Eckankar Spiritual Leader Claims Title Of Son of God"

Harold Klemp, spiritual leader of Eckankar contradicts the central tenet of Christianity that Jesus is The Son of God," by claiming that he actually holds that distinction.

WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) July 4, 2004 -- Contradicting the central tenet of Christianity that Jesus is The Son of God," the Religion of Eckankar claims that its spiritual leader, Harold Klemp, actually holds that distinction. The written works of Eckankar claim that Harold Klemp who holds the self-proclaimed title of Mahanta the Living Eck Master is:

[The Son of God. This same expression was used to describe Christ during his stay on earth." (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, p.18)

Born of a Virgin: The Eck enters into the womb of a virgin, the queen of heaven.... [A man child is born...then the chosen one learns that he is the Living Eck Master." (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book I, 2nd Ed. 1987, pp. 111-112)

God made flesh on earth...the representative of Sugmad [God in our midst today" (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, p.223)

These are just a few of the hundreds of startling claims that make up the doctrine and dogma of the religious cult called Eckankar. These claims are blindly accepted by Eckists because they cannot conceive that their spiritual leader would ever mislead or deceive them. Yet, the spuriousness of these claims is obvious to all but the deceived. These are not the words of critics that come and go" as Eckankar would have its followers believe, but words taken from the holy" books of Eckankar, which form the very foundation of this religion.

Is Eckankar Anti-religion and Anti-Christian?
In a recent international newspaper article, Eckankar portrayed the author of the new book Confessions of a God Seeker: A Journey to Higher Consciousness, Ford Johnson, as anti-religion and anti-Christian. In truth, the book and its author consistently portray an anti-deception, anti-mythology (as religion), anti-lie viewpoint while recognizing the need for and the role religions play and have played in the world. Eckankar portrayed itself as a supporter of religions when it wrote, Eckankar respects all religions. Each of us must decide our own path home to God...." This is the benign face of Eckankar that is shown to the world and those new to this teaching. But the hidden face of Eckankar is quite different. The following passages ¾ with references ¾ are taken directly from Eckankars Bible" called the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad.

Those who listen to Niranjan [Satan are listening to the false prophet. The sweet whispers of this negative genius [the Devil are heard in the voices of ... the preachers, clergy and priests who represent the old orthodox religions [e.g. Christianity." (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book I, 1st Ed., 1982, p. 44-45)

[The mission of the Mahanta [Harold Klemp the Spiritual Leader of Eckankar on this earth is to stir the millions of non-initiated [followers of other religions into revolt against all orthodox religions." (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book I, 1st Ed. 1982, p. 181)

[Priests and clergy have ... joined religious orders for the sake of their livelihood. A true seeker of the Eck cannot have much regard for such persons.... Such persons do not belong on the same level as the chelas [followers of Eckankar." (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book II, 2nd Ed. 1988, p. 225)

Here is the real Eckankar doctrine, taken from its Bible." The truth about Eckankar and its religious tolerance could not be more opposite its public platitudes.

Are There Many Paths To God?
Another representation of Eckankar that comprises its public face is: There are many paths that lead you to God. As children of God, we each have the spiritual freedom to choose the path that works for us. This freedom is given us by God." This is the public face of Eckankar. Here is the private face, the one found in its written works. These quotes, ¾ with references ¾ are also taken from the Eckankar Bible" and other books written by Eckankars founder, Paul Twitchell.

It is not possible to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven except through the teachings of Eckankar" (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book I, 2nd Ed. 1987, p. 96)

All these things can be learned through the medium of ECKANKAR, the only and universal path to God" (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, p. 15)

Again and again I have pointed out that there is no other path than ECK[ANKAR.... [Anyone who tries another path is trying to start on a lower rung. It seems so foolish for anyone...to select a spiritual path...when it is laid out for him to move on to the original and only path to God." (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, p. 221

This is the real Eckankar with its masks removed. Eckankars disdain for Christianity and all other religions could not be clearer or more duplicitous.

