Dear New Member:

I saw your post and want to welcome you.  Hope you'll post more!

Here's a couple of interesting links, and I see there's many more
that Sharon has added to the links page of eckankartruth providing a
great introduction and background.

Peace and Best Wishes,

James

False Paths, Part 1: Who appointed your teacher?
http://sped2work.tripod.com/guides.html

False Paths, Part 2: Undoing the Damage........................
http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/eckankarsurvivors/rogue1.html

False Paths, Part 3: The Making of A Spiritual Movement -- The Untold
Story of Paul Twitchel and Eckankar, by David C. Lane
http://www.iguild.com/homes/eckcult/

--- In eckankartruth@egroups.com, tung_fu@j... wrote:
> This is my first post on this site.  I've read some of the posts
up.
> I'll try to decribe the following things quickly:
>
> 1)When I joined Eckankar
> 2)Why I joined Eckakar
> 3)When I quit Eckankar the first time
> 4)Why I re-joined Eckankar
> 5)When I quit Eckankar the second time
> 6)When I re-joined Eckankar the third time
> 7)Why I was kicked out of Eckankar with a letter
>
> 1)Early 1994 I joined Eckankar.
>
> 2) I wanted off the planet and Eckankar offered a way off.
>
> 3)November 1994 I quit Eckankar.  I suffered a psychotic break and
> Post Trametic Stress Syndromye.  Two years of psyce-meds followed.
> I fought in Desert Storm in 1990-1991 so I don't believe Eckankar
was
> responsible for this, War hurts for real that's just reality.
> Regardless of why I was trippin hard-core and had read forty plus
Eck
> books and discourses by then.
>
> 4)I have no idea why I joined again.  That was 1995.
>
> 5)1996 I had a vision of a Red Rose and a Gold Cross, right after I
> ran into a guy who tutured me in Golden Dawn.  No fees or anything,
> he was just a friend who taught Golden Dawn out of previouslly
> published Textbooks.  So I quit Eckankar, standard western
cerimonial
> magick seemed more healing.
>
> 6)In 1998 I re-joined Eckankar again.  I had completed the Golden
> Dawn course and there were no more initiations left.  Adeptus Minor
> is it, it's the seventh one.
>
> 7)A lady wrote from the Eck office and told me that I couldn't be
in
> Eckankar until my life was in spiritual balance.  I thought it was
> strange because a spiritual teaching should balance my life.
>
> Anyway I just do my routine Golden Dawn stuff and don't really
worry
> about it too much.
>
> I want to make it clear that the guy who taught me the Golden Dawn
> stuff learned in a group that charged money which he left.  We kind
> of helped each other out of each one of our cults respectfully.  My
> style spirituality is cross-referenced at Border's Bookstore.
That's
> where the materials I use come from.  I don't pay any spiritual
> groups money and The Golden Dawn officially disbanded in 1903.
Dead
> Authors are my favorite.
>
> I have gone back and read some of what I wrote when I first left
> Eckankar and was thouroughly embarresed.  All you have to do to
leave
> Eckankar (or any place like Eckankar) is to listen to your own
words
> and read what you write.
>
> I'll post to this site in the future.  Go ahead and e-mail me.  I
> don't want to steer someone in any direction.  Eckankar might be a
> safer place than a lot I know about.  It would be a shame to jump
out
> of the frying pan right into the fire.

This is my first post on this site.  I've read some of the posts up.
I'll try to decribe the following things quickly:

1)When I joined Eckankar
2)Why I joined Eckakar
3)When I quit Eckankar the first time
4)Why I re-joined Eckankar
5)When I quit Eckankar the second time
6)When I re-joined Eckankar the third time
7)Why I was kicked out of Eckankar with a letter

1)Early 1994 I joined Eckankar.

2) I wanted off the planet and Eckankar offered a way off.

3)November 1994 I quit Eckankar.  I suffered a psychotic break and
Post Trametic Stress Syndromye.  Two years of psyce-meds followed.
I fought in Desert Storm in 1990-1991 so I don't believe Eckankar was
responsible for this, War hurts for real that's just reality.
Regardless of why I was trippin hard-core and had read forty plus Eck
books and discourses by then.

4)I have no idea why I joined again.  That was 1995.

5)1996 I had a vision of a Red Rose and a Gold Cross, right after I
ran into a guy who tutured me in Golden Dawn.  No fees or anything,
he was just a friend who taught Golden Dawn out of previouslly
published Textbooks.  So I quit Eckankar, standard western cerimonial
magick seemed more healing.

6)In 1998 I re-joined Eckankar again.  I had completed the Golden
Dawn course and there were no more initiations left.  Adeptus Minor
is it, it's the seventh one.

7)A lady wrote from the Eck office and told me that I couldn't be in
Eckankar until my life was in spiritual balance.  I thought it was
strange because a spiritual teaching should balance my life.

Anyway I just do my routine Golden Dawn stuff and don't really worry
about it too much.

I want to make it clear that the guy who taught me the Golden Dawn
stuff learned in a group that charged money which he left.  We kind
of helped each other out of each one of our cults respectfully.  My
style spirituality is cross-referenced at Border's Bookstore.  That's
where the materials I use come from.  I don't pay any spiritual
groups money and The Golden Dawn officially disbanded in 1903.  Dead
Authors are my favorite.

I have gone back and read some of what I wrote when I first left
Eckankar and was thouroughly embarresed.  All you have to do to leave
Eckankar (or any place like Eckankar) is to listen to your own words
and read what you write.

I'll post to this site in the future.  Go ahead and e-mail me.  I
don't want to steer someone in any direction.  Eckankar might be a
safer place than a lot I know about.  It would be a shame to jump out
of the frying pan right into the fire.

An e Group Invite to check out (join if the spirit moves) the
following:

*Spiritual Awakening Quotes: (eclectic east/west, Gnostic Gospels,
Rumi & Sufi poets, Mystic Christian texts, eastern spiritual
classics):
http://www.onelist.com/group/spiritualawakening

*ILOVEGOD Quotes: (western Christian mystics, Gospel of Thomas,
Quaker, Jewish, Gnostic, classics of western spirituality, Dead Sea
Scrolls): http://www.onelist.com/group/ILOVEGOD and,

*Sant Mat Fellowship Quotes: (eastern Saints, the Path of the
Masters, Indian Mystics, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Sikh scriptures, Bhakti
Yoga, Shabda Yoga, meditation upon the Inner Light and Sound
Current):
http://www.onelist.com/group/santmatfellowship

Peace,

James (agochar)

From: "James Bean" <spiritualawakeningatonelist@...>
From: "James Bean" <spiritualawakeningatonelist@...>

Dear David:

        "The Secret History" website does "site" many books published by a
branch of Sant Mat that most Eckists have never heard of: Soami Bagh,
located in Agra, India.  I own copies of those books and have been reading
them since 1985 when I bought them through Banyen Books in Vancouver. They
publish about 70 books in English. In order to "find" the "inaccuracies"
here one has to have access to the same material that the author does and
then see what the author has done with it. I found the anonymous author to
desplay more zeal than scholarship.

        By the way: there is no all-encompassing "them" as if all branches of
Sant Mat are connected to the Radhasoami Satsang Beas group, they are not.
The Beas group is one of fifty different Sant Mat groups. There are numerous
Masters and paths in India, completely separate from RSSB.

        Peace?  Indeed the internet needs a bit more peaceful communications,
to be sure.

