Re: What has Paul Twitchelln stolen, copied, reused, from Sant Mat and Radhadsoami ?
lackpurity
wrote:
> I am not sure just why you are knit picking here, as Paul states in
> his books that Kal has many names, depending on the different religions and
> I have personally heard the different sounds from the higher planes and the
> initiations come at the end of 3 months, 6 months and then every two years.
> I am not in bondage to any master, as you can leave at any tiime and come
> back at any time.
MM:
Anyone can repeat the Sant Mat theory. Nobody can imitate the
Master's power, however. His power comes to earth from Anami Desh,
the eighth level of spiritual power. There are many False Gurus,
simply repeating the theory. It's like shooting blanks, as they have
no REAL power behind them.
Everyone has the sound within them. Concentration can make it
audible, but progress is limited without a True Master. A True Master
will take you beyond Satan, or Kal Niranjan. A False Master is a
prisoner of Satan, himself, so he has no power to free anybody. We
just need to use our best discernment.
William Shakespeare gave us the Sant Mat teachings cryptically, in his
plays and sonnets. He was mocked by Robert Greene, who called him an
"upstart crow." This happens in the life of practically every Saint.
They wanted to stone Christ, and eventually did crucify him.
A line of True Masters will thrive for a while. It did in the cases
of Marlowe, Shakespeare, Spenser, Mary Sidney Herbert, Ann Hathaway,
Aemilia Lanyer, Francis Bacon, and John Donne. Eventually, all the
marked souls are collected, and the interest in the line dies out. If
it were not for the power of God behind a line, it would not even last
that long.
Paul Twitchell was a disciple of Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, I believe,
although he (Paul) later apparently denied it. I don't see any excuse
for his break with his Master. I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
> Annual fees are what masters live on during the year,
> as you can not always depend on donations.(grin).
MM:
I would have a problem with charging for initiation, but charging for
operating expenses would be okay. Initiation is meaningless, unless
it is given by a True Master, IMO.
> I am not limited to just
> 20/30 minutes a day, as it was only a suggested time and not carved in
> stone. I was told that you will only go so far in your spiritual growth
> without becoming vegetarian. The choice is yours to make. I was asked on
> the inner to become vegetarian.
>
> Sally
MM:
The lacto-veggie diet makes meditation easier. It also makes us less
prone to anger, lust, etc... I'm glad that you were asked to be
vegetarian. It will help you avoid all the karma, for the killing of
animals.
Michael Martin
Western Sat Guru --- A Disciple of Maharaj Charan Singh Ji since 1964
> "wernertrp" <schubert_...@t-online.de> wrote in message
>
> news:1170350036.6...@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > in a random order:
>
> > Kal Niranjan, the masters lineage, the planes, the sound of the
> > planes,
> > the initiation, he made many initiation levels from one core
> > initiation,
> > the absolute bondage to the master, the chela master structure,
> > the spiritual exercises, Twitchell eleminates the vegetarian life
> > style in eckankar,
> > Twitchell invented the annual fee, Twitchel reduce the meditation
> > time
> > to 20 minutes per day,
>
> > HK-I wer abschreibt hat mehr vom Leben
lackpurity
> On Sep 13, 8:07 am, "Sally Short" <morningdov...@earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am not sure just why you are knit picking here, as Paul states in
> > his books that Kal has many names, depending on the different religions and
> > I have personally heard the different sounds from the higher planes and the
> > initiations come at the end of 3 months, 6 months and then every two years.
> > I am not in bondage to any master, as you can leave at any tiime and come
> > as you can not always depend on donations.(grin). I am not limited to just
> > 20/30 minutes a day, as it was only a suggested time and not carved in
> > stone. I was told that you will only go so far in your spiritual growth
> > without becoming vegetarian. The choice is yours to make. I was asked on
> > the inner to become vegetarian.
>
> > Sally
>
>
> >news:1170350036.6...@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > in a random order:
>
> > > Kal Niranjan, the masters lineage, the planes, the sound of the
> > > planes,
> > > the initiation, he made many initiation levels from one core
> > > initiation,
> > > the absolute bondage to the master, the chela master structure,
> > > the spiritual exercises, Twitchell eleminates the vegetarian life
> > > style in eckankar,
> > > Twitchell invented the annual fee, Twitchel reduce the meditation
> > > time
> > > to 20 minutes per day,
>
>
> > - Show quoted text
>
> Long before Paul Twitchell lived, and Kirpal Singh, and Sawan Singh,
> and Rai Saligram, and Soamiji Dayal, and Kabir, Nanak Sahib and Rumi,
> there was Eternal LightSong of Love which is Naam. It exists now. It
> existed before time began. And It will exist forevermore.
MM:
The problem is becoming absorbed in it. Meditation, or MUSES,
according to William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Maharaj
Charan Singh Ji, is the answer.
God exists. Holy Spirit, Nam, or Shabd, exists, but gaining access to
it is another matter. I just replied to Sally Short, that anybody can
repeat like a parrot, the Sant Mat theory. Nobody can repeat the
power of God, however, which is working behind the REAL MASTERS.
I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
didn't, we can look at what has happened. Eckankar did help to spread
the theory regarding the SOUND, LIGHT, and INNER PLANES. So, it
appears to me, that Mr. Twitchell did help some others gain knowledge
of the theory, but as a disciple of MKSJ, well, that will between Paul
and Kirpal. That is highly personal.
Michael Martin
Western Sat Guru (disciple of Maharaj Charan Singh Ji)
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> MM:
> Anyone can repeat the Sant Mat theory. Nobody can imitate the
> Master's power, however. His power comes to earth from Anami Desh,
> the eighth level of spiritual power. There are many False Gurus,
> simply repeating the theory. It's like shooting blanks, as they have
> no REAL power behind them.
For me it's more about REAL love.
Awareness of a master on the inner usurps all theory with personal
experience.
"earthly religious leaders fail with the majority, because they are not
able to explain with precision the way of God. Few, if any, know the way of
ECK. If they do, fewer still know it in a way to get it across to those who
are hungering for the worlds beyond."
- Paul Twitchell SKS I p.30
"Paul just stood there, reflecting and thinking. As I watched him, I
recognized that the gifts he gave through the writings and teachings of ECK
were understood and appreciated by only a very few." GH p.155
Few Religions Resemble the Spiritual Teaching Given by the Founder
E-AWT p.107
Very few people actually know how God speaks. Usually, even the most
religious people can only "feel" the divine presence-at random times-yet
they have very little understanding of how to listen to or see the Voice of
God actively. LW2 p.114
They indeed taught the Light and Sound but, only a few followers actually
had any personal experience with it. LW1 20
- Harold Klemp
> Everyone has the sound within them. Concentration can make it
> audible, but progress is limited without a True Master. A True Master
> will take you beyond Satan, or Kal Niranjan. A False Master is a
> prisoner of Satan, himself, so he has no power to free anybody. We
> just need to use our best discernment.
>
> William Shakespeare gave us the Sant Mat teachings cryptically, in his
> plays and sonnets. He was mocked by Robert Greene, who called him an
> "upstart crow." This happens in the life of practically every Saint.
> They wanted to stone Christ, and eventually did crucify him.
>
> A line of True Masters will thrive for a while. It did in the cases
> of Marlowe, Shakespeare, Spenser, Mary Sidney Herbert, Ann Hathaway,
> Aemilia Lanyer, Francis Bacon, and John Donne. Eventually, all the
> marked souls are collected, and the interest in the line dies out. If
> it were not for the power of God behind a line, it would not even last
> that long.
I take it you are repeating Sant Mat theory?
> Paul Twitchell was a disciple of Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, I believe,
> although he (Paul) later apparently denied it. I don't see any excuse
> for his break with his Master.
You don't see because you haven't been looking. All the facts about this and
much more can be found in the new book available here: http://heh.pl/&3d9
It's been discussed thoroughly hundreds of times on A.R.E. and has been
online for many years here: http://heh.pl/&3da
> I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
> and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
> this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
I agree that Eckists have no problem with Kirpal. I saw him in Chicago and
looking in his eyes confirmed his mastership to me. Were we apparently
differ is that IME there are many 'true' masters.
Consider finding out the facts linked above Michael, instead of basing your
judgment on information that is 30 years old, and worse, not accurate.
` o
|
~/|
_/ |\
/ | \
-/ | \
_/____|___\_
Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
> allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
> didn't, we can look at what has happened.
What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
> Eckankar did help to spread
> the theory regarding the SOUND, LIGHT, and INNER PLANES. So, it
> appears to me, that Mr. Twitchell did help some others gain knowledge
> of the theory...
And his teachings used many approaches, Kirpal's being only one portion.
What you've missed is that the inner connection with his students goes
beyond theory. Duality memes abound. You only allow one as true... Fine.
That's your path. Soul creates It's own.
Lady Azure
It is not Eck, it is EEK, the Scream your Soul Makes when it encounters
the "Great Terrible Unknown" man calls "GOD", or "ELPH".
wernertrp
> Rich wrote:
>
> > "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> - Zitierten Text anzeigen -
Azure: Are you the lady with the sword or the man with the word ?
Rich
"Lady Azure" <laddi...@galls.org> wrote in message news:46F20BDC...@galls.org...
> the "Great Terrible Unknown" man calls "GOD", or "ELPH".
` o
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>
> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
MM:
You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
qualification to do that, I'd say.
> > Eckankar did help to spread
> > the theory regarding the SOUND, LIGHT, and INNER PLANES. So, it
> > appears to me, that Mr. Twitchell did help some others gain knowledge
> > of the theory...
>
> And his teachings used many approaches, Kirpal's being only one portion.
MM:
The number of approaches is not my point. The path of light and sound
is my point.
> What you've missed is that the inner connection with his students goes
> beyond theory.
MM:
You're going to speak for others, again? What qualifies you to speak
for them?
> Duality memes abound. You only allow one as true... Fine.
> That's your path. Soul creates It's own.
MM:
The Creator isn't a dummy. He lifts up those who have followed a
teacher, who had reached his level.
> ` o
> |
> ~/|
> _/ |\
> / | \
> -/ | \
> _/____|___\_
> Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~
Michael Martin
Western Sat Guru
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> > MM:
> > Anyone can repeat the Sant Mat theory. Nobody can imitate the
> > Master's power, however. His power comes to earth from Anami Desh,
> > the eighth level of spiritual power. There are many False Gurus,
> > simply repeating the theory. It's like shooting blanks, as they have
> > no REAL power behind them.
>
> For me it's more about REAL love.
MM:
Me, too. Sat Guru Bhakti.
> Awareness of a master on the inner usurps all theory with personal
> experience.
MM:
It depends on what stage we're discussing. If we're in the middle,
then higher theory could still apply. If we are aware of a Master,
then that would usurp lower theories, IMO.
> "earthly religious leaders fail with the majority, because they are not
> able to explain with precision the way of God. Few, if any, know the way of
> ECK. If they do, fewer still know it in a way to get it across to those who
> are hungering for the worlds beyond."
>
> - Paul Twitchell SKS I p.30
MM:
Sincere seekers are relatively rare, also.
MM:
I'm teaching it. Yes.
> > Paul Twitchell was a disciple of Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, I believe,
> > although he (Paul) later apparently denied it. I don't see any excuse
> > for his break with his Master.
> You don't see because you haven't been looking.
MM:
Why look? A break with a Master is just that. I'm a firm believer in
Sat Guru Bhakti. I practiced it myself, since 1964. I don't consider
his break with MKSJ to be Sat Guru Bhakti. Pure and simple.
> All the facts about this and
> much more can be found in the new book available here:http://heh.pl/&3d9
> It's been discussed thoroughly hundreds of times on A.R.E. and has been
> online for many years here:http://heh.pl/&3da
MM:
I know it's been discussed.
> > I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
> > and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
> > this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
>
> I agree that Eckists have no problem with Kirpal. I saw him in Chicago and
> looking in his eyes confirmed his mastership to me. Were we apparently
> differ is that IME there are many 'true' masters.
MM:
Another difference might be that you have no problem with the way in
which Twitchell treated Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji?