Eckankar Invented" In 1965 By Paul Twitchell
Confessions extensively documents that Paul Twitchell, the founder of Eckankar, likely suffered from a condition called mythomania (pathological lying) and megalomania (delusions of grandeur). This condition explains how a novelist turned spiritual leader could claim that his new religion, created in 1965 was the oldest religion in the world and that he was God made flesh on earth...the representative of Sugmad [God in our midst today." Paul Twitchells wife and co-founder is reported to have claimed that he made up the whole thing." Perhaps that is why she was paid $500,000 of Eckankar funds for the rights to Paul Twitchells writings and has had nothing to say or anything to do with this teaching since. Twitchell magically transformed a 1965 for-profit company into a religion and bestowed upon himself the exalted title of Mahanta the Living Eck Master. He even invented an absurd story for how this all happened. According to Twitchell, he received his title and a mystical Rod of Power - another Twitchellian fiction - from a 400-year-old master named Rebazar Tarzs, who supposedly is still living in the flesh, in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Northern Tibet. But this fictionalized master, as well as all the others created by Twitchell, was part of an invented ancient spiritual sect known as the Vairagi Order (a name that he stole from an order in India). These invented masters" first appeared in print around 1965 as he substituted their names for those of real spiritual teachers he had included in earlier versions of the same books.

But in the early years, before Twitchell claimed that his new religion was the oldest world religion", he was more forthright about its true origins. He wrote:
   
Eckankar, which I formed out of my own experience... is the term used for the philosophy I have developed for the Cliff hanger. It is based on Shabda-Yoga, a way out form of Yoga" (Twitchell, The Bilocation Philosophy," p. 52; Johnson, Confessions of a God Seeker, p.132, 142)

Even the current leader of Eckankar, Harold Klemp had to acknowledge the recent beginnings of Eckankar, and therefore of the fiction of the Mahanta, the Living Eck Master, when he admitted:

[Eckankar was not used to describe any religious doctrines [the Mahanta, a necessary inclusion until the mid-1960's when it was coined, adopted and first used by Paul Twitchell " (From Court Records in Darwin Gross v. Eckankar, see: www.thetruth-seeker.com)

In spite of conclusive evidence to the contrary and written admissions by both Paul Twitchell and Harold Klemp, Eckankar history and doctrine carry the staggeringly false claims that:
§   ECK[ANKAR created and comprises all the religious ideas of the lower worlds. Art, writing, and sculpture are only developments of the higher ideals of ECKANKAR.... The major religions of the world have sprung out of ECK[ANKAR." (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, pp. 11)

§   Practically every man who has contributed to civilization has spiritually been a ... student...of ECK[ANKAR." (Twitchell, The Spiritual Notebook, 2nd Ed. 1990, p. 1)

With such obviously deceitful, fabricated and megalomaniacal pronouncements still a part of Eckankar doctrine, it is little wonder that Eckankar tries to minimize the effects of its exposure to the world. But Eckankars deception does not stop with its history and claims that its leader is The Son of God," and God made flesh." It infects every part of the teaching. Here are but a few of hundreds of examples of deception and lying -not to mention plagiarism-that find few parallels in religious history.

How The Myth Of The Mahanta Was Created
In spite of what is now known about Twitchells conditions of mythomania and megalomania, Harold Klemp, the current spiritual leader, continues to delude himself into believing that Twitchells 1965 creation of the Mahanta myth is actually true. Klemp seems oblivious to the fact that Twitchell stole even the name from another spiritual path. When it made its early appearance in his book The Flute of God, Twitchell used it as merely a synonym for spirit and a state of consciousness like love" or any other thought form (FOG pp. 46, 55). This was easy to accept, for most people believe in some universal force whether called spirit" or by some other name. Twitchell later associated the word Mahanta" with the man" and added it to his exalted title. With this verbal fusion of two words, he was able to magically transform himself into spirit itself ¾since spirit and Mahanta now meant the same thing. He then diffused the word Mahanta" throughout the Eckankar teachings, and reinforced the Mahanta/spirit connection by making it part of every word, thought and action" of his followers. He urged his followers to look on his picture at all times and surrender all problems and their entire welfare - including their dreams -over to him. Therefore, it is not difficult to see how Eckists came to associate Twitchell, Darwin Gross and Klemp with spirit and God itself. This verbal alchemy is actually how a single word ¾ Mahanta ¾ first used, according to Klemp, in 1965, transformed a mortal man into God made flesh" and transformed Eckankar into a full-fledged religious cult. As if this were not enough, Eckankars history is further clouded by the embarrassing if not farcical revelation that Klemp, the current Mahanta, claimed that the previous Mahanta (also a purported Son of God") was a black magician. This is part of the ignoble history of Eckankar, revealed in Confessions of a God Seeker that is hidden from the Eckankar community and from the world.