James

>From: "David D. Rogers" <alphagator@...>
>Reply-To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
>To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
>Subject: [eckankartruth] Radhasoami Beas history site: Now, wait a
>minute...
>Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 01:33:59 -0800 (PST)
>
>From: "David D. Rogers" <alphagator@...>
>
> > To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
> > Subject: Secret RS "History"
> > Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 20:37:26 EST
> >
> > From: "james bean" <spiritualawakening@...>
> >
> > From:  James Bean  spiritualawakening@...
> >
> > Dear Tracy:
> >
> >        Yes, I've read what the anonymous author/web designer had to say.
> > I
> > own all the books he/she/whoever they are quotes from.  I find it to be
> > inaccurate and as over-zealous as the fundamentalist Christian authors
> > who
> > write against all the other world religions.  There are several other
> > anti-sant mat hate sites on the web as well. One is called Radhasoami El
> > Capone and blends pictures of eastern Saints with El Capone and other
> > underworld figures, and I think the Reverend Moon's picture is in there
> > also!  It's kinda like having a website that shows  pictures of Jesus or
> > the
> > Pope morf into Hitler or Jim Jones.  I posted my thoughts about these
> > kind
> > of websites recently at the Radhasoami Studies club at Yahoo.com and the
> > new
> > club there called "I Love Kirpal Singh."  I've been trying to speak out
> > lately about flaming on the web, how unhealthy and nonproductive it is.
> >
> >        A good site would be the Neural Surfer by David Lane, who wrote
> > the
> > book on Eckankar, and has written books on the history of Sant Mat. I
> > chat
> > with Lane quite a bit and have known him since the early 80's.
> >
> >        I heard recently that all the Paul Twitchell books are going out
> > of
> > print, that sooner or later, they will be retired.  Has anyone heard
> > that?
> >
> > James
>
> > >    http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/
>
>Okay,
>
>I've taken a look at the site in question (particularly at
>http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/page1.html and
>http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/page2.html), and I have a
>*very* hard time seeing this as a "hate site". It's one thing to say that a
>website is a "hate site" (the Eckists do it all the time with any site that
>criticizes their religion or its practices), but I would like to know *why*
>you've characterized this as a "hate site". As far as I can tell, what this
>site does is question the authenticity of the Beas lineage. The author is
>anonymous, but several sources are sited, and I haven't found any
>inaccuracies yet. To be blunt, I found your portrayal of this site to be
>hasty and out-of-hand dismissive because of the author's point of view. If
>I am mistaken (as I'm sure you believe I am), I would like to know why I am
>wrong, so I can adjust my point of view (believe me, I really do want to
>know if I don't have my facts straight!).
>
>
>Peace,
>
>
><> David
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

> Message: 1
>    Date: (unknown)
>    From: (unknown)
> Subject: NEW e mail address for James Bean
>
>
>
> From:  James Bean
>
> Attention Everyone:
>
> I now have changed e mail addresses.  The new one is:
> spiritualawakeningatonelist@h...
>
> PEACE,
> James
>
> To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
> Subject: Secret RS "History"
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 20:37:26 EST

[snip]

>        I heard recently that all the Paul Twitchell books are going out
> of
> print, that sooner or later, they will be retired.  Has anyone heard
> that?

Heck if I know, but it won't happen anytime soon (see the next paragraph).
But they seem to be removing the books that have proven to be the most
embarrassing, plagiarism-wise (e.g.: "The Far Country"), without admitting
any guilt. They're certainly not going to remove all PT books, at least not
within a relatively short period of time, given the PR fiasco it would be,
both inside and outside the cult. (Most "good" Eckists would defend it, but
it would cause too many questions to go around. If they can avoid something
like that, they will.) What they *might* do is remove all of them over a
*very* long period of time, so that almost nobody notices it--then they can
say something along the lines of that the books were written for a
different social consciousness, an argument that some Eckists on a.r.e were
using. OTOH, this still wouldn't go unnoticed by the membership, and it
might cause anger among orthodox Eckists, some of whom are undoubtedly (but
probably unadmittedly) upset over the removal of "The Far Country". It
might also create cause for concern among the Board of Directors for Harold
Klemp's sanity; but the board politics is not well known outside that small
group, and he might have good cohesion among them. (Of course, anything's
possible; nobody thought the board would get rid of Darwin Gross, either.)
And Harold Klemp's health and sanity might be slipping more than we
realize. Not only has he been missing seminars in the last few years, but
he wasn't even expected to be at the opening of the Temple back in 1992. I
remember his Saturday-night speech at the 1992 summer seminar in Anaheim,
CA, where he displayed what, in retrospect, I can only describe as a
passive-aggressive type of anger, through his tone of voice and his choice
of words. Frankly, he seemed slightly pissed. He was talking about the
"sweet" new blue pamphlet that he helped design (which I wasn't impressed
with even then), and he said "sweet" in such a way that I began to question
whether he might be with angry--and then I began to wonder at whom he might
be angry with, before I suppressed the thought. As I remember it, he also
immitated the voice of ducks during the speech, but in a way that he was
boarderline mocking them. (Now that I'm thinking more about it, I'm
actually tempted to order a copy of the tape under a pseudonym with a money
order, to my mail drop, just to refresh my memory.) Klemp seems to be
getting weaker over the years, and more angry; that he's being closeted
more and more from his followers suggests that things are acutally worse
than they appear. But his self-imposed exile from his followers has been
steadily increasing over the years, at least since he stopped shaking hands
with Eckists after seminars in the early 80s. The excuse then was that the
membership was so huge that he could no longer do it. According to all the
information that I have--and admittedly, it's not as adequate as I'd
like--membership was down in the early 80s, thanks to the scandals
involving Darwin Gross and the ongoing plagiarism controversies. If Darwin
Gross could do it with more members and all of his back problems, Harold
Klemp surely could have done it. Because everything Klemp does (and doesn't
do) is seen as having a "spiritual" meaning by his followers, including his
infamous strip-tease at an airport (the sarcasm is literally dripping off
my screen :), Eckists are simply *not* questioning Harold Klemp's sanity.
They will probably be in for a rude awakening someday. All of the "lessons"
they learned from not questioning Darwin Gross will have been for naught;
because it's "scriptual" among them that the Living Eck Master's actions
are not to be questioned, they won't. It's true that most of humanity
doesn't see the connection between the lessons of history and the things
that go on in their daily lives, but Eckists are kept from seeing the
parallels by a theologic imperative! (A great example on how ideas can hurt
people.) I believe that Harold Klemp is dangerous, but I also believe that
he's also one of Eckankar's biggest victims as well--and at least on some
level, he probably recognizes it. It's no wonder he's probably having so
many problems...