> Consider finding out the facts linked above Michael, instead of basing your
> judgment on information that is 30 years old, and worse, not accurate.
MM:
Your information doesn't change my mind. It's just an extension of
what Mr. Twitchell already did. I've read some of it, but admittedly
not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
way. Maybe you have no problem with it?
> ` o
> |
> ~/|
> _/ |\
> / | \
> -/ | \
> _/____|___\_
> Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~-
lackpurity
MM:
I'd say that we CURRENTLY live in the UNKNOWN, since we don't know
from where we've come, nor to where we are going. It is here that
some souls experience the intense longing to return HOME. When we get
home, it is all ecstasy and bliss.
JerryCic
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1190345830.9...@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>
>> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
>> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
>> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>>
>> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
>> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>
> MM:
> You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
> qualification to do that, I'd say.
>
Seems to me that the amount of truth one finds in anothers words depends
more on the words themselves than the qualifications of whomever has stated
them.
If a child pondering says to you that we have invented time, would you
ignore the wisdom behind the words just because the speaker was a child?
Sometimes our master is speaking to us via the light and sounds that
reverberate through others ramblings.
One thing i have learned in my life is that the qualifications of others
plays a lesser role in the unfoldment of fresh vital realizations that may
be occurring within myself.
Truth is truth no matter who says it
:---)
Jerry C
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1190345830.9...@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> >> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
> >> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
> >> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>
> >> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
> >> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>
> > MM:
> > You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
> > qualification to do that, I'd say.
>
> Seems to me that the amount of truth one finds in anothers words depends
> more on the words themselves than the qualifications of whomever has stated
> them.
MM:
Find truth? An allegation is automatically truth for you? Okay,
then, it's your prerogative. Gullible people will believe many
strange things. It's true. Not everyone will, however.
You just can't make such a sweeping statement without some qualifying
of it, IMO. Some people have seen light and heard sound, without ever
being acquainted with any such path, also. There are lower dreams and
there are elevated dreams. We have to be careful about separating the
wheat from the chaff.
> If a child pondering says to you that we have invented time, would you
> ignore the wisdom behind the words just because the speaker was a child?
MM:
If another child says that we haven't invented time, would you ignore
his wisdom? What's your point? We need to follow a Master, not
pretend to be one.
> Sometimes our master is speaking to us via the light and sounds that
> reverberate through others ramblings.
MM:
The Creator can do anything. He has some people following True
Masters. Others, due to their karmas, are just spinning their wheels,
following false Masters. So, what's your point?
> One thing i have learned in my life is that the qualifications of others
> plays a lesser role in the unfoldment of fresh vital realizations that may
> be occurring within myself.
MM:
So, you are your own Master? You don't need a Guru? Is that it?
Sounds pretty risky to me, but that's your prerogative. As for me, I
submitted myself to my Guru, who I thought to be God in human form.
> Truth is truth no matter who says it
>
> :---)
> Jerry C
MM:
An allegation is an allegation, and fantasy is fantrasy, also. Like I
said, it just reguires some discernment, to know the wheat from the
chaff.
Michael Martin
> > Western Sat Guru- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Etznab
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Twice today I responded to this thread. Both times
earlier than the last post at 12:25 p.m.
What happened? Is Google partial?
Etznab
lackpurity
>
> - Show quoted text -
MM:
I was looking for your three messages, but couldn't find them. At
least, this one is clear.
Michael Martin
lackpurity
For Eckists. We've been discussing the relationship between Paul
Twichell and Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji. Read the prologue below. It
constitutes the right attitude towards a Master. Now, I think even
most Eckists will agree that Mr. Twitchell was not in harmony with
Sant Kirpal. So, it is up to each individual, to decide who was right
or wrong on this.
Shakespeare hints that we are beggars before the Master. That much is
very clear. Shakespeare was a Param Sant Sat Guru.
Michael Martin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: lackpurity <lackpur...@...>
Date: Sep 21, 3:00?pm
Subject: Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2
To: humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare, alt.meditation,
alt.meditation.shabda, alt.yoga, alt.consciousness.mysticism
OPHELIA
You are naught, you are naught: I'll mark the play.
Prologue
For us, and for our tragedy,
Here stooping to your clemency,
We beg your hearing patiently.
Exit
HAMLET
Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?
OPHELIA
'Tis brief, my lord.
MM:
The prologue is about our tragedy, i.e. separation from the True Home,
and how to get back to it. ?We stoop to the clemency of the Master.
Nobody else has the power to take us HOME. ?We are beggars before him,
and we must adjust to his patience. ?He knows best.
Hamlet (Shakespeare) then hints regarding his own cryptic writing. ?Is
this a prologue, or a gift? ?Iniation by a Master is always a gift of
God, because nobody really is worthy of it. ?That's easily known by
Saints.
Michael Martin
On Sep 21, 12:31?pm, Etznab <etz...@aol.com> wrote:
> Etznab- Hide quoted text -
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>
>> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
>> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
>> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>>
>> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
>> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>
> MM:
> You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
> qualification to do that, I'd say.
We!...? You're going to speak for others? ;-)
But no, I'm speaking from my experience with others. The easiest way to get
that kind of experience(thousands) is to go to an Eckankar Seminar. The
World Wide is coming up. http://www.eckankar.org/Seminars/major.html Stop
by an I'll introduce you around.
>> > Eckankar did help to spread
>> > the theory regarding the SOUND, LIGHT, and INNER PLANES. So, it
>> > appears to me, that Mr. Twitchell did help some others gain knowledge
>> > of the theory...
>>
>> And his teachings used many approaches, Kirpal's being only one portion.
>
> MM:
> The number of approaches is not my point. The path of light and sound
> is my point.
Yes, that's my point too. There are many approaches to the Light and Sound.
Paul studied them all. He chose what his experience with the many he
studied about and directly under, and what memes from various paths he found
to be the most useful to point a direct way for Western thinking.
>> What you've missed is that the inner connection with his students goes
>> beyond theory.
>
> MM:
> You're going to speak for others, again? What qualifies you to speak
> for them?
Again, I'm speaking from my own personal experience. What I'm saying is
that thinking about different theories pales in significants compared to
personal inner experience. Seeing the inner master is of a different order.
You seem to be assuming that I and other Eckists can't have these
awareness's?
>> Duality memes abound. You only allow one as true... Fine.
>> That's your path. Soul creates It's own.
>
> MM:
> The Creator isn't a dummy. He lifts up those who have followed a
> teacher, who had reached his level.
>
>
> Michael Martin
> Western Sat Guru
Certainly you've read the Tiger's Fang. Paul referred to many embodiments
of God that are referred to as "he". Which creator are you referring to?
Personally I haven't given much attention to them. My personal experience
has been more towards non-dualistic consciousness.
Rich
> On Sep 20, 11:52?pm, "JerryCic" <Jerry...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1190345830.9...@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>
>> >> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
>> >> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
>> >> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>>
>> >> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
>> >> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>>
>> > MM:
>> > You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
>> > qualification to do that, I'd say.
>>
>> Seems to me that the amount of truth one finds in anothers words depends
>> more on the words themselves than the qualifications of whomever has
>> stated
>> them.
>
> MM:
> Find truth? An allegation is automatically truth for you?
What allegation? You seem to be arguing that the messenger is more important
than the message?
> Okay,
> then, it's your prerogative. Gullible people will believe many
> strange things. It's true. Not everyone will, however.
Exactly what I think Jerry was getting at. It is not what others say but
developing ones own experience of Truth.
>
> You just can't make such a sweeping statement without some qualifying
> of it, IMO.
I pretty sure that the "sweeping statement" the message is more important
than the messenger is qualified by most reasonable people.
> Some people have seen light and heard sound, without ever
> being acquainted with any such path, also.
Exactly what I was saying in my previous post to you.
> There are lower dreams and
> there are elevated dreams. We have to be careful about separating the
> wheat from the chaff.
Yes, Paul wrote extensively about how to do that. That is the value of the
Master. Their experience points out the pitfalls for the student.
>> If a child pondering says to you that we have invented time, would you
>> ignore the wisdom behind the words just because the speaker was a child?
>
> MM:
> If another child says that we haven't invented time, would you ignore
> his wisdom? What's your point? We need to follow a Master, not
> pretend to be one.
We? Are you speaking for everyone? ;-) As far as I can see every Soul is in
their own unique position of unfoldment. Some are not ready in this
lifetime. So will connect with a master. Some quickly excel beyond a need
for a master. Some don't need to follow a master at all.
>> Sometimes our master is speaking to us via the light and sounds that
>> reverberate through others ramblings.
>
> MM:
> The Creator can do anything. He has some people following True
> Masters. Others, due to their karmas, are just spinning their wheels,
> following false Masters. So, what's your point?
You didn't understand that? Try this: Spirit works with all life, not just
through masters, yes?
>> One thing i have learned in my life is that the qualifications of others
>> plays a lesser role in the unfoldment of fresh vital realizations that
>> may
>> be occurring within myself.
>
> MM:
> So, you are your own Master? You don't need a Guru?
Huh? You seem to be saying that one can't have realizations without a
master? That counterdicts what you said above.
> Is that it?
> Sounds pretty risky to me, but that's your prerogative. As for me, I
> submitted myself to my Guru, who I thought to be God in human form.
I did that too although for me it was the Inner Guru that was/is the
manifestation of God.
>> Truth is truth no matter who says it
>>
>> :---)
>> Jerry C
>
> MM:
> An allegation is an allegation, and fantasy is fantrasy, also. Like I
> said, it just reguires some discernment, to know the wheat from the
> chaff.
>
> Michael Martin
To you it seems to matter who says it, your Guru is the only one who can
speak Truth. All the rest in your opinion is allegation, fantasy, chaff?
Have I got that right?
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> On Sep 19, 6:21?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>
>> > MM:
>> > Anyone can repeat the Sant Mat theory. Nobody can imitate the
>> > Master's power, however. His power comes to earth from Anami Desh,
>> > the eighth level of spiritual power. There are many False Gurus,
>> > simply repeating the theory. It's like shooting blanks, as they have
>> > no REAL power behind them.
>>
>> For me it's more about REAL love.
>
> MM:
> Me, too. Sat Guru Bhakti.
>
>> Awareness of a master on the inner usurps all theory with personal
>> experience.
>
> MM:
> It depends on what stage we're discussing. If we're in the middle,
> then higher theory could still apply. If we are aware of a Master,
> then that would usurp lower theories, IMO.
Glad you seem to agree.
>> "earthly religious leaders fail with the majority, because they are not
>> able to explain with precision the way of God. Few, if any, know the way
>> of
>> ECK. If they do, fewer still know it in a way to get it across to those
>> who
>> are hungering for the worlds beyond."
>>
>> - Paul Twitchell SKS I p.30
>
> MM:
> Sincere seekers are relatively rare, also.
I agree.
He didn't deny it. If you had looked, you'd have known that.
> A break with a Master is just that.
Just what?
Do you think that there is no spiritual unfoldment without being tied to a
master?
Was Kirpal your first and only master?
As I understand it, it was Kirpal who broke with Paul at a time when Paul
still considered himself to be on friendly terms with Kirpal. If you _look_
you can find the documentation.
> I'm a firm believer in
> Sat Guru Bhakti. I practiced it myself, since 1964. I don't consider
> his break with MKSJ to be Sat Guru Bhakti. Pure and simple.
As I said, your considerations about a so called "break" are based on not
having all the information and facts.
>> All the facts about this and
>> much more can be found in the new book available here:http://heh.pl/&3d9
>> It's been discussed thoroughly hundreds of times on A.R.E. and has been
>> online for many years here: http://heh.pl/&3da
>
> MM:
> I know it's been discussed.
Consider finding out more if you want to discuss it from a more informed
perspective.
>> > I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
>> > and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
>> > this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
>>
>> I agree that Eckists have no problem with Kirpal. I saw him in Chicago
>> and
>> looking in his eyes confirmed his mastership to me. Were we apparently
>> differ is that IME there are many 'true' masters.
>
> MM:
> Another difference might be that you have no problem with the way in
> which Twitchell treated Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji?