Realizing that the Mahanta construct was fabricated but legitimized through verbal trickery and indoctrination, James Davis, author of a book about the Mahanta, The Rosetta Stone of God, disavowed his own book and the Mahanta concept. Davis independently reached this conclusion, based on his own inner and outer experiences. They confirmed what the author of Confessions and thousands of others have come to realize. Spirit is the non-exclusive power of God and works in the lives of everyone. But, when a single man" claims he is the exclusive channel for that force, indeed, God itself, both he and those who follow him are deluded. The Mahanta is a false paradigm. It works only because of the power of belief." But belief in a false paradigm, while it works for the believer, ultimately limits the spiritual unfoldment of that person until it is replaced with an awareness of God-soul," the divine spark of God that lies within each person and reflects the divinity that we are.

This is the lesson that our journey through countless religions and spiritual paths has been designed to teach. We are a spark ¾ a replica ¾ of God Itself, no greater or less than any other being that ever inhabited this earth. We have learned, through many life times, the lessons needed to expand our awareness to encompass this reality. It is summed up in the higher consciousness axiom, I AM, GOD IS, WE ARE ONE. Teachings like Eckankar will move heaven and earth to prevent us from reaching this awareness. They know that it will deprive them of control and thus a central role in our lives.

Fraud and Deception In Eckankar Initiations
Even in the sacred arena of initiations (stages of spiritual unfoldment), we find that there is no intrinsic truth or validity. Like everything else in Eckankar, they are part of Paul Twitchells invention. They serve as a mechanism of control and to insure the steady flow of revenues. The Mahanta" does not determine through some mystical spiritual process," as Eckists believe, to whom or when initiations are granted, for we have already seen just how earthly" this invented position is. Instead, a very mundane computer accomplishes this feat. Initiations are based on the number of years of continuous paid-in membership plus recommendations from local leaders. Harold Klemp admitted as much to a group of high initiates:

[Many of the initiation records we had were destroyed,...were erased. Weve reconstructed much of this. We dont have very good records right now about your initiation levels Im afraid to say. Another thing that was done and I have to be honest, that people were given 5th initiations by date...anybody that had 5 years, they were sent a pink slip. There are 5th initiates who arent 5th initiates...." (An exhibit from the Case Darwin Gross vs. Eckankar, 1985. See original at www.thetruth-seeker.com)

Harold Klemp and The Cover-up
In spite of the mountain of lies and fabrication, which Klemp found when he took over Eckankar, he was not prepared to see the truth and act on it. Instead, he fabricated incredible tales to explain to himself and others what Twitchell had done. To explain Twitchells unparalleled plagiarism, for example, Klemp rationalized that Twitchell had copied the thousands of stolen and plagiarized passages from an astral library that he visited during his dreams. In other statements he said that Twitchells habit of lying about his accomplishments was without realizing it, just practicing [to eventually become the Mahanta."