But back to your question: at least one Paul Twitchell book is being
promoted, "The Talons of Time". It's one book I haven't read, but it seems
to be a new age space-opera novel (of course, Eckists don't see it as being
"just" a novel). A new comic novelization came out last year, which I
flipped through at the Bodhi Tree bookstore in West Hollywood last weekend,
and at least the artwork seems pretty good. (It was drawn by Mar Amongo,
whose most famous previous work was probably "DC War", according to
http://www.comic-art.com/~herriman/bios-1.htm .) Comic books--particularly
good comic novelizations, with intricate artwork and sophisticated
plotlines--have been making a comeback, as the best English translations
from Japan have been steadily increasing in popularity in the U.S. over the
last decade or so. It seems to me that Eckankar may be trying to use
Amongo's fame as a comic artist to get fans to join Eckankar--and science
fiction and comic fandom can itself be cult-like, but there are also a lot
of skeptics. (Perhaps I should know--I'm a huge fan of Japanese "anime"
(animation) and "manga" (comics).) I don't know much about Amongo other
than what I've mentioned here, but this probably won't be remembered as one
of his classic works. On the first page, you can see an idealized image of
Twitchell introducing the story; him in a blue suit, similar to his image
on the cover of "Soul Travelers of the Far Country", where his image almost
shines. I wonder how many Eckists reading this comic image of him is drawn
to be idealized, and that his almost popping out of the page is a result of
a well-drawn image, not that Twitchell is necessairly spiritually superior.
If you absolutely must buy it, it's here at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570431477 . (Or you could click on
the following link and thank me for alerting you to this title by giving me
a commission for the sale. <BG> But don't blame me if you don't like the
book! <VBG> Remember, not only do you not have to step into an Eck Center
again, but you'll also save a couple of bucks! <G>
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570431477/gyreandgimblewab)


Peace,


<> David

=====
-----------
"They were delightful... I mean, if they're not eating you, they're very
   pleasant people."
--James Michener on the cannibals of New Hebrides

Have you visited http://members.xoom.com/ptrial today?
The United States V. Peter McWilliams
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

> To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
> Subject: Secret RS "History"
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 20:37:26 EST
>
> From: "james bean" <spiritualawakening@...>
>
> From:  James Bean  spiritualawakening@...
>
> Dear Tracy:
>
>        Yes, I've read what the anonymous author/web designer had to say.
> I
> own all the books he/she/whoever they are quotes from.  I find it to be
> inaccurate and as over-zealous as the fundamentalist Christian authors
> who
> write against all the other world religions.  There are several other
> anti-sant mat hate sites on the web as well. One is called Radhasoami El
> Capone and blends pictures of eastern Saints with El Capone and other
> underworld figures, and I think the Reverend Moon's picture is in there
> also!  It's kinda like having a website that shows  pictures of Jesus or
> the
> Pope morf into Hitler or Jim Jones.  I posted my thoughts about these
> kind
> of websites recently at the Radhasoami Studies club at Yahoo.com and the
> new
> club there called "I Love Kirpal Singh."  I've been trying to speak out
> lately about flaming on the web, how unhealthy and nonproductive it is.
>
>        A good site would be the Neural Surfer by David Lane, who wrote
> the
> book on Eckankar, and has written books on the history of Sant Mat. I
> chat
> with Lane quite a bit and have known him since the early 80's.
>
>        I heard recently that all the Paul Twitchell books are going out
> of
> print, that sooner or later, they will be retired.  Has anyone heard
> that?
>
> James

> >    http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/

Okay,

I've taken a look at the site in question (particularly at
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/page1.html and
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/page2.html), and I have a
*very* hard time seeing this as a "hate site". It's one thing to say that a
website is a "hate site" (the Eckists do it all the time with any site that
criticizes their religion or its practices), but I would like to know *why*
you've characterized this as a "hate site". As far as I can tell, what this
site does is question the authenticity of the Beas lineage. The author is
anonymous, but several sources are sited, and I haven't found any
inaccuracies yet. To be blunt, I found your portrayal of this site to be
hasty and out-of-hand dismissive because of the author's point of view. If
I am mistaken (as I'm sure you believe I am), I would like to know why I am
wrong, so I can adjust my point of view (believe me, I really do want to
know if I don't have my facts straight!).


Peace,


<> David


=====
-----------
"They were delightful... I mean, if they're not eating you, they're very
   pleasant people."
--James Michener on the cannibals of New Hebrides

Have you visited http://members.xoom.com/ptrial today?
The United States V. Peter McWilliams
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

From:  James Bean

Attention Everyone:

I now have changed e mail addresses.  The new one is:
spiritualawakeningatonelist@h...

PEACE,
James

To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
Subject: Secret RS "History"
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 20:37:26 EST

From: "james bean" <spiritualawakening@...>

From:  James Bean  spiritualawakening@...

Dear Tracy:

        Yes, I've read what the anonymous author/web designer had to say.  I
own all the books he/she/whoever they are quotes from.  I find it to be
inaccurate and as over-zealous as the fundamentalist Christian authors who
write against all the other world religions.  There are several other
anti-sant mat hate sites on the web as well. One is called Radhasoami El
Capone and blends pictures of eastern Saints with El Capone and other
underworld figures, and I think the Reverend Moon's picture is in there
also!  It's kinda like having a website that shows  pictures of Jesus or the
Pope morf into Hitler or Jim Jones.  I posted my thoughts about these kind
of websites recently at the Radhasoami Studies club at Yahoo.com and the new
club there called "I Love Kirpal Singh."  I've been trying to speak out
lately about flaming on the web, how unhealthy and nonproductive it is.

        A good site would be the Neural Surfer by David Lane, who wrote the
book on Eckankar, and has written books on the history of Sant Mat. I chat
with Lane quite a bit and have known him since the early 80's.

        I heard recently that all the Paul Twitchell books are going out of
print, that sooner or later, they will be retired.  Has anyone heard that?

James



>From: tracy_long@...
>Reply-To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
>To: eckankartruth@onelist.com
>Subject: [eckankartruth] Secret RS History
>Date: 31 Jan 2000 01:39:29 -0000
>
>There is a new site that has an interesting (even if
>questionable/debatable)
>    take on early Radhasoami history.
>    http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

There is a new site that has an interesting (even if questionable/debatable)
    take on early Radhasoami history.
    http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/

From:  James Bean spiritualawakening@...

        Someone sent this to me earlier; this is really great!

Blessings to all,

JAMES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                          10 Rules For A Happy Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind....I will
not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will
quietly ask GOD to bless that individual.  I understand the "enemy"
could be a family  member, neighbor,  co-worker or stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not
spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, AND I WILL DO IT
SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule -- do unto others as I would have them do
unto you-with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference
to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat only as much my body needs;  I will eat only healthy foods.  I
will thank GOD for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today:  I will begin reading
something spiritual or inspirational today;  I will find a quiet place (at
some  point during this  day) and listen to GOD's voice!!!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self controlled, putting on faith
and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet." I
Thessalonians 5:8



______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

From:  James Bean spiritualawakening@...
        Sant Mat Radio News: Spiritual Awakening


    AN ARCHIVED SHOW THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEB VIA REAL AUDIO

    There's now an archived edition of Spiritual Awakening called
"The Yoga of Love," featuring Sikh music (Gurbani) and sacred texts: Sar
Bachan Radhasoami Poetry of Swami Ji, Dadu, Kabir, Tulsi Das, Tukarama,
Tulsi Sahib, etc. Go to:
http://www.wisdomradio.com  Click onto "shows on demand," then
"spiritual awakening," then "the yoga of love."  Soon, more shows will be
added to this list!

   SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, SUNDAY MORNINGS ON WISDOM RADIO

   Wisdom Radio (at the same URL listed above, click onto "radio," then
"live") also broadcasts new editions of Spiritual Awakening, every Sunday
morning from 9 - 10.