See above. But no I don't. Based on how Kirpal treated Paul. It was only
_after_ Paul found out what Kirpal was telling his followers, that Paul
stopped writing to him and speaking/writing about him.
>> Consider finding out the facts linked above Michael, instead of basing
>> your
>> judgment on information that is 30 years old, and worse, not accurate.
>
> MM:
> Your information doesn't change my mind.
I haven't given you any information except a tid bit above.
> It's just an extension of what Mr. Twitchell already did.
Huh? You are a poor mind reader. And, you have faulty info on what Paul did.
Your mind is made up already though. Stay were you are. It's Ok with me.
It's your path.
> I've read some of it, but admittedly
> not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
> way.
What way? See, I don't know what you are talking about. That's the problem.
It seems you have an outdate, limited and somewhat false picture of the
"way" Paul moved on.
> Maybe you have no problem with it?
>
> Michael Martin
> Western Sat Guru
I don't have a problem with I know. Tell me what you were told that you
imagine is so egregious.
Sean
> MM:
> For Eckists. We've been discussing the relationship between Paul
> Twichell and Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji. Read the prologue below. It
> constitutes the right attitude towards a Master. Now, I think even
> most Eckists will agree that Mr. Twitchell was not in harmony with
> Sant Kirpal.
Hi Michael, I'd say that the more accurate words for this issue rather than
harmony, would be "not in agreement" or even "not aligned". And that that
was a two way street imho.
The way you have stated things above, ie one way of reading the semantics
here, appears to be casting an image in the light that this was an issue
that fell upon Paulji's shoulders alone [ was not in harmony with Sant
Kirpal ] , as in it was only *his* responsibility regarding harmony or lack
thereof. See what I mean?
If that isn't what you actually meant, then please clarify if you wish.
> So, it is up to each individual, to decide who was right
> or wrong on this.
>
Well that's one way of putting it. I'd prefer to say something like "It's up
to each individual to choose if or where they *might* stand on this issue,
and it's definitely up to each individual to decide what is right or wrong
for *themselves*."
IOW, I don't see that there is much benefit or harmony to anyone, to set
themselves up as judge or jury as to what was "right or wrong" for two other
Souls. Really, I am not qualified to judge such matters, and furthermore,
there's always much more to a spiritual path than black or white judgements
about anything, let alone other people's choices.
From what I have heard, read, and feel about this whole Sant Mat, Sri Kirpal
Singh and Eckankar history/issue, I believe that Paulji did the best he
could to maintain harmony with Kirpal at all times.
That others may not see this pov, that's fine, but really, imho it doesn't
matter much at all to either Path. Everything is at it should be, there will
always be people who see things differently. And it's not always clear to
ascertain what a Master's motivation may have been 40 years ago, 400 years
ago, or even 40 minutes ago.
thanks sean :-)
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1190395505.9...@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Sep 20, 11:52?pm, "JerryCic" <Jerry...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:1190345830.9...@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> > On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
> >> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> >> >> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
> >> >> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
> >> >> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>
> >> >> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
> >> >> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>
> >> > MM:
> >> > You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
> >> > qualification to do that, I'd say.
>
> >> Seems to me that the amount of truth one finds in anothers words depends
> >> more on the words themselves than the qualifications of whomever has
> >> stated
> >> them.
>
> > MM:
> > Find truth? An allegation is automatically truth for you?
>
> What allegation? You seem to be arguing that the messenger is more important
> than the message?
MM:
YOUR allegation, that thousands gained proof, etc., etc...
> > Okay,
> > then, it's your prerogative. Gullible people will believe many
> > strange things. It's true. Not everyone will, however.
>
> Exactly what I think Jerry was getting at. It is not what others say but
> developing ones own experience of Truth.
MM:
Developing one's own experience of truth works well with a True
Master. With a False Master, it will not work too well, that is why I
emphasize using good discretion, when choosing a Guru. The Creator
does know who is sincere, and he will guide the sincere seekers to a
True Master, eventually.
> > You just can't make such a sweeping statement without some qualifying
> > of it, IMO.
>
> I pretty sure that the "sweeping statement" the message is more important
> than the messenger is qualified by most reasonable people.
MM:
If the message is a true message, then it's important. If it's just
an allegation, then that's all it is.
> > Some people have seen light and heard sound, without ever
> > being acquainted with any such path, also.
> Exactly what I was saying in my previous post to you.
MM:
Well, exactly what is your position, then? Are you on both sides of
the fence? If you look at a.r.e., you will see that not everyone is
convinced about what you alleged.
> > There are lower dreams and
> > there are elevated dreams. We have to be careful about separating the
> > wheat from the chaff.
>
> Yes, Paul wrote extensively about how to do that. That is the value of the
> Master. Their experience points out the pitfalls for the student.
MM:
Well, if he knew the value of a Master, then his treatment of Maharaj
Kirpal Singh Ji needs to be discussed again, I guess.
> >> If a child pondering says to you that we have invented time, would you
> >> ignore the wisdom behind the words just because the speaker was a child?
>
> > MM:
> > If another child says that we haven't invented time, would you ignore
> > his wisdom? What's your point? We need to follow a Master, not
> > pretend to be one.
>
> We? Are you speaking for everyone? ;-)
MM:
Seekers?
> As far as I can see every Soul is in
> their own unique position of unfoldment. Some are not ready in this
> lifetime. So will connect with a master. Some quickly excel beyond a need
> for a master. Some don't need to follow a master at all.
MM:
They are for all practical purposes, non-existent, IMO. Even Christ
had a Master. If Born Saints need a Master, then we will, too.
That's the logic which is staring us in the face.
> >> Sometimes our master is speaking to us via the light and sounds that
> >> reverberate through others ramblings.
>
> > MM:
> > The Creator can do anything. He has some people following True
> > Masters. Others, due to their karmas, are just spinning their wheels,
> > following false Masters. So, what's your point?
>
> You didn't understand that? Try this: Spirit works with all life, not just
> through masters, yes?
MM:
Param Sant Param Dayal Faqir Chand said that we have many Gurus in
life, right from birth, but the SAT GURU is the one to take us to the
True Home, Sach Khand. There can be lower Gurus in our lives, as I
already mentioned. They can serve as a stepping stone to the True
Guru.
>
> >> One thing i have learned in my life is that the qualifications of others
> >> plays a lesser role in the unfoldment of fresh vital realizations that
> >> may
> >> be occurring within myself.
>
> > MM:
> > So, you are your own Master? You don't need a Guru?
>
> Huh? You seem to be saying that one can't have realizations without a
> master? That counterdicts what you said above.
MM:
You mean what I said about spinning wheels? If we don't want to spin
wheels, then it will behoove us to find a True Master. We might have
some lower experiences of light and sound, but not meaningful ones,
not the ones which can take us beyond mind and maya.
> > Is that it?
> > Sounds pretty risky to me, but that's your prerogative. As for me, I
> > submitted myself to my Guru, who I thought to be God in human form.
>
> I did that too although for me it was the Inner Guru that was/is the
> manifestation of God.
MM:
God speaks through a True Master, IMO. I wouldn't advise skipping
over the need of a physical Master, not at all. He is the first step
and an essential one.
> >> Truth is truth no matter who says it
>
> >> :---)
> >> Jerry C
>
> > MM:
> > An allegation is an allegation, and fantasy is fantrasy, also. Like I
> > said, it just reguires some discernment, to know the wheat from the
> > chaff.
>
> > Michael Martin
>
> To you it seems to matter who says it, your Guru is the only one who can
> speak Truth. All the rest in your opinion is allegation, fantasy, chaff?
> Have I got that right?
MM:
I don't know if you misunderstood me? Your sweeping statement,, that
thousands of Eckists had proof, etc., seemed to be an allegation. I,
myself, have read many accounts, which differ from what you wrote
about Eckankar, but it's not for me to discuss really. I'm not an
Eckist, but I was just commenting on your allegation. I've been
seeing two sides to that story, not just your side, over the years.
Michael Martin
>
> ` o
> |
> ~/|
> _/ |\
> / | \
> -/ | \
> _/____|___\_
> Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~- Hide quoted text -
Sean
>
> MM:
> Your information doesn't change my mind. It's just an extension of
> what Mr. Twitchell already did. I've read some of it, but admittedly
> not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
> way. Maybe you have no problem with it?
>
Hi Michael,
I am not looking for an argument here at all, and would just like to support
Rich in his general thrust of "what is it exactly that you have a problem
with?"
This whole "history" issue about who said what when and to whom, and why, is
very clouded for everyone. There is a lot more information available now
about Paulji than before, including his connections with Sri Kirpal. Doesn't
mean it's 100% perfect info but just one little piece of info can at times
change one's whole perspective, imho. Of course, depending on what it is
that people are concerned about, new info can make absolutely no difference
whatsoever either.
So, what is *it* - exactly that you have a problem with? Like Rich, I'd be
interested to know.
Sorry if you have already covered this elsewhere, but for some reason this
thread has only just been copied into alt.religion.eckankar ... so I only
have the last few posts in this thread.
thanks Sean
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> > On Sep 19, 6:43?pm, "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
> >> > I, personally, think that Paul Twitchell should have maintained his
> >> > allegiance to his Master, Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, but since he
> >> > didn't, we can look at what has happened.
>
> >> What happened is that thousands have gained proof through personal
> >> experience with the Light and Sound and the inner master.
>
> > MM:
> > You're going to speak for others? We need some evidence of your
> > qualification to do that, I'd say.
>
> We!...? You're going to speak for others? ;-)
MM:
At least I qualifed mine, by saying, "I'd say." That means IMO. You
left your as if there were no other opinions on that. I've got news
for you, I've read other opinions on that, opinions which differ from
yours.
> But no, I'm speaking from my experience with others. The easiest way to get
> that kind of experience(thousands) is to go to an Eckankar Seminar. The
> World Wide is coming up.http://www.eckankar.org/Seminars/major.html Stop
> by an I'll introduce you around.
MM:
Thanks for the invitation. If I start touring to hold satsang, you're
invited, also.
> >> > Eckankar did help to spread
> >> > the theory regarding the SOUND, LIGHT, and INNER PLANES. So, it
> >> > appears to me, that Mr. Twitchell did help some others gain knowledge
> >> > of the theory...
>
> >> And his teachings used many approaches, Kirpal's being only one portion.
>
> > MM:
> > The number of approaches is not my point. The path of light and sound
> > is my point.
>
> Yes, that's my point too. There are many approaches to the Light and Sound.
> Paul studied them all.
MM:
Studying is one thing. Following a Sat Guru is another. You should
know that I think he should have maintained his faith in Sant Kirpal.
> He chose what his experience with the many he
> studied about and directly under, and what memes from various paths he found
> to be the most useful to point a direct way for Western thinking.
MM:
I don't think we need to vary from the tried and proven. The path of
Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji was that. I'm aware of his various studies,
however.
> >> What you've missed is that the inner connection with his students goes
> >> beyond theory.
>
> > MM:
> > You're going to speak for others, again? What qualifies you to speak
> > for them?
>
> Again, I'm speaking from my own personal experience. What I'm saying is
> that thinking about different theories pales in significants compared to
> personal inner experience. Seeing the inner master is of a different order.
> You seem to be assuming that I and other Eckists can't have these
> awareness's?
MM:
Okay, let me try to make myself clear. God can do anything. He can
manifest in anyone, in any religion, or in any mystic school. I'm not
excluding Eckankar, even though Paul Twitchell did break from his
Master, Kirpal Singh. We can have experiences, even without a True
Master, but when it comes time for some higher experiences, some
meaningful experiences, such as going beyond mind and maya, then we
need a competent Guru.
> >> Duality memes abound. You only allow one as true... Fine.
> >> That's your path. Soul creates It's own.
>
> > MM:
> > The Creator isn't a dummy. He lifts up those who have followed a
> > teacher, who had reached his level.
>
> > Michael Martin
> > Western Sat Guru
>
> Certainly you've read the Tiger's Fang. Paul referred to many embodiments
> of God that are referred to as "he". Which creator are you referring to?
