How old is eckankar

Ron Hubbard, for whom Twitchell once worked as a press agent. Eckankar believes that there are higher levels of consciousness that can be accessed through soul travel. There are tens of thousands of Eckankar members worldwide, with the majority of followers from the United States. After ten years, Gross appointed Harold Klemp b. Darwin Gross intended to stay on in Eckankar in a spiritual capacity as the Mahanta , but was excommunicated in from the group when he had a financial and personal falling out with Harold Klemp.

There are over thirty Eckankar centers around the world, including established followings in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Mexico. Eckankar also has branches in every state in the United States.

There have only been a handful of scholarly studies published on Paul Twitchell and Eckankar since the midth century. Both works question the official biography of Paul Twitchell and allege that he never visited India when he claimed. They also raise issues of plagiarism and how dependent Eckankar is on Sant Mat, Scientology, and Theosophy. Johnson, a medical doctor associated with Radhasoami Satsang Beas. Doug Marman, a long-time follower of Eckankar, attempted to address skeptics of his religion in Marman by providing a wealth of new information about the early life of Paul Twitchell and a theological interpretation of what it means for devoted members of Eckankar.

A number of encyclopedia articles have also elaborated on Paul Twitchell and Eckankar, including Peter B. SCP Journal 3 The first widely distributed critique of Eckankar, both historically and theologically.

Ashcraft, William, and Eugene V. Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America. Westport, CT: Greenwood, Discover simple, creative techniques that have the power to transform your life or simply create a better day.

Try one out. All rights reserved. Discover Your Highest Purpose. Searching for Truth? Experience the Most Sacred Part of Yourself. Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? The Hero's Journey.

Eternal, Unlimited, Divine. You are Soul, an eternal, creative being. To make sense of the world around you? Come along and discover the most secret part of yourself. Rolling hills, forest, and shrubbery surround the ECK Temple and constitute the rest of the acre property. Rising out of an open expanse of tawny prairie grass, the golden pyramidal roof of the ECK Temple looks oddly out of place. The shining golden roof, the highest point for several miles, is visible from the surrounding streets.

Sources estimate that there were around 50, followers in the s. In February , Iranian agencies reported the execution of Karim Zargar, an Eckankar member, for "corruption on earth" and forced rape. Marjan Davari , Mr. Zargar's former spouse, was also imprisoned and sentenced to death for being a member of Eckankar.

Davari's family has stated in the media and online that she is merely a researcher and a translator and is not a follower of Eckankar.

There are few personal requirements to be an ECKist; however, certain spiritual practices are recommended. The most basic ECK spiritual exercise is singing the word Hu. A wide variety of spiritual exercises are offered, and members are encouraged to create their own. 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. September 17 is celebrated as Founder's Day in honor of the modern-day founder of Eckankar, Paul Twitchell. October 22 is celebrated as the spiritual new year. 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. Lane writes:. This lineage, known as the Vairagi masters in Eckankar, allegedly traces its genealogy back through some 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