Naam Bhakti,

James



______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

>From:  James Bean spiritualawakening@...
>       Spiritual Awakening
>
>       Poems from Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
>
>           a. We are as the flute
>           b. Love is the Water of Life
>
>
>WE ARE AS THE FLUTE
>
>We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee;
>we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee.
>We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and our defeat:
>victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely!
>>
>Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls,
>that we should remain in being beside thee?
>>
>We and our existences are really non-existence;
>thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable.
>>
>We all are lions, but lions on a banner:
>because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment.
>>
>Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen:
>may that which is unseen not fail from us!
>>
>Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift;
>our whole existence is from thy bringing into being.
>>
>>
>>                     --  Mesnavi Book I, 599-607
>>
>>
>LOVE IS THE WATER OF LIFE
>
>Love is the Water of Life
>Everything other than love for the most beautiful God is agony of the
>spirit, though it be sugar- eating. What is agony of the spirit? To advance
>toward death without seizing hold of the Water of Life.
>>
>>
>                     --  Mesnevi I 3686-87
>>
------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you, James!!

Hugs,

Sharon

Interesting site:

http://wvetsch.home.gs.net/rsi.htm

And:

There is a new site that has an interesting (even if
questionable/debatable)
take on early Radhasoami history.
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/radhasoamis/
-------------------------

Hello and Welcome!!

"Tracy" had sent two separate posts; I combined the text from both
into one, and deleted identifying headers.

I think I may have previously written something regarding the
posting of RS material here, and my feelings about it.  To be
honest, the machine is too slow & I don't have the time or energy
to go back and look...but I hope I mentioned that there are some
who have had the same problems with RS that former eckists have
had.

I know very little about RS/Sant Mat, other than the fact that
Paul Twitchell was an initiate of Kirpal Singh and tried to cover up that fact,
or at least de-emphasize it.

James Beam is a former eckist who is quite happy where he is
now.  I refrain from having an opinion about it.  People may want
to look into anything he posts or listen to his radio show...
for whatever reason.  I've looked into different things simply to
objectively learn more.

I would like anything posted here to be relevant to my former cult,
Eckankar.  It's hard to draw solid lines anywhere.

I like spiritual works, especially poetry.  I joined eckankar because I
was deceived and fell for a lot of crap.  Duh.  None of the eckbooks
IMHO contain or express any great spiritual truths as beautifully as
Rumi, Kabir, etc.   I blank out on Singhs...enjoy the content, but the word
"master" revulses me.

Well...have a good week, everyone!!  I'm tired...it's been a busy
weekend.

Hugs,

Sharon

From:  James Bean
        Spiritual Awakening Radio Prod.
        http://www.onelist.com/community/spiritualawakening
        Sant Mat Fellowship
        http://www.onelist.com/community/santmatfellowship
        spiritualawakening@...


        KABIR, A UNIVERSAL SAINT AND POET-MYSTIC

        Kabir was a great medieval mystic who lived in northern India.  Kabir
is everyone's Saint: founder of Sant Mat as a major worldwide spiritual
movement with 25 million followers;  Master of Shabda meditation (inner
Light and Sound practice); musician and poet of Bhakti (love and devotion
for the One God); a great example of eastern Gnosis; peace maker; a social
reformer who denounced the caste system;  may have had a Sufi Master for a
teacher; considered by many to be a Sufi; considered by Hindus to be one of
India's greatest poet-mystics and a Vaisnava; many of his hymns are included
in the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh bible); some Christian
missionaries at first thought Kabir might have been a Christian mystic due
to his use of the mystic term "Word" or "Shabda," which reminded them of the
Gospel of John ("In the beginning was the Word"); and he was considered by
all to be a lover of the Beloved Lord.  For Kabir, God (Allah in the west,
Hari in the east -- the One Supreme Being) can be experienced directly as
the rapture of Love, Rivers of Light, and Heavenly Music (Shabda) Divine.


        O servant, where dost thou
           seek Me?
        Lo! I am beside thee.
        I am neither in temple nor in mosque:
           I am neither in Kaaba nor in
           Kailash:
        Neither am I in rites and ceremonies,
           nor in Yoga and renunciation.
        If thou art a true seeker, thou shalt at
           once see Me: thou shalt meet Me
           in a moment of time.
        Kabir says, "O Sadhu! God is the
           breath of all breath."


        The Lord is in me, the Lord is in
           you, as life is in every seed. O
           servant! put false pride away, and
           seek for Him within you.
        A million suns are ablaze with Light,
        The sea of blue spreads in the Sky,
        The fever of life is stilled, and all stains
           are washed away;  when I sit in
           the midst of that World.

        Hark to the unstruck bells and drums!
           Take your delight in love!
        Rains pour down without water, and
           the rivers are Streams of Light.
        One Love it is that pervades the whole
           world, few there are who know it
           fully:
        They are blind who hope to see by
           the light of reason, that reason
           which is the cause of separation --
        The House of Reason is very far away!
        How blessed is Kabir, that amidst this
           great joy he sings within his own
           vessel.
        It is the Music of the meeting of the soul
           with soul;
        It is the Music of the forgetting of
           sorrows;
        It is the Music that transcends all coming in
           and all going forth.

-- "SONGS OF KABIR," Rabindranath Tagore, Samuel Weiser Books, York Beach,
Maine.















______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

I just *love* wonderful spiritual poetry!!  Eckankar, the cult, stood between
God (whatever the heck God is) and whatever the heck it i that Iknow and love
inside myself, for many years.  Anyway...after I left the cult, I felt the
poetry flowing from some mediations, and would just like to share it...for
whatever it's worth, if anything...

-----------------------


Dawn

In the quiet morning hours
the forest rests
in God's gentle peace.

Consciousness stilled--
Awaiting
the first soft blush of dawn.

Silent unawareness anticipates
Yet does not.

All is as it is
And not even a breeze stirs
the perfection
of the smallest blade of grass.

You awaken in my heart
As the soft light breaks
On the horizon.

You are the sun which lights my world,
And you bring new life
With each deep breath
of morning's sweet silence.

You shine in my heart
and your song warms my Soul.
I want nothing more...
I am whole.


                          December 9, 1998

------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------


Easter Meditation Afterglow


I welcome Thee with the innocence of a child
greeting a beloved playmate ...
To dance with delight in sunlit fields of spring wildflowers...
To follow the bright butterfly to its bejeweled hiding place
In the secret places of the heart...
To hold the golden treasure in joined hands...

I anticipate Thee as a budding maiden awaits
her first tender kiss...
For Thee, I am forever new and untouched,
And our coming together is heralded by soft whispers of
secret memories of wondrous delights...
Forgotten in the rapture of  new and more miraculous music...

I desire Thee as a woman who has known
the joyful travail of  bearing
the fruits of our sacred celebrations ...

And I welcome Thee with the fullness of my Being,
which exists only in Thee,
as Thou exist fully within me...
In the springtime of today
And in the eternal springtimes yet to come...



                      April 14th, 1999

-----------------------------------------

You are always with me....

We wa

Hello,

There is a new survey for the eckankartruth
community:

------------------------------------------------------------

Are you a current cult member, former member, or just looking into things?

   o Current member of eckankar
   o Former member of eckankar
   o Non-affiliated with any group

------------------------------------------------------------

To vote, please visit the following web page:

http://www.onelist.com/surveys/eckankartruth

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Survey votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the ONElist
website.

Thanks!

Moderator, eckankartruth

Very much appreciated, and nice to wake up to!

When Mirabai wanted to meditate with the yogis, there was
some objection to a female participating.  Mirabai pointed out that before God,
the only true man, all were female.  They wisely let her join in.