MM:
The highest. The ulitmate. I call him Anami Purush. He/She/It has
no sex, obviously, but is a spiritual power. This power is working
behind Param Sant Sat Gurus.
> Personally I haven't given much attention to them. My personal experience
> has been more towards non-dualistic consciousness.
MM:
Well, that is the goal. I don't know if you're putting the cart
before the horse, or not, but it sort of sounds like it. The physical
Master creates the love (Bhakti) within us, then by following the
light and sound form of the Master, we do reach the non-dual stage.
>
> ` o
> |
> ~/|
> _/ |\
> / | \
> -/ | \
> _/____|___\_
> Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~
Michael Martin
lackpurity
MM:
Did he threaten to sue Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji? Did he replace MKSJ's
name in the manuscripts with another name? Why keep looking, when it
is very clear what Paul Twitchell did?
> > A break with a Master is just that.
>
> Just what?
MM:
A break. A denial, if you like. There is no need to keep looking,
when the evidence is very clear, what happened.
> Do you think that there is no spiritual unfoldment without being tied to a
> master?
MM:
Lower unfoldment might be a limited possibility. Going beyond mind,
beyond Satan would require being tied to a Sant Sat Guru.
> Was Kirpal your first and only master?
MM:
I consider him a Master. I never saw him. Actually, I was initiated
by Maharaj Charan Singh Ji, in 1964. He was my first and only. I
consider his successor, Maharaj Gurinder Singh Ji, to be equal to him
in spirituality, however. He is the current Master at Radha Soami
Satsang Beas. MGSJ has initiated many lakhs of souls, I'm sure, since
1990.
> As I understand it, it was Kirpal who broke with Paul at a time when Paul
> still considered himself to be on friendly terms with Kirpal. If you _look_
> you can find the documentation.
MM:
MKSJ would not have broken with his disciples, unless the behavior was
just unacceptable, IMO. If Mr. Twitchell threatened to sue him, then
that would qualify as unacceptable, IMO.
> > I'm a firm believer in
> > Sat Guru Bhakti. I practiced it myself, since 1964. I don't consider
> > his break with MKSJ to be Sat Guru Bhakti. Pure and simple.
>
> As I said, your considerations about a so called "break" are based on not
> having all the information and facts.
MM:
We've already discussed it.
> >> All the facts about this and
> >> much more can be found in the new book available here:http://heh.pl/&3d9
> >> It's been discussed thoroughly hundreds of times on A.R.E. and has been
> >> online for many years here:http://heh.pl/&3da
>
> > MM:
> > I know it's been discussed.
>
> Consider finding out more if you want to discuss it from a more informed
> perspective.
MM:
I have more than enough facts, thank you. I don't need to go off on a
wild goose chase.
> >> > I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
> >> > and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
> >> > this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
>
> >> I agree that Eckists have no problem with Kirpal. I saw him in Chicago
> >> and
> >> looking in his eyes confirmed his mastership to me. Were we apparently
> >> differ is that IME there are many 'true' masters.
>
> > MM:
> > Another difference might be that you have no problem with the way in
> > which Twitchell treated Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji?
>
> See above. But no I don't. Based on how Kirpal treated Paul.
MM:
Then you're going to justify it, by blaming MKSJ? I can't accept
that. Sorry.
> It was only
> _after_ Paul found out what Kirpal was telling his followers, that Paul
> stopped writing to him and speaking/writing about him.
MM:
IMO, he should have maintained his faith in his Master. Pure and
simple.
> >> Consider finding out the facts linked above Michael, instead of basing
> >> your
> >> judgment on information that is 30 years old, and worse, not accurate.
>
> > MM:
> > Your information doesn't change my mind.
>
> I haven't given you any information except a tid bit above.
MM:
The facts are well-known. What Mr. Twitchell did is well-known.
> > It's just an extension of what Mr. Twitchell already did.
>
> Huh? You are a poor mind reader. And, you have faulty info on what Paul did.
MM:
I'm discussing facts, not reading minds. You want to send me on a
wild-goose chase. Why?
> Your mind is made up already though. Stay were you are. It's Ok with me.
> It's your path.
MM:
All right.
> > I've read some of it, but admittedly
> > not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
> > way.
>
> What way? See, I don't know what you are talking about. That's the problem.
> It seems you have an outdate, limited and somewhat false picture of the
> "way" Paul moved on.
MM:
He didn't obey his Master. Get it? Sat Guru Bhakti means to love and
obey your Master. I don't think we should cut and run, just because
we don't understand the Master, or we think he is not treating us
properly. We are supposed to submit our little egos to him,
considering him to be superior. Is that clear?
Changing MKSJ's name in the manuscript just corroborates that the
break occurred.
> > Maybe you have no problem with it?
>
> > Michael Martin
> > Western Sat Guru
>
> I don't have a problem with I know. Tell me what you were told that you
> imagine is so egregious.
MM:
It seems that you want to spin, skate, and dodge. I don't have time
to go around in circles with you. It's pretty clear what happened.
Michael Martin
> ` o
> |
> ~/|
> _/ |\
> / | \
> -/ | \
> _/____|___\_
> Rich~~~~(__________/~~~~Sailing the CyberSea~~~~~- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
lackpurity
> > MM:
> > Your information doesn't change my mind. It's just an extension of
> > what Mr. Twitchell already did. I've read some of it, but admittedly
> > not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
> > way. Maybe you have no problem with it?
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> I am not looking for an argument here at all, and would just like to support
> Rich in his general thrust of "what is it exactly that you have a problem
> with?"
MM:
It's not really a problem for me. I just have my ideas of how a good
satsangi should behave.
>
> This whole "history" issue about who said what when and to whom, and why, is
> very clouded for everyone.
MM:
Actually, it's pretty clear what happened.
> There is a lot more information available now
> about Paulji than before, including his connections with Sri Kirpal. Doesn't
> mean it's 100% perfect info but just one little piece of info can at times
> change one's whole perspective, imho. Of course, depending on what it is
> that people are concerned about, new info can make absolutely no difference
> whatsoever either.
MM:
When what was done is very clear, then it's very clear. Simple.
> So, what is *it* - exactly that you have a problem with? Like Rich, I'd be
> interested to know.
MM:
I don't have a problem. I suppose we were discussing Sat Guru Bhakti,
maybe?
> Sorry if you have already covered this elsewhere, but for some reason this
> thread has only just been copied into alt.religion.eckankar ... so I only
> have the last few posts in this thread.
>
> thanks Sean
MM:
Wernertrp started it. Thanks.
Michael Martin
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
>
> > MM:
> > For Eckists. We've been discussing the relationship between Paul
> > Twichell and Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji. Read the prologue below. It
> > constitutes the right attitude towards a Master. Now, I think even
> > most Eckists will agree that Mr. Twitchell was not in harmony with
> > Sant Kirpal.
>
> Hi Michael, I'd say that the more accurate words for this issue rather than
> harmony, would be "not in agreement" or even "not aligned". And that that
> was a two way street imho.
MM:
It's about the same. I don't agree with the two way street. That
wouldn't do MKSJ justice, IMO. In Sant Mat, we obey the Master. We
don't expect him to obey us. Maybe some Eckists believe differently?
> The way you have stated things above, ie one way of reading the semantics
> here, appears to be casting an image in the light that this was an issue
> that fell upon Paulji's shoulders alone [ was not in harmony with Sant
> Kirpal ] , as in it was only *his* responsibility regarding harmony or lack
> thereof. See what I mean?
MM:
Yes, IMO, he was the disciple and Kirpal was the Master, so I think
the onus was on Paul. Definitely. Do you think the Master should
have prostrated himself before Paul?
> If that isn't what you actually meant, then please clarify if you wish.
MM:
That's about as clear as it's going to get, I think. :-)
> > So, it is up to each individual, to decide who was right
> > or wrong on this.
>
> Well that's one way of putting it. I'd prefer to say something like "It's up
> to each individual to choose if or where they *might* stand on this issue,
> and it's definitely up to each individual to decide what is right or wrong
> for *themselves*."
>
> IOW, I don't see that there is much benefit or harmony to anyone, to set
> themselves up as judge or jury as to what was "right or wrong" for two other
> Souls. Really, I am not qualified to judge such matters, and furthermore,
> there's always much more to a spiritual path than black or white judgements
> about anything, let alone other people's choices.
>
> From what I have heard, read, and feel about this whole Sant Mat, Sri Kirpal
> Singh and Eckankar history/issue, I believe that Paulji did the best he
> could to maintain harmony with Kirpal at all times.
MM:
Okay, that's your prerogative. I think he could have done better.
> That others may not see this pov, that's fine, but really, imho it doesn't
> matter much at all to either Path.
MM:
It depends on how others take it.
> Everything is at it should be, there will
> always be people who see things differently. And it's not always clear to
> ascertain what a Master's motivation may have been 40 years ago, 400 years
> ago, or even 40 minutes ago.
>
> thanks sean :-)
MM:
Masters want to take us to Sach Khand, the True Home. Paul Twitchell
knew that. That goal doesn't change.
Michael Martin
Sean
Werner is like that! Explains everything. :-)
Thanks ...
>
Sean
> On Sep 21, 9:35?pm, "Sean" <Hu_ca...@blah.com.au> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1190407503.9...@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > MM:
>> > For Eckists. We've been discussing the relationship between Paul
>> > Twichell and Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji. Read the prologue below. It
>> > constitutes the right attitude towards a Master. Now, I think even
>> > most Eckists will agree that Mr. Twitchell was not in harmony with
>> > Sant Kirpal.
>>
>> Hi Michael, I'd say that the more accurate words for this issue rather
>> than
>> harmony, would be "not in agreement" or even "not aligned". And that that
>> was a two way street imho.
>
> MM:
> It's about the same. I don't agree with the two way street. That
> wouldn't do MKSJ justice, IMO. In Sant Mat, we obey the Master. We
> don't expect him to obey us. Maybe some Eckists believe differently?
>
Hi Michael,
I don't see how Eckist's beliefs would be relevant to what is accepted in
Sant Mat, as valid as the path is. If you look at Paul as a Sant Mat
initiate of Kirpal's then it's understandable that you would see things the
way you do, and maybe judge Paul as not obeying the Master or being in
harmony with him.
>> The way you have stated things above, ie one way of reading the semantics
>> here, appears to be casting an image in the light that this was an issue
>> that fell upon Paulji's shoulders alone [ was not in harmony with Sant
>> Kirpal ] , as in it was only *his* responsibility regarding harmony or
>> lack
>> thereof. See what I mean?
>
> MM:
> Yes, IMO, he was the disciple and Kirpal was the Master, so I think
> the onus was on Paul. Definitely. Do you think the Master should
> have prostrated himself before Paul?
>
No, not at all. I wouldn't think Paul expected him to either.
Well, we could all do better I believe. Hindsight, distance, and other
perspectives not considered before tends to accentuate our shortcomings in
past moments.
>> That others may not see this pov, that's fine, but really, imho it
>> doesn't
>> matter much at all to either Path.
>
> MM:
> It depends on how others take it.
>
That's always The Way ... is it not? ;-)
>> Everything is at it should be, there will
>> always be people who see things differently. And it's not always clear to
>> ascertain what a Master's motivation may have been 40 years ago, 400
>> years
>> ago, or even 40 minutes ago.
>>
>> thanks sean :-)
>
> MM:
> Masters want to take us to Sach Khand, the True Home. Paul Twitchell
> knew that. That goal doesn't change.
>
> Michael Martin
Thanks for the comments Michael. Cheers
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
>> > "Rich" <deadm...@inorbit.com> wrote:
>> >> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
<snip>
>> >> > Paul Twitchell was a disciple of Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji, I believe,
>> >> > although he (Paul) later apparently denied it. I don't see any
>> >> > excuse
>> >> > for his break with his Master.
>>
>> >> You don't see because you haven't been looking.
>>
>> > MM:
>> > Why look?
>>
>> He didn't deny it. If you had looked, you'd have known that.
>
> MM:
> Did he threaten to sue Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji?