Eckankar Techniques of Spiritual Entrapment ¾The Use of Fear To Control
Another example of the intentional and knowing deception fostered by Twitchell, Gross and Klemp and covered up by the current leadership is found in a series of warnings about how spiritual students are trapped and deceived. Twitchell wrote these warnings for the enlightenment and protection of his followers. Then he used the same techniques of entrapment on his own students. Twitchell wrote:

The oldest technique of keeping the loyalty of the chela by many teachers is with fear.... Because they grow afraid of losing their chelas to a Master on the higher level, the old fear tactics will be drummed into those who desire to move away.... These threats are very common. They usually go like this: [1If you leave me, you will get caught in the astral and wont get out. Another cliché is: [2 'Ive got the only path and if you leave it, youre in deep trouble. Another one is: [3 'Im the true Master, and having initiated you, will be with you until the end of eternity. Im your Master always. These are a few of the techniques of fear used by most teachers of the psychic worlds. We can easily recognize them. (Twitchell, Eckankar, Illuminated Way Letters 1966-1971, pp. 93-94)

Not withstanding his warnings, the use of several of these techniques has already been demonstrated in the preceding quotes taken from the writings of Paul Twitchell. But fear through the use of curses" is the most powerful of these techniques and Twitchell and his predecessors used and continue to use it to great effect, entrapping their followers and harming thousands of seekers who believed and trusted them.

There is no intrinsic truth or power to any of the curses and fear devices used in Eckankar. Twitchell has already admitted that they are simply devices of control. They work only if the individual accepts them as true. Yet, here are just a few of the many curses that Twitchell, Gross and Klemp placed in front of their followers to keep them in line. They wrote:

The wrath of the ECK crashes down upon anyone who ...deserts the Master.... Not once will he see the connection between his betrayal ...and the horrendous troubles that strike him down like a plague on every hand. And thus he goes downward...until he leaves his body in hopeless despair.... (Klemp, The ECK Satsang Discourses, Third Series, Letter 8)

Whosoever...shall divulge the secrets of his initiation... shall be deprived of his sight and tongue in order to never again be able to say anything about the degrees of initiation in ECKANKAR" (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book II, 1st Ed. 1977, p.150)

To ridicule, to scorn, to speak mockingly of the words of the Mahanta, and not to have faith in him and the cause of ECK is to bring woes on the advocator of doubt." (Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Book I, 2nd Ed. 1987, p.107)

For a teaching that professes to be about love and spiritual unfoldment, these curses are nothing more than a not-so-sophisticated form of psychological manipulation. Klemp and Eckankar use curses" to frighten their followers into remaining silent, obedient and entrapped. While it is despicable to subject loving and trusting followers to the threats of eternal wrath, that is precisely what Eckankar is doing. On this point, Ford Johnson explains:

A 'curse is 'a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon another. It is a denunciation that conveys a wish or threat of evil. What Twitchell and Klemp have working here are the same techniques employed by the local Juju man - the witch doctor - who knows the power of planting a seed-idea of harm or self-destruction in the mind of a victim or group. It is unmistakably a form of psychic control widely practiced throughout the world. Once believed, a curse can have a devastating effect on an individual. We receive numerous e-mails from ex-Eckists who believed Eckankars curses and suffered as a consequence. We show them that it is only fear or anger that allows these negative psychic thought forms to have an impact on their lives. Sending love, reacting with humor (after all, they are hardly pronouncements from God), and reflecting (mirroring) the curse back to the sender nullifies its effect. All of these techniques and more are spelled out in Part IV of Confessions of a God Seeker, which deals with the actual Journey to Higher Consciousness. We have helped many people harmed by Eckankar, to take back control of their lives. Thousands have already stood up to Eckankars many deceptions and have emerged stronger, happier and more enlightened."

The use of psychic attacks, exposes Eckankar as a harmful, even dangerous, cult because of the blind obedience of its followers to a person they mistakenly consider God made flesh." Eckists have surrendered their will and remain happy and content so long as they are obedient and never question. However, having pulled back the curtain and revealed the sorcerers tricks, Eckankar is left with only the devices of fear, name-calling, denial, misrepresentation and more lies to defend itself. The evidence of this can be seen in recent communications from the leadership of Eckankar to its members, which stated in part:

He [Paul Twitchell was quite frank about the effects that hit a Judas in Eck. Any overt act against the Mahanta, the Living Eck Master evokes the full fury of the divine power. It stops acting in the troublemakers behalf, and misery is the outcome." (Excerpt from membership renewal letter from Eckankar, 2004), and