I won't copy and paste here...couldn't even select one as a favorite,
but you all would enjoy, I'm sure, Tagore's Gitanjali which is located at:
http://ddi.digital.net/~wisdom/school/gitanjali.html

There is a translation of Kabir's poetry by Tagore which I'd like to get
one day because it has an introduction by Evelyn Underhill, a 20th century
English woman whose "Practical Mysticism" is an excellent manual for life.
All of Underhill's books, particularly her small older out-of-print ones,
are wonderful!  At least, I loved them.

In the poetry of true lovers of God, we can share their experiences, and
from that point, move on to experience God for ourselves, in the secret
places of our own hearts.   Without the interference and sidetracking of
disreputable con artists like Paul Twitchell, who distracts the seeker from
their true goal by setting himself up as the only route "home," and requiring a
lifetime of membership fees to keep this false connection to God.

Well, thanks again, James!

Hugs,

Sharon

From:  James Bean
http://www.onelist.com/community/santmatfellowship
http://www.onelist.com/community/spiritualawakening
e mail: spiritualawakening@...

Dear Sharon, Eckankar-Truth:


        Thanks for mentioning my radio program the other day!  Much
appreciated!  The following poems, to me, represent a healthy spirituality
where the individual has a personal, direct connection with God.  All of
these Saints belonged to spiritual communities, but their relationship to
God was direct.  In other words, they had spiritual community and support in
their lives, but their connection to God was from within, not mediated or
controlled by a domineering sect or cult.  There seems to be a couple of
approaches to religion: the cultic model where God is seen as flowing
exclusively through a denomination, "the one true church." (where have I
heard that before!? "Resistance is useless, you will be assimilated." The
Borg), or through direct, mystical experience received by individuals who
know themselves.   Enjoy!


The following Bhakti (love & devotion) poems are from one of India's
greatest Saints.  Her name is Mira Bai. Her poems are in the tradition of
"the lover and the Beloved," "the bride/bridegroom"  -- the "soul/Oversoul"
relationship of divine union.  As the Gospel of Thomas (from another eastern
tradition) says, "When you make the two into one, you will enter into the
Kingdom."

        In the first poem Mira yearns to meet her Beloved.  The second poem
expresses Mira's joy and bliss upon reaching divine union.  Mira:

        Come, Beloved Lord,
        Grant me Thy darshan (vision);
        Away from Thee
        I cannot stay alive.

        Like the lotus without water,
        Like the night without moon,
        Is Thy dear one
        Without Thee, O Lord.

        In anguish I wander day and night,
        And pangs of separation
        Keep gnawing at my heart;
        Days drag without hunger,
        Nights without sleep,
        And lips fail to narrate the tale of my grief.

        What can I say? I have no words
        To convey my longing;
        Pray come, and quench
        This fire that's searing my heart.

        Lord, You know all;
        Then why do you torment me thus?
        Pray, have mercy,
        Come and meet Mira
        Who, for ever your slave,
        In love surrenders at Your feet.






        The one I longed for has come home,
        The raging fire of separation is quenched;
        Now I rejoice with Him, I sing in bliss.

        The peacocks at the cloud's roar
        Dance with unbound joy;
        I rejoice in ecstasy
        At the sight of my Beloved.

        I am absorbed in His love;
        My misery of wandering
        In the world has ended.
        The lily bursts into bloom
        At the sight of the full moon;
        Seeing Him my heart blossoms in joy.
        Peace permeates this body of mine,
        His arrival has filled my home with bliss.

        That very Lord has become my own,
        Who is ever the redeemer of His devotees.
        Mira's heart, scorched by the blaze
        Of separation,
        Has become cool and refreshed;
        The pain of duality has vanished.

              ("MIRA THE DIVINE LOVER," V.K. Sethi, Radhasoami Books)



        This poem is by Kabir, in the tradition of Bhakti Sant Mat (the
"Teachings of the Saints).   Kabir says:


        The light of the sun, the moon, and
           the stars shines bright:
        The melody of love swells forth, and
           the rhythm of love's detachment
           beats the time.
        Day and night, the chorus of music fills
           the heavens; and Kabir says
        'My Beloved One gleams like the
           lightning flash in the sky.'



      ("Songs of Kabir," Tagore, Samuel Weiser Books, York Beach, Maine)


        GOD AS MOTHER

        Sant Tukarama:

        "Thou art our merciful Mother, O Vitthala, a shadow to thy suppliant;
the milk of love ever flows in thy breast, thy sight is pure and sweet as
nectar. Thou canst discern the inward parts and sufferest not hunger or
thirst, pain or weariness to vex us.  Thou dost chase far away the thirst of
desire and illusion; thou givest us a place to play in.  Tuka says, 'Set me
with the Sants, where the hand of time cannot reach me.'"

       Tuka is one of my of my favorite Indian poet-Saints, though it's
sometimes hard to really choose as there are so many poet-mystics like Tuka
-- hundreds of them! The poem/hymn above is from a chapter titled "God's
Protective Love," found in "The Poems of Tukarama," by J. Nelson Fraser.
Originally, these would have been sung as hymns of worship accompanied with
Indian instruments like sitar, tablas, etc.  I have some of this devotional
or bhakti music in my collection.



In Peace and Bhakti,


James











______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hi Dave!

I saw something about moving Yogananda's body on the SRF message board awhile
back, now that you remind me.

My personal opinion was...it's a dead body.  Compost it!  That's what I'd like
done with mine!  <ggg>  And...they *should* have some consideration for the
neighborhood (IMHO), but malls are being built all over, too.

There *are* of course cultic aspects and those who need shrines, etc.  In fact,
I discussed what I thought were a few cultic things with some of the
members...but, it depends on the person, too.  If someone's interested in
something like that, the lessons seemed okay.  No threats or anything.  They,
and Yogananda's writings, seem to always focus attention on God, and not the
guru.   I figure there must be something in it, or Gandhi wouldn't have taken an
initiation from Yogananda.  Don't think he'd take one from Twitch or Klemp...but
then with Gandhi, you never know! <gg>

BTW...for those interested in "lucid dreaming" I found what seemed like a good
course awhile ago at: http://www.personal.img.net/iwilson but either it's gone,
or my browser won't connect.

Well...any ideas on what to do with this place, since I have the power to not
approve or approve what gets posted here?  <ggg>  I'd like it to be relevant and
helpful, honest but not nasty like a.r.e., a place where former eckists can post
without being put on the defensive or attacked.  Oh...if anyone should receive
these with anything that can identify the poster, please let me know!!  Yours
showed headers, Dave, but I deleted them.  I'd like people to feel safe here.

Have a nice week!!  Thanks for visiting!!

Hugs,

Sharon

PS:  Albert Silva's site has been moved to:

      http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Resort/2096/albert/mystory.html
      http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Resort/2096/albert/exchela.html
      http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Resort/2096/albert/resign.html

I haven't listened (no sound on my dear old 486) but the forum posts lots of
nice stuff...