Why ignore my statement? He didn't deny it. In other words your "no excuse
for this" and other behaviors are based on a false premise, incorrect
information, or just opinions of others. In effect these are non-issues. As
a Guru I would hope that you would be concerned about spreading false
gossip.
But to answer your sidebar. Yes, but you don't know why.
> Did he replace MKSJ's
> name in the manuscripts with another name?
Yes. But do you know the real reason, not David Lane's opinion?
> Why keep looking, when it
> is very clear what Paul Twitchell did?
What he did and how I was lead for years into a false conclusion of his
intent in those actions was important for me. What I thought at one time
was clear, turned out to be mud. I would think that you would be concerned
about passing on opinions that the facts debunk?
>
>> > A break with a Master is just that.
>>
>> Just what?
>
> MM:
> A break. A denial, if you like.
I agree, but again there was no "denial". If you have different facts or
documentation to support that I'd like to see it.
> There is no need to keep looking,
> when the evidence is very clear, what happened.
>
>> Do you think that there is no spiritual unfoldment without being tied to
>> a
>> master?
>
> MM:
> Lower unfoldment might be a limited possibility. Going beyond mind,
> beyond Satan would require being tied to a Sant Sat Guru.
OK. You say there is only one way.
>> Was Kirpal your first and only master?
>
> MM:
> I consider him a Master. I never saw him. Actually, I was initiated
> by Maharaj Charan Singh Ji, in 1964. He was my first and only. I
> consider his successor, Maharaj Gurinder Singh Ji, to be equal to him
> in spirituality, however. He is the current Master at Radha Soami
> Satsang Beas. MGSJ has initiated many lakhs of souls, I'm sure, since
> 1990.
>
>> As I understand it, it was Kirpal who broke with Paul at a time when Paul
>> still considered himself to be on friendly terms with Kirpal. If you
>> _look_
>> you can find the documentation.
>
> MM:
> MKSJ would not have broken with his disciples, unless the behavior was
> just unacceptable, IMO. If Mr. Twitchell threatened to sue him, then
> that would qualify as unacceptable, IMO.
Why did he threaten to sue him? Because he refused to return Paul's
original manuscript. It was Paul's not Kirpal's. Is it acceptable to keep
other's property, to not return it when asked?
>> > I'm a firm believer in
>> > Sat Guru Bhakti. I practiced it myself, since 1964. I don't consider
>> > his break with MKSJ to be Sat Guru Bhakti. Pure and simple.
>>
>> As I said, your considerations about a so called "break" are based on not
>> having all the information and facts.
>
> MM:
> We've already discussed it.
Yes, I get it. You are not interested in looking at facts which debunk that
opinion.
>> >> All the facts about this and
>> >> much more can be found in the new book available
>> >> here:http://heh.pl/&3d9
>> >> It's been discussed thoroughly hundreds of times on A.R.E. and has
>> >> been
>> >> online for many years here:http://heh.pl/&3da
>>
>> > MM:
>> > I know it's been discussed.
>>
>> Consider finding out more if you want to discuss it from a more informed
>> perspective.
>
> MM:
> I have more than enough facts, thank you.
OK. I thought you might want to know what research into these old
allegations has revealed.
> I don't need to go off on a
> wild goose chase.
Nobody does. Most don't want to spread false rumors either.
>> >> > I believe that MKSJ was a True Master,
>> >> > and he was carrying out God's orders. Eckists have no problem with
>> >> > this, but for me it is a BIG issue.
>>
>> >> I agree that Eckists have no problem with Kirpal. I saw him in Chicago
>> >> and
>> >> looking in his eyes confirmed his mastership to me. Were we apparently
>> >> differ is that IME there are many 'true' masters.
>>
>> > MM:
>> > Another difference might be that you have no problem with the way in
>> > which Twitchell treated Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji?
>>
>> See above. But no I don't. Based on how Kirpal treated Paul.
>
> MM:
> Then you're going to justify it, by blaming MKSJ?
No blame. Just the facts I draw my conclusions for. You don't have those
facts and you don't want to hear them, fine with me.
> I can't accept
> that. Sorry.
You can't accept your own conclusion. Accept that I wasn't blaming him.
>> It was only
>> _after_ Paul found out what Kirpal was telling his followers, that Paul
>> stopped writing to him and speaking/writing about him.
>
> MM:
> IMO, he should have maintained his faith in his Master. Pure and
> simple.
Why do you assume that Paul held your version of "faith" with Kirpal in the
first place? What facts do you base that on? See, problems like this are
often based on assumed intent. But that is a very nebulous way to judge
because it is more subject to one's own bias. Unless there are explanations
from the person themselves we are only guessing about their intent.
I've been learning to give a lot more latitude to a spectrum of
possibilities. However, if facts are found that show some of the
possibilities are not correct, they can be eliminated. If facts can be
presented that support some possibility, then that one, in my mind, would
take precedent over one which had no facts to support it. This kind of
sorting out has taken place in A.R.E. Some of the results came out in the
booked I linked for you.
Now it's fine with be if you hold on to your opinions and positions about
Paul Twitchell's intent. All I'm saying is that as a Guru, you might want to
consider keeping those personal rather than spreading them on the internet
when they have been soundly debunked with info you don't want to bother to
see. Falsely besmirching someone's character seems un-Guru like to me.
>> >> Consider finding out the facts linked above Michael, instead of basing
>> >> your
>> >> judgment on information that is 30 years old, and worse, not accurate.
>>
>> > MM:
>> > Your information doesn't change my mind.
>>
>> I haven't given you any information except a tid bit above.
>
> MM:
> The facts are well-known.
So are some of the opinions of those fact which have been documented to be
at the best inaccurate.
> What Mr. Twitchell did is well-known.
There are versions that are well know. Now there is the new book I linked
that shows a more realistic version base not just on opinions, but more on
the actual facts that have been reveled by the most current research.
>> > It's just an extension of what Mr. Twitchell already did.
>>
>> Huh? You are a poor mind reader. And, you have faulty info on what Paul
>> did.
>
> MM:
> I'm discussing facts, not reading minds.
My point was that you assumed(poor mind reader comment) and then dismissed
what information I was talking about, when I hadn't given you any to
dismiss.
> You want to send me on a
> wild-goose chase. Why?
>
>> Your mind is made up already though. Stay were you are. It's Ok with
>> me.
>> It's your path.
>
> MM:
> All right.
>
>> > I've read some of it, but admittedly
>> > not all. I just don't believe that we should treat Sat Gurus that
>> > way.
>>
>> What way? See, I don't know what you are talking about. That's the
>> problem.
>> It seems you have an outdate, limited and somewhat false picture of the
>> "way" Paul moved on.
>
> MM:
> He didn't obey his Master. Get it?
No. Specifically, what did Kirpal order him to do that Paul disobeyed? You
don't have a supportable answer. Get it?
> Sat Guru Bhakti means to love and
> obey your Master. I don't think we should cut and run, just because
> we don't understand the Master, or we think he is not treating us
> properly. We are supposed to submit our little egos to him,
> considering him to be superior. Is that clear?
Very clear, although again you are assuming "cut and run" and Paul didn't
understand Kirpal. How could you know that Paul didn't understand him?
Given what I know of Paul, my take would be that Paul's background as a
spiritual seeker having studied many before Kirpal, understood him and found
Kirpal's path was not one that he chose to have "faith" in.
> Changing MKSJ's name in the manuscript just corroborates that the
> break occurred.
>
>> > Maybe you have no problem with it?
>>
>> > Michael Martin
>> > Western Sat Guru
>>
>> I don't have a problem with I know. Tell me what you were told that you
>> imagine is so egregious.
>
> MM:
> It seems that you want to spin, skate, and dodge.
No, I asked a simple question. I wanted to know specifics of what has lead
you to your conclusions. Instead of an honest answer, you spinned and skated
away with this ad hominem dodge.
> I don't have time
> to go around in circles with you. It's pretty clear what happened.
I was trying to get a straight line from you. All I got was that you are
content with negative myth about Paul. Since you are closed to trying to be
objective, I don't really care to spend more time on this either.
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> MM:
> I don't know if you misunderstood me? Your sweeping statement,, that
> thousands of Eckists had proof, etc., seemed to be an allegation. I,
> myself, have read many accounts, which differ from what you wrote
> about Eckankar, but it's not for me to discuss really. I'm not an
> Eckist, but I was just commenting on your allegation. I've been
> seeing two sides to that story, not just your side, over the years.
Again, that was my personal experience with Eckists over decades. I don't
think they all were lying. What personal experience besides stories of
others have you had that proved to you that thousands of Eckists have not
had inner experience with the Light and Sound, inner Masters?
As a guru are you able to decern inner experiences of a group of people you
haven't met and thus allude to them being "Gullible people", "just an
allegation", "following false Masters", "lower experiences of light and
sound, but not meaningful ones, not the ones which can take us beyond mind
and maya."
"We need some evidence of your qualification to do that."
Rich
"lackpurity" <lackp...@yahoo.com> wrote
> MM:
> For Eckists. We've been discussing the relationship between Paul
> Twichell and Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji. Read the prologue below.
Rather than Shakespear, here's the latest example of how the guy who wrote
the book I linked for you researches claims about Paul Twitchell:
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Roy claimed that when he met Paul he was living in
an apartment owned by, and on the grounds of the Self-Revelation
Church of Absolute Monism, which was founded by Swami Premananda.
"What I found was that Paul lived on Self-Revelation Church grounds
from 1950 to 1955," I said to Roy. "Both David Lane and I have found
facts to verify this. He was living there with his wife at the time,
but he was kicked out in 1955 after he got into a fight with another
disciple of Premananda's. I describe this in my book. Paul claimed
that the other fellow started it, but he punched Paul through a screen
door and damaged Paul's eye. Paul was kicked out at the time, but his
wife stayed behind. This was when Paul and his first wife separated.
"So, this agrees with your statement that Paul was living alone in the
late 1950's, but doesn't it seem strange that he would get kicked out
of the ashram at the time, yet he would come back to live there a few
years later?"
"He was living in an apartment on the property at the time," said Roy.
"I remember where we met. I even remember the cross roads where he
lived. But this wasn't an ashram. These were just apartments that
belonged to the Church that they often rented out to like-minded
people. You didn't have to be a member of the group to rent the
apartment. However, I do remember visiting him there, and he wasn't
married at the time."
That seemed to clear up the confusion. This wasn't Premananda's
ashram, but some apartments that they rented out. This suggests that
Paul remained on friendly terms with the Church, even though he was no
longer studying with them. It also seems that these years when Paul
studied with Kirpal Singh and wrote for Ron Hubbard, he was still
living on the grounds of the Self-Revelation Church. This paints an
interesting picture of Paul's independence from all of these groups,
along with his willingness to work with all of them.
Sean
> MM:
> It seems that you want to spin, skate, and dodge. I don't have time
> to go around in circles with you. It's pretty clear what happened.
>
> Michael Martin
>
[recent post to a.r.e. newsgroup]
Conversation with Roy Eugene Davis, September 14, 2007.
I had a chance to speak with Roy Eugene Davis today. Roy is spiritual
director of the Center for Spiritual Awareness, and a disciple of
Paramahansa Yogananda. I wanted to talk with him concerning his quote
about Paul Twitchell that was included in Ford Johnson's book,
Confessions of a God Seeker.
I told Roy that I had recently published a new book about Paul, and in
the process I found a number of things that were at odds with what he
had recounted. I wanted to talk with him about the discrepancies.
First, I asked Roy when he met Paul Twitchell.
Roy said, "Paul came to one of my lectures. I was living in DC in the
early 1960's. He hadn't started Eckankar yet. He had studied with
Kirpal Singh. He did some publicity work for Scientology. He wasn't a
Scientology member, he just did some work for them. I think he helped
some followers of Meher Baba publish a book at the time. He seemed to
be doing work for a number of groups."
"How many times did you meet?" I asked.
"We may have met a half dozen times," said Roy. "We just talked
causally. I was a minister of Self-Realization Fellowship for two
years, and Paul had studied with Swami Premananda, which was the same
line of meditation."
