: Eckankar, 2009. ISBN 978-1-57043-286-6
  10. ^ "'Soul Travelers' Move", San Jose Mercury News, 24 August 1986.
  11. ^ https://www.eckankar.org/explore/faqs/ and Multifaith Information Manual, 6th Edition, Canadian Multifaith Federation, Toronto, p. 181. "Eckankar subordinate churches have been legally recognized as nonprofit organizations with religious purposes in up to 40 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Ghana, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and others."
  12. ^ Religions in Minnesota, "(New) Religious Movements)—Eckankar—Global Eckankar" by Lauren Alexander, https://religionsmn.carleton.edu/exhibits/show/eckankar/global-eckankar. "It is estimated that ECKists can be found in anywhere between one hundred to one hundred and twenty countries across the globe. The presence of Eckankar is particularly strong in Africa and Europe, and two such strongholds are located in Nigeria and Germany. Eckankar texts are translated into multiple languages.
  13. ^ Sam Barnes, "Members of Temple Say They Have the Passport for Spiritual Travels," West—Star Tribune, Wednesday, January 18, 2006. ". . .The Temple of ECK in Chanhassen. . . . is the international center of a religious movement that claims tens of thousands of followers worldwide in more than 120 countries.
  14. ^ Nolan Zavoral, "Eckankar's Soul Travel Opens Roads to Insight," Faith & Values, Star Tribune, Saturday, October 25, 1997. "Eckankar, claiming more than 50,000 followers worldwide, moved its headquarters to the Twin Cities at the turn of the '90s. Each year, more than 15,000 people visit the Temple of Eck, an $8 million structure rising like a pyramid from rippling waves of prairie grass in Chanhassen."
  15. ^ Ibid. Sam Barnes, "Members of Temple Say They Have the Passport for Spiritual Travels," West—Star Tribune, Wednesday, January 18, 2006. ". . .The Temple of ECK in Chanhassen. . . . is located on a 174-acre site on the northwest corner of Hwy 5 and Powers Boulevard."
  16. ^ Andrew Hazzard and Meghan Davy-Sandvold, "Spiritual Movements Ancient and Modern Develop Roots in the Southwest Metro," Southwest News Media, August 31, 2018, https://www.swnewsmedia.com/chanhassen_villager/spiritual-movements-ancient-and-modern-develop-roots-in-the-southwest-metro/article_1672e9c7-e5ca-533e-856d-f2f2eb45d2ea.html "The temple sits on 174 rolling prairie off Powers Boulevard. Two miles of contemplation paths wind through the prairie and are open to the public."
  17. ^ Administration, National Cemetery. "Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers - National Cemetery Administration". www.cem.va.gov. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Eckankar," by David V. Barret, Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements, ed. Peter B. Clarke, Routledge, 2006. "Eckankar claims to have tens of thousands of members worldwide, many of whom also continue to be members of other religions." p. 160
  19. ^ Ibid. Len Woods (2008) Handbook of World Religions. "Though Eckankar doesn't publish membership figures, conservative estimates put the number of adherents to fifty thousand. Followers study at over three hundred Eckankar centers in more than a hundred countries around the world." p. 69
  20. ^ George D. Chryssides (2001). The A to Z of New Religious Movements. Oxford, UK: Scarecrow Press. p. 298. Emanating from the Radhosoami Satsang (q.v.) background, which is a synthesis of Hinduism and Sikhism (qq.v.), Eckankar teaches a form of surat sabda yoga ...
  21. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc. ISBN 0-7876-6384-0. p. 1056.
  22. ^ Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Eckankar". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. pp. 144–146. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9. Archived from the original on 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2024-02-22.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. ^ 17. Ibid. ^Melton, J. Gordon, Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th Edition). (q.v.) "ECKANKAR is distinguished from the Sant Mat tradition in significant ways. ECKANKAR, for example, teaches that the ultimate state for each individual is that of a co-worker with God, not oneness with God; inner techniques are more active spiritual exercises than yogic practices; and Eastern austerities (vegetarianism, extended meditation) are not espoused. Twitchell also presented a different vocabulary than that of Sant Mat teachings." It is arguable that Eckankar's denial of its reliance on Sant Mat's yogic practices, and Twitchell's assertion of a unique vocabulary were intended to distinguish Eckankar from its partial origins in the older established religion Sikhism and the Sant Mat teachings.
  24. ^ Eckankar: Spiritual Exercise of the Week Archived 2011-08-19 at Wikiwix. eckankar.org
  25. ^ HU Archived 2017-10-28 at the Wayback Machine. eckankar.org
  26. ^ Dreams: A Source of Inner Truth. eckankar.org
  27. ^ Soul Travel Archived 2005-06-28 at the Wayback Machine. eckankar.org
  28. ^ Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Books One and Two, 65
  29. ^ Official Eckankar Masters List. eckankar.org
  30. ^ Klemp, Harold, 1998, Cosmic Sea of Words: The Eckankar Lexicon. Eckankar, Minneapolis.
  31. ^ Len Woods (2008). Handbook of World Religions. Barbour Publishing, Ohio. p. 73.
  32. ^ "About Eckankar: An Overview of Eckankar and its Teachings (PDF)" (PDF). 2003.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^ Lane, David Christopher (2006). Eckankar in Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America (ed Eugene V. Gallagher and W. Michael Ashcraft)Volume 3: Metaphysical, New Age, and Neopagan Movements. Greenwood Press. p. 115.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Dogra, Ramesh Chander & Gobind Singh Mansukhani, Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture, Vikas, 1995. ISBN 978-0706994995.
  • Ellwood, Robert S. and Partin, Harry B. (1988), Religious and Spiritual Groups in Modern America, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
  • Lane, David Christopher, The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar, Del Mar, California: Del Mar Press, 1990. ISBN 0-9611124-0-9.
  • Marman, Doug (2007). The Whole Truth: The Spiritual Legacy of Paul Twitchell, Ridgefield, Washington: Spiritual Dialogues Project. ISBN 978-0-9793260-0-4.
  • Woods, Len, (2008). Handbook of World Religions. Barbour Publishing, Ohio.
[edit]
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