For those who would like to listen, you can connect at:

  Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 13:12:33 EST
    From: "james bean" http://www.wisdomchannel.com/wisdomradio.rpm
        "Open this file from its current location."
        The Real Player starts playing Wisdom Radio.
        Then you "add to favorites."
        Now Wisdom Radio is always in your Real Player!
        Another way to get to Wisdom is: http://www.wisdomradio.com
        The audio quality of the built-in Wisdom audio player, I
        think, is somewhat better.  So, if you have too much "net
        congestion" or other problems, just try out this URL.
        Spiritual Awakening airs on Wisdom Radio every Sunday morning, 9 - 10
a.m., Eastern, repeated again at 2 a.m. Eastern/11 p.m., Pacific Time.
Through the magic of radio,
James
>From: "Ruben" <spiritualawakening@...>;
>Subject: Re: Hi!
>Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 22:27:17 +0800
>
>Hello James,
>
>I believe the following link thru "Open Location" in Realplayer
can bring the WisdomRadio Live:
>
>http://www.wisdomchannel.com/WisdomRadio.rpm
>
>After that click "Presets" and then "Add to Presets".
This way, one need not go to the webpage all the time.
>
>When I was connected, I had some congestions, perhaps because
>that was the time many people on my ISP were logged on. I believe it
>to be a good radio program.
>
>--
>Warmest regards,
>Ruben
>rubenn@...
>_

> Message: 2
>    Date: 16 Jan 2000 21:22:26 -0000
>    From: sharon2000@...
> Subject: Postings Here
>

> And...I'd like to mention, since other former eckists recommended it,
> that I looked into the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, and his
> Self-Realization Fellowship.  I examined the lessons for several months,
> and felt quite comfortable with them...I do agree with others who told me
> that they found SRF to have the "pure" teachings without the cult garbage
> that Twitchell mixed in with his stolen truths.  I haven't yet found any
> anti-SRF stuff, so to be fair, if anyone knows of any, let me know.  I'm
> not endorsing this or suggesting that people *should* join it or
> anything.  Just saying what I feel about it.

Hi Sharon,

Last summer, the New Times of Los Angeles ran an article about the SRF's
attempts to bring Paramahansa Yogananda's remains to their site in Malibu,
which is in a residential neighborhood, and is already suffering from bad
relations with its neighbors--bringing his body there would increase
traffic even more. This brought out charges of church arrogance and even
sexual abuse covered up by the hierarchy. (I don't know what the status of
the situation is since the article ran.) The story is here:

http://www.newtimesla.com/1998/070199/feature1-1.html


Peace,


<> David

=====
-----------
"They were delightful... I mean, if they're not eating you, they're very
   pleasant people."
--James Michener on the cannibals of New Hebrides

Have you visited http://members.xoom.com/ptrial today?
The United States V. Peter McWilliams
__________________________________________________

WHAT IS ECKANKAR?


David Lane's "Making of a Spiritual Movement:" 
http://www.csun.edu/~hbjou017/cults/ekonkar/

Excellent analysis by a former member: 
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1756/eck.txt


http://www.iguild.com/homes/eckcult:  The Unauthorized Eckankar(tm)  Page
http://www.lightlink.com/drogers/cults/   Dave's Cults page
http://www.jps.net/asilva/mystory.htm    My Eckankar Story!
http://www.jps.net/asilva/resign.htm       My Eckankar Resignation Letter!
   (I haven't been able to connect with these sites.  Are they still there? 
Albert,where are you?)
  http://members.delphi.com/SHARON2000 --  One of mine.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/eckankarsurvivors    Another one
http://www.delphi.com/eckankartruth     Twitchell's "Secret Discourses"
..."Letters to a Chela"

Some new places to visit and post:

Ben's Eckankar Forum:   http://www.deja.com/~eckankar/

Eckankartruth Forum:  http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/eckankartruth
This is a safe, moderated forum for former eckists and for seekers with
questions
Even the membership list will be private, and there is no way to "track"
identities.
There will be eckists there, however.

Eckankar Discussion Club:  http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/eckankarhistory
(In the "photos" section are copies of the Orion article, showing the original
names of Kirpal
Singh which Twitchell later changed to his fictional "Sudar Singh" and "Rebazar
Tarz"

An excellent expose, even more relevant today than it was in 1979, is available
from the
Spiritual Counterfeits Project at:  http://www.scp-inc.org      (order Journal
J0301)

An interesting link, considering Paul Twitchell's pre-CultLeader Scientology
membership and
plagiarism of L. Ron Hubbard:   
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/comments/jjmagic.html
(Aleister Crowley is also listed in a "recommended reading list" in Letters to
Gail.)
(Twitchell's plagiarism & comparisons, the documentation of some of what was
clearly &
directly plagiarized from Scientology and Julian Johnson, are located in the
"Making of a
Spiritual Mo

Jim, I appreciate your postings.  You are, after all, a former eckist.   I've
enjoyed reading the nice spiritual writings that you present at your Spiritual
Awakenings site, and I looked in on a few at your Sant Mat site.

These things are relevant here because Paul Twitchell stole and plagiarized
extensively from Sant Mat, and other religions.

I encourage people to look around, check out everything, but fall for nothing.

I just want to say, thanks for sharing, and I'm very glad that you have found
genuine spiritual connections where you are now.  However, I do want to point
out...I don't want anything that can be construed as commercial advertising for
anything, here.  There are also those who speak against the Sant Mat groups, but
since I get my "Singhs" mixed up, I can't say specifically which one.

Anyway...just wanted to say how I feel.

And...I'd like to mention, since other former eckists recommended it, that I
looked into the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, and his Self-Realization
Fellowship.  I examined the lessons for several months, and felt quite
comfortable with them...I do agree with others who told me that they found SRF
to have the "pure" teachings without the cult garbage that Twitchell mixed in
with his stolen truths.  I haven't yet found any anti-SRF stuff, so to be fair,
if anyone knows of any, let me know.  I'm not endorsing this or suggesting that
people *should* join it or anything.  Just saying what I feel about it.

Oh, and...Jim has some really excellent sites in his "links" section at
his other sites!!  Last night I checkout out a sikh site I saw mentioned at
Jim's Sant Mat forum...looks very interesting, but I need something that does
Java script to read the Sikh scriptures!!

Well...gotta run!!

Hugs,

Sharon

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING ON REAL AUDIO VIA THE WORLDWIDE WEB



        FROM THE PROGRAM INTRODUCTION:

        "After years of being concerned that too few vices, too few points of
view were getting heard when it comes to spiritual paths, that the wisdom of
the great Saints and Mystics was nowhere to be found, that the radio
airwaves were not reflecting the diversity that really exists -- I started
producing my own programs exploring the world of spirituality, comparative
religion, mysticism, books, and music.  Spiritual Awakening brings to the
airwaves: the gentle voices of Saints, the wisdom of Masters & Mystics,
world scriptures, and the great spiritual classics of the east, and the
west."

        "Sant Darshan Singh, author of the book Spiritual Awakening, said:
'Humanity has always dreamed of a Golden Age.  Some imagine it as having
existed in the remote past, while others project it into a distant future.
For those who have the eyes to read the signs, the Golden Age of
spirituality has already begun, and we are witnessing its dawn.  Already,
young and old throughout the world are beginning to seek spiritual
awakening.  Let us speak of peace, let us listen to the message of love.
And once these subjects are begun, let us speak of them from dawn to dawn.'
My name is James Bean.  Welcome to Spiritual Awakening."



        BROADCAST SCHEDULE AND REAL AUDIO URL'S:


Wisdom Radio: http://www.wisdomradio.com    click onto "live;"
Sundays at 9 a.m., Eastern Time, repeated 2 a.m., E.T./11 p.m., P.T.;
(Soon, the Wisdom Radio Network will have about 40 different editions of
Spiritual Awakening archived -- click onto "shows on demand.")