I said to Roy that this raised an issue. In his quote from Ford's
book, Roy said: "I met Paul Twitchell during the early 1960's in
Washington, D.C. At that time Paul lived in an apartment owned by, and
on the grounds of the Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism"
"Yes," that's true, Roy said.
"Roy, what I found from my research, is that Paul never lived in DC
during the early 1960's," I said.
"Yes he did," Roy said. "I met him there and remember it clearly."
"Well, here is what I found: I have seen a number of letters that show
he moved out from DC in early 1959. By early 1959 he was living in
Europe. He came back to the states when his sister was on her deathbed
in late 1959. From there he went to Davenport, Iowa, and then on to
Seattle. He was living in Seattle by 1961."
"Let's see," Roy said. "I moved to DC in 1958. So, Paul might have
left DC before 1960. That's possible. I might have met him before he
left in 1959. It would have been around that time, 1958 or 1959."
That would fit with the facts I had uncovered. It is easy enough for
anyone to be off by a few years, and since Roy moved to DC in 1958, it
sounds as if he must have met Paul in 1958 or early 1959.
One of the interesting things about this is what Roy said next in his
quote: "Unmarried at that time, Paul lived alone. . . . He told me
that he had been initiated by Kirpal Singh but was no longer
affiliated with him."
This is at odds with David Lane's claims that Paul studied under
Kirpal Singh for eight years (from 1955 to 1963). If Roy's memory is
correct, then Paul had already ended his study with Kirpal in 1958 or
early 1959. This agrees with what I've seen in my research. Paul
referred to his time studying with Kirpal as a one to two year period.
Also, by 1959 Paul had written in his book, The Flute of God, that he
had parted ways with Kirpal Singh. Roy's memory, therefore, seems to
further verify that Paul's studies with Kirpal lasted two to three
years at most.
lackpurity
> "lackpurity" <lackpur...@yahoo.com> wrote
MM:
There was a schism between Mr. Twitchell and Sant Kirpal. That seems
to contradict what you wrote. If he (PT) was to be independent, then
why his relationship with Kirpal? You can't have it both ways. This
isn't politics. LOL
Michael Martin
Michael Martin
Michael Turner
alt.meditation.shabda
(Originally published in the September 1996 issue of The Sonic
Spectrum. All rights reserved.)
Dark Star:
A Look at Sri Paul Twitchell
by Michael Turner
© 1996, 2007
Shall we go?
You and I, while we can
Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds?
- Robert Hunter
"How does one die daily and yet live?" This is the seventh
spiritual
question which one must confront once he steps out on the pathway to
the Absolute. The answer is simple if you know Shabda Yoga - that
is,
you must learn to leave the body at will and dwell on the other
planes, and return to the body when possible, and at your own
command.
- Sri Paul Twitchell
Paul Twitchell is an enigma.
- Brad Steiger
This month we will take a look at one of Sant Mat's most
provocative
figures: Sri Paul Twitchell. As someone once noted (I believe it was
Sri Harold Klemp), a whirlwind of controversy has surrounded Paul for
a long time. Since at least the late 1970's, when the first serious
accusations about Paul's character came to light, people who are
aware
of Paul's life and works have pretty much been divided into two
camps;
those who consider Paul to have been a Living Master of the highest
order and soul traveler par excellence; and those who think of him as
a "notorious" plagiarist and unmitigated fraud.
One thing I have noticed in my short life is that people
rarely fit
neatly into the pigeonholes by which we try to define them. There
are
elements of light and darkness present in all of us, regardless of
our
station in life and spiritual attainment (or lack thereof), just like
the symbol of yin and yang. So long as we inhabit mental, emotional
and physical bodies, we are fallible. We can soar to spiritual
heights one moment, and plummet back to earth the next - only to
stand
up, dust ourselves off, and leap for the stars once again. As Sant
Kirpal Singh so often said, every Saint has His past, and every
sinner
his future.
Let's see with our hearts
These things our eyes have seen
And know the truth must
Still lie somewhere in between.
- Blues for Allah: Robert Hunter
Was Paul Twitchell Living Truth, or rank deceiver? Was he a
combination of both, or more than all of the above? As I have
mentioned on occasion, Paulji has long struck me as a cross between
P.T. Barnum, Huck Finn and Kirpal Singh. Even His staunchest critics
will admit that Paul had a genuine interest in occult and spiritual
matters, particularly those which pertained to conscious, intentional
out-of-body exploration. This subject seems to have captured His
imagination early on, and drove him to study every philosophy,
occult,
metaphysical and spiritual disciplines which even vaguely pertained
to
it. Paul was a restless soul, always moving and growing, learning
and
mutating. He was an iconoclast, a true mystic, a cliff hanger, a
"one
man cult," an enigma. More than anything else, Sri Paul Twitchell
was
an American original.
I suppose the best way to study Paulji is to start with the
facts,
the things we can be sure of about His life. To the casual observer,
this might seem self-evident. However, given the fact that there is
very little which is objectively known about Paul Twitchell before he
became a public figure as the "Living Eck Master," I believe it is
important to have at least a skeletal human framework from which to
proceed. Most of the historical data following is derived from
Professor David C. Lane's renowned critique of Paul Twitchell and
Eckankar, The Making of a Spiritual Movement.
John Paul Twitchell was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on October
22,
1908-11 (the year is still uncertain). His parents were Jacob and
Effie Twitchell, and He had three siblings, Howard Clyde, Rupert and
Katherine (Katie).
According to Paul, his father was a student of the Indian
"Eck"
Master, Sudar Singh, Who taught Jacob the art of utilizing the Sound
Current to facilitate above-body consciousness. Jacob in turn taught
Paul and His sister, Katie, this process as well. In Brad Steiger's
hitherto official biography of Paul Twitchell, In My Soul I Am Free
(which now appears to be out of print), Paul stated that He and Katie
used to pop spontaneously out of their bodies for fun and frolic, a
practice their fundamentalist mother greatly disapproved of.
According to this account, Paul's knowledge of out-of-body
exploration grew throughout His youth, hitting an initial peak in His
mid-teens (which would correlate to the mid-1920's), when He and
Katie
went to Allahabad, India to study with Sudar Singh.
At this point it is time to pause for a realty check. For it
is in
these initial stages of Paul's authorized biography that critics
begin
to take issue. According to other members of Paul's family (notably
Katie's husband, Paul Iverlet), Katie never set foot out of the
United
States. In addition, according to all reputable Sant Mat scholars,
there is absolutely no record whatsoever of a Shabda Master named
Sudar Singh.
From here on, critics say Paul Twitchell fabricated his whole
life
story to make Himself a modern day Shabda superman. However, to be
fair, it must be pointed out that Katie and Jacob were dead for
several years before Paul began His public Mastership, so all
negative
accounts are based on here say from members of His extended family
who
may (or may not) have had an ax to grind.
In addition, while there is no account of a "Sudar" Singh in
Sant
Mat, there was a Master named "Sudarshan" Singh, Who was the nephew
of
Soamiji Dayal, and who resided at the Radhasoami ashram in Allahabad
for several years (during the 1920's, I believe). So it is
conceivable that Paul went to India and stayed at this ashram. The
best way to resolve this question would be to thoroughly scan travel
records for this time period and see if John Paul Twitchell went to
India, as well as contact the Radhasoami Satsang at Soamibagh, and
see
if they have records of American visitors to Allahabad. There
couldn't have been that many.
In addition, there is a decent chance that Paul's father, if
he was
interested in eastern mysticism, came into contact with the Sant Mat
Teachings in the early 20th Century. While there wasn't a whole lot
of information available in the United States at the time, Phelps
Notes (written by an American Satsangi of Brahm Shankar Mishra, Rai
Saligram's successor) had been published in 1911, and a small
selection of Rai Saligram's discourses had been published as well.
Before we get too far afield, let's refocus on Paul's actual
life.
He apparently graduated from high school sometime in the late 1920's,
and then attended some sort of junior college for a time thereafter.
He also began to ply His talents as a writer, publishing a variety of
articles in local newspapers and at least two books of mystical
poetry, one of which was Coins of Gold, later published by Eckankar
under the aegis of Illuminated Way Press. He also managed to get
himself listed in the local Who's Who.
While few details about Paulji's life during this period (and,
in
fact, on up through World War II) are recorded, a reading of Coins of
Gold (first published in 1939) clearly indicates that spirituality
was
very much on His mind at an early point in His life. It conveys the
sweet agony of separation, of the reed flute from its stock, of the
drop of water for the ocean, of Soul for God. For example:
I wait and in the reflection of the stars
I cup my hands to hold the tranquil night
The soft touch of the silence heals the impatience
That awaits your coming and the moonlight
In the heart I find you dwelling there . . .
As clear as the flow of an endless song
And in the eternity of a moment of God's kindness
I find the beauty for which I long
Then softly a step tinkles in the silence
And there is an interlude in the velvet still
A rainbow of echoes answers the challenge . . .
And at your coming they retire to the hill.
- Waiting
Judging from Paul's writing style, and the suggested reading
list He
put in the last chapter of Letters to Gail: I, we can get an idea of
some of His formative spiritual and literary influences. In looking
at Paul's early years, it is important to understand that metaphysics
in general, and eastern religion in particular, were not in vogue as
they have been in the past 30 years. There was only a handful of
books, and even fewer authors, who made a dent in the western
consciousness. From India there was Swami Vivekananda (chief
disciple
of Ramakrishna), Meher Baba and, most notably over the long run,
Paramahansa Yogananda. From Russia, there were Madame Blavatsky and
G.I. Gurdjieff. From England there was Christopher Isherwood (the
main western disciple of Vivekananda) and Paul Brunton (who helped
introduce Ramana Maharshi to the west).
Based upon my reading thus far, Paul Brunton appears to have
had
greater impact than most upon Paul Twitchell's writing style. Both
share a sense of inquiry of, and a zest for, exploring the esoteric
and arcane knowledge of the east. And Paul Brunton had a delightful,
droll, poetic - very British - way of expressing himself. His
accounts of exploring Egypt and India (A Search in Ancient Egypt and
A
Search in Secret India, respectfully) convey the feel of strolling
through these ancient cultures at an easy pace, taking in the sights
and sounds along the way. A Search in Secret India is especially
noteworthy for its accounts of Brunton's encounters with Meher Baba
(unimpressed), Ramana Maharshi (very impressed, to the point of
seeking initiation), and the Radhasoami colony at Dayalbagh
(borderline bewilderment about a "secret fraternity" which listened
to
the sounds inside their heads). The latter are especially
significant
in that it is most likely the first exposure most westerners had with
the Radhasoami teachings. Brunton's short book, A Hermit in the
Himalayas, is a wonderful account of a summer he spent living alone
in
a Himalayan hut, visited only occasionally by a wandering sadhu or
forest critter. The style and tone of this book are quite
reminiscent
of Paul Twitchell's narrative style, particularly in such works as
Stranger by the River and The Tiger's Fang.
The first substantial information we really have about Paulji
arises
in 1942. At this time He married his childhood sweetheart, Camille
Ballowe (August 12, 1942, in Providence, Rhode Island), and enlisted
in the Navy as a "Chief Specialist" (later promoted to ensign and,
finally, lieutenant). Paul retired from the navy shortly after VJ
Day
and moved with Camille first to New York and then Washington, D.C.,
where he served as a staff writer for Our Navy magazine. Over the
next five years, Paul worked a variety of jobs and, with Camille
attended a wide variety of churches, metaphysical and spiritual
gatherings. As Camille noted in an October 30, 1977, letter to
Professor Lane:
He was always interested in spiritual matters. Spent much of
the
time in meditation, read everything he could find on spiritual
subjects. In New York we attended many churches and religious
services. Only as visitors...I have always thought of Paul as a
seeker of religion.