These betrayers of ECK will pick up all their old karma once more. More, the karma of all those whom theyve fooled is inscribed into their karmic log too. Hard times lie in store for them." (Mystic World, Ask The Master by Harold Klemp, March 2004)

Aside from being just another fear tactic, about which Twitchell has already warned us, it is false and has no spiritual validity. Karma ¾ cause and effect ¾ has as its purpose to teach, not to punish. Once one has learned the lessons that life experiences are designed to teach, how can he lose the expanded awareness he has gained? The Twitchell/Gross/Klemp curses are absurd on their face. To the contrary, when one exposes truth or learns from it, he experiences freedom and growth, for he has escaped the entrapment of the lie. Once free, his life is filled with love and light for he is empowered with the realization that he is a part of God itself and can tap the power of the universe.

Does Eckankar Still Work For The Eckist? How Spiritual Deception Works
Most Eckists have grown and learned while in Eckankar for it does contain truth. But, it is important to remember that all deception is based on a clever interweaving of truth with lies. The question for the truth-seeker is, which is which? In a series of public pronouncements, Eckankar has spelled out a test for whether a religion or path should be abandoned or continued. This test centers on the question of whether it still works for the individual. To answer this, the test includes additional queries such as whether the religion or teaching: (1) brings you closer to Gods Love," (2) brings more charity and good will into your life," (3) brings about a growth in spiritual awareness," and (4) leaves you happy in your faith." All these are important and fair questions. However, this test fails to ask the most critical question, the answer to which can render all other answers meaningless. That question is: Do you know the truth about that religion or path? Much like a personal relationship filled with love and devotion, it works" for both partners when it is based on trust ¾ truth ¾ and love. However, if one partner is unfaithful or has been dishonest about fundamental issues, a relationship that may appear to pass all the tests cannot do so without fundamental compromises, once the deception, the lies and the dishonesty is finally revealed. So, the questions that comprise this test presuppose that an affirmative response is based on knowing the real history --the truth-about that religion and what it represents.

This cannot be said of the followers of Eckankar for they have been systematically lied to and deceived. They do not know the truth that lies behind the façade. But deception has a limited shelf life even though it may temporarily work for those who treat the lie as though it is the truth. It works in the short term for the same reason that all religions and belief systems work. Namely, it is the power of belief not the object of belief that produces the results. And, where there is belief, a strong love bond is also created along with an abiding fear of separation. Paul Twitchell was quite eloquent on this point:

We are concerned with the two ways that anyone [or any religion can hold another; first is by the loyalty of Fear, and secondly is by the loyalty of Love. These are the basic ways by which one is attached.... When one is loyal...because he is afraid [e.g. for fear of leaving...then the whole foundation of spiritual growth is nil... In the loyalty of love...[e.g. devotion to the Mahanta he who intensely loves another is somewhat trapped by the negative power.... What I am getting at here is that we cannot live with fear and at the same time we cannot live with an over-abundance of sentimental love...either will pull us down in the depths of despair sooner or later." (Twitchell, Eckankar, The Illuminated Way Letters, 1966-1971, p. 93)

Twitchells statement speaks directly to the dilemma now facing Eckankar and Eckists worldwide. Do members follow truth where it leads or remain trapped by a loyalty of fear or of love? Marcus Aurelius (121--180) put it this way:

If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance." Meditations. vi. 21.

Challenges to Eckankars veracity will not go away, they will only intensify for that is what follows in the wake of deception. Paul Twitchells pronouncement on truth was prescient when he declared:

Refuse to see Truth, pretend that it is impossible to know what is true and what is not, distort Truth, seek to mix it with Untruth, attempt to deceive both ourselves and others, give Truth in an unattractive manner, then chaos will reign in our lives." (The Flute of God, Paul Twitchell, 1982, p.127-128)

Ironically, even Paul Twitchell, the founder of Eckankar, seemed to realize that a teaching based on lies will eventually fall by the weight of its own deception when exposed to the light of truth.

# # #