Radio For Peace International:  http://www.rfpi.org/webcast.html
click onto "live streaming MP3," & http://www.boinklabs.com/ifpi.html
Sundays at NOON, Eastern, repeated eight and sixteen hours later:
8 p.m., Eastern Time, Sunday evenings, and 4 a.m., E.T. Mondays;
RFPI also broadcasts on worldwide shortwave on 15.050, 6975, & 25.930.



WMEB: http://www.umaine.edu/wmeb/  Every Thursday afternoon at 12: 30;



CHSR: http://www.unb.ca/chsr/   Every Friday morning at 9, E.T.;



LINKS to the above radio stations can also be found under "LINKS" at:
http://www.onelist.com/community/spiritualawakening
The radio links are listed along with world scriptures and various spiritual
classics online, and other websites.





______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

On Sun, 9 Jan 2000 15:36:23 -0500 "solo"  wrote:
> x-no-archive:yes
>
> empty, cowardly threats by paul twitchell:
>
> >"At times, certain persons fail to realize that just because a chela has
reached a very high level of  initiation, it does not mean that he is immune to
error, to failing to heed the Master's
> >warnings and of making  a tragic mistake that may cost him hundreds and
hundreds of reincarnations before he once more finds himself at the foot of the
ladder of ECKANKAR, and in the presence of the Living ECK Master."   Twitchell,
IWL, pg. 108
>
> >"Within the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad is found the quotation 'He who
> >leaves the path of  ECK, or refuses to follow it, shall dwell in the astral
hells until the Master takes mercy upon him and brings him upon the path
again.'"    Twitchell, Spiritual Notebook, pg. 196:
>
> >"Woe be unto him if he does (resign), for it is known among those who have
reached these lofty heights and witnessed the consequences of the few who have.
Those few have found that spiritual decay sets in
> >immediately, affecting the health, material life and spiritual life, and
brings death more swiftly."  Twitchell, Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad #2, pg. 166
>

>
> Once I left eckankar and the grip of twitchell's mind control tactics
loosened, my  life has been overwhelmingly beautiful, full of God's love, full
of wonderful, joyous surprises, guided by God's grace towards greater creativity
and material success, and blessed by the most fulfilling family life imaginable.
I could never
> have dreamt, in a million years, that I could be so happy.
>


Thank you so much for sharing this, Solo!  Even though <giggle> we
hear the same things from people who join eckankar!

I'm sure you felt the same way when you were an eckist.  I know I
did.  Of course, I felt the same way before I became an eckist, too.

Except for the darn pesky material success thing.  Well...I consider
myself successful by my own standards, I was never really into that, just was
always happy to make enough to take care of mys

Well, I know some members here, but I don't know many of you.

I've been hoping someone would post something here, and I'd like to thank James
Bean of Spiritual Awakenings for writing something!  He has an interesting site,
although personally I have an aversion to that "master" word...and there are
some interesting links there.  Check it out!!

I'm going to post something I've copied from that notorious cesspool,
alt.religion.eckankar. <ggg>  It, perhaps, expresses what I'd like to see
here...the lies of eckankar for those who may be looking into it, and a positive
statement from someone who's a former member.

I started this site simply because when you do a search here for "Eckankar" all
that shows up are the cult member sites.  Searches on search engines show
similar results.

Those of us who are former members know how Eckankar encourages anyone who can
to increase the cult's presence here on the internet.   When I joined Eckankar
back in the early 80's, there was no internet...or much information about
Eckankar other than official cult publications.  There aren't many places where
people can go to hear the other side, by former members.  Not everyone wants to
start a website.

By the way, for those concerned about confidentiality and familiar with the
a.r.e. eckists tactics of seeking out former members identities and publishing
misleading things and lies, and the slander and generally nasty behavior towards
anyone who tries to speak out, be assured that you can join here and participate
without anyone knowing who you are.  There are no headers anywhere.


I'd like to see former eckists sharing their stories here.  What would you like
to tell people who may be looking into Eckankar?

Because this is an open forum, and because so many have written to me privately
for over a year, since I very publicly left the cult back at a.r.e., I know that
there are many things some former eckists don't want to say in public.  And I
know many of you are still hurting.  I'm sorry that this location isn't private,
f

12-23-99

From:  James Bean
        spiritualawakening@...

Dear Sharon:


        Hi!

        Greetings from Maine!

        Have been noticing your site for quite awhile now.  I tried to join,
and my membership remained pending, pending, pending.  I just revisited the
Eckankartruth site again a few minutes ago, and I see you're up and running!

        I used to be a member of Eckankar till I read an article in "The
Spiritual Counterfeits Project," a monthly cult magazine.  It's a Christian
fundamentalist publication. Sometimes cult magazines are themselves written
by cults with agendas to convert people, and Fundamentalists don't like any
other religion anyway, so I didn't take the article too seriously.  BUT, I
was intrigued by their references to the research of DAVID LANE!  Luckily,
this article on Eck included David Lane's address!  I wrote to Dave and he
sent me his book on Eckankar.  His research I did indeed take very, very
seriously.  Then I went to my local library and ordered an inter-library
loan copy of "The Path of the Masters," by Julian Johnson.  I was most
impressed with Johnson's book. I remember remarking to myself at the time,
'I'm learning more about Eckankar by reading THIS BOOK than by studying
Eckankar materials!'

        After that, I dropped out of Eckankar and started researching the
Sant tradition of India.  I became good friends with David Lane.  We've been
chatting and corresponding for several years now.  He even listed me in the
Acknowledgments of his book "The Radhasoam Tradition!"

        I've done a lot of research into Paul Twitchell and the Sant Mat
tradition of India, even to the point of knowing what books were on Paul's
bookshelf and, I've even corresponded with Sant Mat initiates who REMEMBER
Paul, confirming for myself what Lane has said.  At this point, I've
researched all the branches and Masters of Sant Mat.  I wanted to make
absolutely sure that I wouldn't run into the same problem I did after
joining Eckankar -- discovering some nasty truth not mentioned in the fine
print.  In an alternative spiritual yellowpages I noticed listings for
several Sant Mat groups in the US, so I started connecting with all the
groups, all the books of the various Masters, and all the Satsangs.  At this
point, I could write my own book on Sant Mat.

        There are many personal experiences, books, websites, and
observations about the Eckankar/Sant Mat connection that I would love to
make available to you.

        Even though it's a traumatic experience to discover one's spiritual
path to be based on a fraudulent foundation, I want you to know that, for
many former Eckists, Eckankar has been a "steppingstone" to something much
higher.  There can be a happy and healthy ending -- Light and the end of the
tunnel. By this I mean that many Eckists, after discovering the truth, have
found peace, and have found the inner Light and Sound of Truth.

        What you're doing is very valuable and will help many spiritual
seekers. There are several Eck-exposing sites out there.  I haven't visited
them all yet but, some of the ones I have checked out seem to be kind of
negative, not nurturing.  I sense what this site might become is a place of
healing where people can sort out their experience with Eck, making sense of
things, and move on to higher ground.  May good things happen as a result of
your new site Eckankartruth.

        God is Truth.