Sometime in 1950, Paul and Camille Twitchell joined Swami
Premananda's Self Revelation Church of Absolute Monism and soon
thereafter moved into the Washington, D.C. ashram. Swami Premananda
was at one time a student of Paramahansa Yogananda, and taught a form
of Kriya Yoga at his church. Kriya Yoga, as you may recall, utilizes
a combination of mantra, a frequency of the Sound Current and
pranayama (breath control) to facilitate spiritual upliftment, and
was
born in late 1861, a few months after Shiv Dayal Singh brought Surat
Shabd Yoga into public consciousness.
For the next five years, Paul and Camille lived at the ashram,
during
which time Paul edited its publication, The Mystic Cross. Paul
mentions his life at the ashram in The Flute of GOD (original
edition):
I remember very well when Swami Premananda of India, who has a
Yoga
Church in Washington, D.C., said, "When someone asked Bertrand
Russell
what his philosophy of life was, he wrote several volumes of books on
the subject."
Paul goes on to write in the same book,
One of my experiences while serving under the Yoga Satsang
line of
masters was that I found one of the masters in the guise of a beggar.
I had been in difficulty for sometime, and very unhappy over the fact
that nothing could be found to solve my problem...
The night after my problem dissolved the Indian Master
Yukteswar, of
Yoga Satsang, appeared to me in a dream. He said, "You are under my
protection. I come to you to give you help. Whenever anything
happens that you are discouraged and beaten by the world, I will come
to you, in many guises, to help. Never worry again about life's
problems on earth."
I'd like to pause here to mention that the above comments are
found
in the serialized edition of The Flute of GOD, which was first
published in Orion magazine (excerpts of which are featured in The
Making of a Spiritual Movement), and are different than those in the
officially published Eckankar edition of this work. In the Eckankar
version, Swami Premananda's name is changed to "Sudar Singh," the
"Yoga Satsang line of masters" becomes "Rebazar Tarzs" and "the
Indian
Master Yukteswar" becomes "the ECK adept." Some may allege that
Professor Lane monkeyed with the verbiage in an effort to discredit
Paulji. However, I can attest that I have seen photocopies of the
original Orion editions and they read exactly as Professor Lane has
indicated.
A few years back I came across a book by Swami Premananda
called One
Hundred And One Noble Qualities. It was first published in 1956,
shortly after Paul left the ashram, and offers some clues as to Sri
Premananda's impact on Paulji's spiritual development and later
trajectory toward the Light & Sound Teachings:
Our True Nature as Soul
Man is the soul, he is spirit. In truth and reality, through
all his
efforts and achievements, man is incessantly endeavoring to fulfill
the hopes and aspirations of his spiritual self. Man is not a
corporeal being, he is a spiritual individual. Spirituality is our
fundamental nature; therefore our spiritual ideal is the impelling
force of our life.
Self-Introspection
The guiding of consciousness subjectively in order to gain the
vision
of one's own spiritual self is introspection. Introspection is the
inner searchlight which reveals our innate virtues and righteousness.
Introspection must be continued until our divine nature and qualities
are revealed within our consciousness.
Forgiveness
That divine attribute wherein one's whole consciousness is
lifted up
into the sublime state of self-perfection is forgiveness. The
inspiration of forgiveness springs forth from the realization of
soul's oneness with God and with all other souls. Forgiveness is the
conclusive evidence of inner purity. A heart that is totally free
from all self-limiting qualities can offer forgiveness out of the
depth of its innate godliness.
Knowledge of God
We are impelled by our spiritual nature to attain the
knowledge of
God and our true self. Our whole being demands it. We are from
Spirit therefore we reach out for the perfection of God. We
intuitively know our ultimate spiritual destiny.
Soul, God and the Inner Regions
Man is transcendental soul. We are transcendental spirit.
Nothing
of this sensory world can confine our soul. Birth and death,
pleasure
and pain, and all other conditions of this plane of evanescent
existence are merely the passing shadows of the divine reality of our
soul. There are other planes of existence and different worlds of
manifestation in God's cosmic creation. Our soul journeys through
them all, but none of these can hold our soul within its limitations.
God has made our soul of the substance of His transcendent divinity
that we may dwell in our spiritual glory forever.
After five years at Swami Premananda's ashram, Paul left in
1955
under somewhat cloudy circumstances (including separating from his
wife, Camille). After a respite in Florida, He returned to the D.C.
area where, in September of that year, He attended a series of
satsangs held by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj. This was to serve as
perhaps the key pivotal point in His life for, at the end of the
Satsangs, He received initiation into Surat Shabd Yoga. Paul pays
homage to Kirpal Singh early in The Flute of GOD:
I have studied under many teachers, and may yet have to study
under
more. Like Meher Baba, the Indian Saint, who was said to have had
nineteen teachers to help him gain his place in the universe, I have
so far had seven, some outstanding ones, including, Sri Kirpal Singh,
of Delhi, India. Each has had their place in my growth toward the
spiritual goal; each are equally great in their respective work for
mankind. However, I have felt a closer kinship and friendliness to
Kirpal Singh, who has shown me a lot of the other work during my
first
year or so under him...
For the next few years, Paul remained in Washington and
attended
satsangs and group study at the home of Kirpal's primary U.S.
representative, T.S. Khanna. Apparently, Paul had a strong resonance
with the Shabda teachings and Sant Kirpal Ji as Master. He saw His
Satguru's radiant form almost immediately and had profound meditation
and dream experiences on a regular basis. His experiences with the
Inner Master were vivid to the point of Kirpal tangibly appearing to
Paul in His apartment and giving discourse to Him. These encounters
formed the basis for a pair of books which became Eckankar classics:
Dialogues With the Master (now discontinued) and The Tiger's Fang.
Notes Paul,
I have talked with and taken down the words of Kirpal Singh
who
appeared in my apartment in Nauri-raup (sic), in his light body,
although his physical body was six-thousand miles away in India.
and
Master Kirpal Singh spoke briefly of these masters when he
took me
through the several invisible worlds in 1957. The story of this trip
has been recorded in "The Tiger's Fang."
In Heart to Heart Talks, Kirpal Singh himself noted,
Paul Twitchell used to write to me every week, "Master came
and sat
down on the chair and dictated his teachings to me." He published
them in the Tiger's Fang.
The Tiger's Fang is a milestone in western mystical writing.
In this
twelve-chapter book, Paul Twitchell describes a journey through the
inner regions escorted by Kirpal Singh. In each of the first eight
chapters he begins with a short narrative about that particular plane
and then continues with a discourse given by the region's ruling
deity. Starting with the Astral Plane, He continues through the
Causal, Supra Causal (or Mental), Etheric and Soul Planes and beyond,
culminating with a God-realization experience in Anami Lok. The
final
four chapters contain discourses by such spiritual luminaries as
Jelaluddin Rumi, Shams I Tabriz and Shiv Dayal Singh (under the name
of "Fubbi Quantz").
This book was one of the first ones I read as a young Eckist
and,
I've got to tell you, it completely blew my mind. The concept of
someone being able to consciously traverse the inner regions, on up
to
the pinnacle of God-realization, and come back and record the
experience was all too much. It reinforced the theorem that the
Light
and Sound teachings began where all other philosophies and
metaphysical systems left off, and makes an excellent companion
volume
to other similar accounts such as Kabir's Anaurag Sagar, Shiv Dayal
Singh's Sar Bachan: Poetry, Sawan Singh's Discourses on Sant Mat and
Rai Saligram's Prem Bani Radhasoami.
Paul sent a manuscript of The Tiger's Fang to Kirpal Singh as
a sort
of expanded initiate's report in hopes that His Master would publish
it under the auspices of Ruhani Satsang. To Paul's dismay, Kirpal
declined to do so due to certain "inaccuracies," among them being
Paul
confusing aspects of the Causal (Brahmanda) and Supra Causal (Daswan
Dwar or Par Brahm) Planes and ascribing the Omkar Power to the latter
region (which has carried over to the current Eckankar God Worlds
chart). From what I can tell, Kirpal ascribed this and other errors
to Paul use of the "dream technique" as a primary means of out-of-
body
exploration. To whit, Paul would go to bed, fall asleep and awake in
a lucid dream state, which was followed by an inner journey.
Such a methodology was largely antithetical to one of the
cornerstones of Shabda meditation, in which the inner work is done
while we are upright and fully conscious. Sant Mat literature is
very
clear about doing our meditation, including a proper balancing of
Simran, Dhyan and Bhajan, while we are awake and alert. Both Sawan
and Kirpal commented repeatedly about how our consciousness generally
descends from the eye center when we sleep and rises to it and beyond
when we are awake, and have pointedly noted the semantic differences
between "falling" asleep and waking "up."
Given the popularity of dream interpretation and exploration
these
days (including some western Light and Sound groups), it might be
tempting to think that Kirpal's objections to the veracity of Paul's
nocturnal travels were excessively harsh. I know I did, at first.
But as I shifted my focus from my Eckankar upbringing to its Sant Mat
roots, the essence of the Sant Mat perspective became increasingly
clear.
The main thing to understand is that dreams are highly
interpretive,
and constitute a mishmash of the day's events (and meals), coupled
with our memories, hopes, fantasies and apprehensions. Furthermore,
and more important, they tend to be ego-enhancing - we become the
super hero of our dream world, which often serves as a welcome
respite
from the drudgery of life.
This is not to say that we can't learn about ourselves, and
God, from
our dreams. If we choose to pay attention and keep a dream journal,
we can learn to notice recurrent images and metaphors and, through
our
waking meditation come to understand the meaning of the symbolism.
Even Kirpal said He had profound spiritual experiences while
dreaming. However, He stressed, as do I, that such exploration
should
always be supplemental to our daily spiritual exercises. Regarding
inner experiences, particularly vis a vis Dialogues With the Master
and The Tiger's Fang, Kirpal had this to say:
In the beginning you'll feel as if somebody is hovering around
you,
with you. You'll feel His presence like that. Then that will
manifest - that Form can materialize like the physical body to guide
you. Paul Twitchell used to write to me every week, "Master came and
sat down on the chair and dictated His teachings to me." He
published
them in Tiger's Fang. You see, He comes and talks; He can dictate to
you. But when a man thinks himself self-sufficient, he's cut off.
After Paul was initiated by Kirpal Singh, His life went into
overdrive. Reeling from His separation from Camille, who appeared to
be His early source of poetic inspiration, He went through several
relationships, including one with a Roman Catholic woman who
apparently inspired Him to seek baptism in the Church (His request
was
refused on account of His by now divorce from Ms. Ballowe). He also
became acquainted with L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of
Scientology (by my estimation, one of the most advanced mental plane
disciplines currently in practice). This in itself is rather
interesting, for it indicates that, in spite of Kirpal's spiritual
majesty, Paul wasn't content being a Satsangi of Shabd Yoga alone.
Perhaps it was because, even with the constant inner contact,
Kirpal's
physical form was still thousands of miles away. In any case, by the
late 1950's Paul had become an avid Scientologist, as well as Shabd
Yogi. He is reported to have advanced to the state of "Clear" in
record time, and quickly became the Church's press officer.
Little is overtly recorded about Paul's relationship with
Hubbard.
However, there are several factors indicating that they were not only
acquainted, but close friends (even interdimensional research
partners) for a time. The first factor is the common terminology
they
both used, such as "MEST" (Matter, Energy, Space & Time) and
"exteriorization" (another term for "above-body consciousness").
Secondly, Paul's books Letters to Gail are full of Scientology
concepts, such as the "Tone Scale." Thirdly, Paul's pulp sci fi
novels are reminiscent of Hubbard's and, particularly The Three Masks
of Gaba, feature Hubbardesque characters. I realize that some may
(legitimately) say this is all conjecture. And to a certain extent,
it is. However, if one takes the time to really study Sant Mat
literature, particularly the writings and Satsangs of Kirpal Singh,
and then do even a cursory reading of Dianetics (or visit a
Scientology center), one can readily discern between pure Sant Mat,
and its diluting admixture of Scientology (quite akin to the process
of learning to discern the subtle, but profound, difference between
pure soul and it's mental covering).