                           Peace and Blessings to you always,

                                         James




>From: eckankartruth-owner@onelist.com
>To: spiritualawakening@...
>Subject: Welcome to eckankartruth
>Date: 24 Dec 1999 00:13:06 -0000
>
>Thank you for your interest in Eckankartruth.  Please visit the websites
>listed in Message #1 for more information about the cult.
>
>Former members are welcome to post messages here. Because there are many
>pro-cult sites on the internet, pro-cult messages will not be accepted.
>
>Thank you!
>
>Hugs,
>
>Sharon
>
>

From Letters to a Chela by Paul Twitchell---page 34

For more chapters of this "secret initiates-only book" see
http://www.delphi.com/eckankartruth

For Initiates Only---the discourse series that Harold Klemp and long-time
Eckists studied & were brainwashed with--this discourse series was reprinted in
book form by Darwin, and continued being sold for many years under Harold Klemp.
(Please note the words I've *  *)

"So ECK of ITSELF must find those who are willing to *plant* themselves in
church groups, of every nature, and act as the ones to *spread the message* of
ECK.  These are commonly called *cells* in political jargon, but we know them as
*cadres.*  This is to *get a foothold* in any group, any institution and to be
able to quietly but effectively *give out the message of ECK*, and act as
*reformers* within these groups ****so that their members will come over to the
works of ECK. ****This is one of the efficient ways of educating others to
*become sympathetic with the ECK and ITS works.*

Since Christianity is only an aspect of the ECK there is no need of viewing it
or any other religion with awe.  All religions and philosophies spring out of
the fountainhead of ECK.  Therefore we must look upon each with a sympathetic
view that every group is respectively struggling to find the Godhead.

Since every ECKist knows that the Godhead is that which is available only
through the path of ECK then he must be warm, sympathetic and helpful to those
in religions, occultism andphilosophies for they are all the  subordinates of
ECKANKAR.

There is no need to fight them, no need to have arguments with them or try to
give them truth when none are ready for it.

  ***But we can find ways of entering into the middle stream of life everywhere,
in social clubs, on civic boards, in groups of people who are *seemingly without
anything in their lives*.  You can get invitations to talk to public groups on
ECK,  have your own festivals, such as an ECK festival, or go on radio and
television programs wherever available. ***

**

If these masters are real, then why does Twitchell have them speaking or
"channeling" words written by light and sound spiritualist Julian Johnson and
the author of the 25th Psalm in the Bible?  If they are not real, as Twitchell's
plagiarism suggests, then Eckankar is deceiving people, and that is
objectionable.

Despite Eckists' endless claims to the contrary, there is no doubt in the mind
of any religious historian who has studied Eckankar that Paul Twitchell based
his teachings, in a purely religious sense, on several very big lies.  The web
sites below tell the whole story:

http://www.csun.edu/~hbjou017/cults/ekonkar/
http://members.tripod.com/~andrea65/guru3.htm

Even Twitchell's wife, Gail, admitted that Eckankar is a fraud.  (According to
David Lane, a college professor who wrote a book on Eckankar- see first link
above) .  So have other high-ranking and very artistically talented Eckists that
Eckankar used to trot out in public in order to legitimize itself.   Why don't
you e-mail them and ask they why they think Eckankar is fraudulent?  If you do,
you'll hear the exact same story you find in the detractors' posts on A.R.E.

So where do detractors come from?  When people like you go around advertising
what a wonderful religion Eckankar is (and don't tell your unsuspecting victims
about Twitchell's fraud, elitism and threats), and these victims find this out
later, a lot of them become detractors- in spite of the harassment they are
subjected to by supposedly godly, God-loving Eckists who want to silence them.

Almost all detractors that I know of were formerly Eckists- Eckists just like
you who once believed wholeheartedly in the path and its leaders.  So what
happened?

Well, there wouldn't be any detractors if Eckankar would rid itself of the lies,
elitism and threats it propagates.  Eckists think that detractors are
satanically inspired enemies of the "Eck", when, in fact, we are inspired by
common decency, a sense of integrity, and concern that our fellow man does not
get lured into

This was posted at the newsgroup alt.religion.eckankar

From:  watcher (wab@...)
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 14:51:45 -0500
Subject: Re: Have a religion or guru? 

x-no-archive:yes

somosalma@... wrote in message <83lqe3$7ok$1@...>...
>  Helloooo out therrrre!
>
>  Do any of you so called "detractors" follow another spiritual path,
>religion, or guru?
>
>  If so, why do you feel it is more legitimate than Eckankar?

Detractors (me, at least) don't think that the spiritual side of Eckankar is
invalid.  Some of Eckankar's spiritual exercises, in fact, are very similar to
those found Shabda Yoga and other forms of yoga.  (Paul Twitchell, your
religion's founder, was a Shabda Yoga practitioner before he started Eckankar).

Other Eckankar spiritual exercises are similar or identical to New Age spiritual
exercises, like the one where you imagine a pillar of light from the higher
planes entering your body from above.  The various visualization and affirmation
exercises that Eckankar teaches are similar in concept to those found in many
New Age paths.

In reality, it is not Eckankar that is valid (or invalid) spiritually, it is the
spiritual exercises themselves and the power of Spirit they evoke that are
valid. I, for example, have no guru, path or religion, and yet I have incredible
spiritual experiences from using a simple technique I learned many years ago.
This technique can be easily found on the Internet.

Detractors object to the fraudulent, elitist and threatening aspects of
Eckankar's religious teachings, not to the spiritual side of the path.

Most notably, we object to the fact that Twitchell plagiarised heavily in order
to create the teachings of Eckankar, and put plagiarised words in the mouths of
several so-called eck masters, such as Lai Tsi, Fubbi Quantz, and Rebazar Tarz.

If these masters are real, then why does Twitchell have them speaking or
"channeling" words written by light and sound spiritualist Julian Johnson and
the author of the 25th Psalm in the Bible?  If they are not re

Hello!

Thank you for your interest in "Eckankartruth."

I'm sorry there's not much here...I've been busy, and haven't decided exactly
what I want to do with this site.

In the meantime, for more information on Eckankar than you'll get from the
official cult website or its members, please visit the following websites:


David Lane's "Making of a Spiritual Movement:" 
http://www.csun.edu/~hbjou017/cults/ekonkar/

Excellent analysis by a former member: 
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1756/eck.txt

Book Chapter on Eckankar:   http://members.tripod.com/~andrea65/guru3.htm

http://www.inlink.com/~rife/eck_main.html Rife's Unauthorized Eckankar page
http://www.iguild.com/homes/eckcult   (new location of above)
http://members.delphi.com/sharon2000
http://www.lightlink.com/drogers/fun/ICK/ ICKANKAR--The Original Religion!
http://www.lightlink.com/drogers/cults/   Dave's Cults page
http://www.jps.net/asilva/mystory.htm    My Eckankar Story!
http://www.jps.net/asilva/resign.htm       My Eckankar Resignation Letter!
http://members.delphi.com/SHARON2000 -- not much here, a letter & some links...

please be sure to visit http://www.delphi.com/eckankartruth for Twitchell's
"Secret Discourses" ..."Letters to a Chela


Eckankar Discussion Club:  http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/eckankarhistory
(In the "photos" section are copies of the Orion article, showing the original
names of Kirpal Singh which Twitchell later changed to his fictional "Sudar
Singh" and "Rebazar Tarz")

An interesting link, considering Paul Twitchell's pre-CultLeader Scientology
membership and plagiarism of L. Ron Hubbard:   
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/comments/jjmagic.html
(Aleister Crowley is also listed in a "recommended reading list" in Letters to
Gail.)
(Twitchell's plagiarism & comparisons, the documentation of some of what was
clearly & directly plagiarized from Scientology and Julian Johnson, are located
in the "Making of a Spiritual Movement"  website....)




The Cult Test:       see if you're a potential victim...good links at the