By the early 1960's, for whatever reason, Paul left
Washington, D.C.
and moved to Washington State. One account has it that he followed a
female companion at the time out west and, after the relationship
didn't work out, decided to make the Seattle area his home. He got a
job writing for the Seattle Post Intelligencer, and spent a good
amount of time reading metaphysical books in the Seattle Public
Library. During this time He met, and took a shine to, a young
librarian named Gail Atkinson. Paul told the story of their meeting
to Brad Steiger, which was printed in In My Soul I Am Free:
(Gail) had a part-time job there while she attended the
University of
Washington as a full-time student. I was reading a tremendous amount
of books at the time. I would take out twenty books each evening and
I would trade them in for a fresh batch the next night.
Gail had been puzzling about this unusual fellow who left his
crazy
bookmarks in the returned books, and she had been wanting to know
more
about him. One evening she was on the checkout and return desk, and
I
approached her with an armload of books. "Oh," she said, "so you're
Mr. Twitchell."
That started the romance. Our courtship period was quite
unique,
however. I went right to work to educate her in ECK, and every day
for two years I wrote her a two-page letter on Eckankar. Not a word
of love or romance was given in these letters, but every sentence
dealt with Eckankar, from the beginning of the teachings to the
higher
level.
Now it's just a hunch on my part, but I've got a feeling that
Paul's
manic reading schedule was designed largely to impress the young coed
upon whom He had a crush. The letters He mentions, which were later
published by Eckankar as Letters to Gail: volumes 1, 2 & 3 (the
latter of which has been discontinued by Eckankar), was replete with
a
wide range of spiritual and metaphysical information, including
frequent mentions of His Master, Sant Kirpal Singh.
I suppose that if you should ask the Living Master what is
the
spiritual life, he would be greatly amazed, because he lives it so
completely, more than ordinary man, without thinking about it; such
would be his attitude: "I don't know! You must ask the Priest or
Bishop!"
This is why I propose to say that my knowledge of this is
little. I
am neither a saint nor holy man, but I can only tell you what little
I
have experienced through Kirpal Singh. To him, my personal debt is
great!
Regarding inner exploration, Paul remarked on March 31, 1963:
...Soul Travel is the most important spiritual step for the
individual. You can learn this in a close study of my book The
Tiger's Fang! This was a study of the Soul Travel effort. It was
done without any strain upon me, and was at a time when I was
extremely acceptable to the desires of Kirpal Singh. This was when
he
left me on the fifth plane and from then on I was on my own! ...one
never becomes God, but he becomes a co-worker as I keep pointing out!
Regarding the darshan of the Master, He noted:
This gaze is known to the mystics as the Twaji (the gaze of
the
master, or gaze of God). It is used by many of the Masters who wish
to heal, to draw one to themselves - it's the gaze which tears away
all the veils which have hidden your face from that of the Absolute,
and you stand forth pure Soul...
...This gaze is like a powerful beam which can cut directly
into Soul
and brush aside all which has bothered the disciple or the pupil.
All
you can see are those eyes burning with love for you, and it's like a
ray of light which drives into your heart; I know this to be true,
for
I still remember when it came to me through Kirpal Singh. No woman,
in the deepest love, could have given me a gaze more powerful than
this!
Regarding the core teachings of Light & Sound, Paul stated:
This is problem nine, "The Nature of the Spiritual Energies,"
which I
presume is one of the higher studies of the spiritual science. It is
one which I've had a lot of study from Master Kirpal Singh and has
been the basis for the Audible Life Stream. The spiritual energies
are only those energy streams which come out of each plane,
originally
form the highest source where is supposedly the Throne of the
Absolute! You have had some parts of this scattered through the
letters and in both The Tiger's Fang, and The Flute of GOD. Also, in
other writings of mine you have seen references made to the spiritual
energies.
The Audible Life Stream is that upon which all life is
dependent. It
leaves the highest heaven like a radio beam, in a wide circle, going
out in waves; but as it leaves that plane in its downward descent, it
flows into the channel which will send the energy out over that
particular plane like a radio beam. The channel is always the deity
of that particular plane, and through him flows the spiritual energy
to be distributed to that region, and it will flow likewise through
the lesser deities on the same plane in a likewise manner...
As the Audible Life Stream descends into the planes below,
each plane
has a distinctive sound...These are distinctive on each plane, and
each plane's subdivisions will likewise have a sound which one will
come to hear, when the senses become subtle enough.
Paul also refers to such classic Shabd Yoga texts such as Shiv
Dayal
Singh's Sar Bachan, both quoting it at length in His letter of March
16, 1963, and in passing on July 8, 1963:
I have a book in my collection called the Sar Bachan written
(actually, translated) by Sardar Seva Singh, which is the teachings
of
the Sound Current, and acts as practically my Bible!
On July 12, 1963, as Paul's first series of letters to his by now
fiancée, Gail, neared a close, He made the following comment about
the
Shabda:
The positive spiritual force works on the higher planes, above
the
Brahm world, and is the force which gives power to all worlds, but it
is limited to working in the upper worlds, because of the refinement
of its nature. In a way I don't know how to put it, but the positive
or Purush power, which Master Kirpal Singh always calls the Master
Power will not enter into this world below - its fineness in
character
will not allow it to operate in this universe..
The positive force can come into the lower worlds, but it must
come
through a Guru, the only way, and be distributed to his own disciples
and to those with whom he contacts. The Guru is a pole for the
power,
in the lower world, and the one whom God has chosen to act as his
intermediary hero...
The problem of receiving the positive or Purusha power from
the
higher planes remains one of these which must be solved by going into
the realms above the negative worlds. Once the Jivatma hears the
life
Sound Current, which is part of the positive current, he has had a
touch of God and he doesn't want to live the life which you can find
around you in this civilization. He only wants to get into that life
above these lower worlds and dwell in the bliss which is there. He
must go upward - he feels the urge to get into those realms where he
can have nothing but the greatness of the Absolute!
Concurrent with these letters, Sant Kirpal Singh embarked on
His
second world tour, which took Him to the Pacific Northwest that fall.
During this time, Paul brought Gail to Satsang and introduced her to
His Master for initiation, which Kirpal granted her. Judging from
Paul's second series of letters (found in Letters to Gail, part 3) to
her, it appears that Gail had a powerful resonance with the Light &
Sound initiation, for his communication to her is at once more
intense
and more intimate, as if she was finally starting to experientially
understand what He was talking about.
Shortly after this Paul and Gail were married and moved from
Seattle,
first to San Francisco and then shortly thereafter to San Diego,
where
Paul pretty much lived the rest of His life. It was during this time
(late 1963-1964) that Paul began submitting articles about out-of-
body
exploration to metaphysical journals and teaching classes on
"bilocation" at a Psychic Institute in San Diego. Interest was
sufficient to encourage Paul to teach a follow up class, and then
offering home study lessons (discourses) for those who either
couldn't
make it to class or wanted supplemental reading material to study
between sessions. By 1965, Paul was advertising these lessons a
variety of magazines, including Fate, calling them at first,
"Eckankar, the Bilocation Philosophy," and later, "Eckankar: The
Ancient Science of Soul Travel."
The path He presented was rooted primarily in the Surat Shabd
Yoga
discipline of merging the attention with the Divine Light & Sound of
God, and allowing oneself to be lifted up above physical, emotional
and mental consciousness, into the pure positive reality of Soul,
Shabda and God. But it also included elements of other philosophies
Paul had studied, including his recent encounters with Scientology
and
Kriya Yoga, as well as older interests in Sufi meditation and
initiation methods, and the belief in mystical brotherhoods of
essentially immortal masters popularized by Helen Blavatsky and the
Theosophy movement.
As Paul taught this path, he kept sculpting it, fine-tuning
its
message so as to enhance popular interest as well as more easily
facilitate the sought-after experience: i.e., above-body
consciousness. In doing so, He weeded out things He thought
detracted
from the marketability of the Sant Mat Teachings to a western
audience, and added elements to improve its appeal. Examples of the
former are his early jettisoning of the eastern paths' emphasis upon
strict vegetarianism, sobriety, celibacy, extended meditation time
(2-3 hours each day) and offering the ancient Teachings for free
(Kirpal used to say that God's love and Spiritual Current are free,
and so also should be their physical expression). Examples of the
latter include Paul's dabbling in past life readings, Atlantis and
the
wholly alien (to "traditional" Shabd Yoga Masters like Kirpal and
Charan Singh) concept of ancient Shabd Masters living in immortalized
bodies and imparting secret wisdom to the chosen few.
In Thus Saith the Master, the following exchange took place
between a
chela and Charan Singh:
Q. A lot of us have read in Theosophical writings that there is
a
world brotherhood called the White Brotherhood and a hierarchy of
adepts, or masters, that are responsible for the evolution of the
earth and the earth changes. Could you say something about that? Is
it true?
A. I don't believe in masters who are hidden somewhere in the
Himalayas or in those who are trying to control our destiny or trying
to help us from there. A Master who wants to help us must be at our
level, in the flesh. Those Masters who have become one with the
Father have become the Father Himself. They are as far away from us
as
the Father Himself. Since the Father cannot be at our level we must
have a Master who is at our level. That is why we need a living
Master, because a living Master is at our level; but at the same
time,
he is at the level of the Father. After his death, the Master
becomes
one with the Father and is as far from us as is the Father Himself...
So I don't believe in masters who are hiding somewhere in the
Himalayas, trying to control our destiny from there. In the Bible
and
in the writings of other great mystics, they are always impressing
upon us the necessity of a living Master, who is at our level.
Unless
the Master is at our level, he's of no use to us, even if he's hiding
in the Himalayas.
As He progressively dissociated from the eastern traditions
which
formed the underpinning of Surat Shabd Yoga, Paul began to form His
own. He spoke less and less of Kirpal Singh, and more and more of
Rebazar Tarzs, a 500-year-old Tibetan Shabd adept who became the
primary source of Paul's outer legitimating as a Master. By 1966,
Paul had established Eckankar as an American religious organization,
with Himself as Godman ("the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master") in
residence, and broken off all contact with His Satguru, Kirpal Singh
and, by 1971, went so far as to assert that He had never been
initiated by Kirpal or considered Him to be a real Master. In
the
late 1960's, Kirpal Singh had this to say about his former student:
I tell you, one American was initiated by me - I've got the
initiation report in his own handwriting. Then he wrote to me, "The
Master's Form appears to me inside." That Form used to speak to him,
dictate to him, inside. And all that dictation was put into a book
and the manuscript was sent to me in 1963. Then later on he started
a
new movement...
Later he sent me another letter, "Return my book, The Tiger's
Fang."
That is what suchlike people will do. They had some little thing,
and
got stuck fast there. Now he's carrying on propaganda. He says he
was never initiated by me. He was initiated in 1955. Some people
get
stuck fast on the way. This little ego is very difficult to get rid
of unless there's some kind of protection. This is a living example.
He has written other books. I need not mention his name.
Q. I don't think he mentions Your name either.
A. I don't think he would. Why say things about anyone? If any
man
does well, all right. I returned his book. That was dictated by me
on inner planes, and that's all right. He changed that book before
printing; where he mentioned my name, he changed it to another guru's
name. So that is the fate of these people. People are fed up with
these masters, gurus and sadhus. Why? Only for this reason.
During the same time, Paul also began editing his earlier
manuscripts, such as The Flute of GOD and The Tiger's Fang, and
changing Kirpal's name (along with others, including Jesus, Sawan
Singh, Swami Premananda and Shiv Dayal Singh) to such names as
"Rebazar Tarzs," "Sudar Singh," "Gopal Das," "Fubbi Quantz" and
"Yaubl
Sacabi." When Paul died on September 17, 1971, there was scarcely a
word left referring to Kirpal Singh and the Shabd Yoga tradition.
When I talked to God, He said, "You understand.
Stick with me child, and I'll be your God, man.
Don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you want me to."
- Fleetwood Mac
Why did a man proclaiming himself to be a God-realized Living
Master,
a Sant Satguru, choose to lie about his past? This is an issue which
has vexed Eckists for nearly two decades. One thing which is
instantly clear is that, by using legendary, immortal "Eck" Masters
as
His source of legitimating, Paul both conveyed a sense of mystique
which bolstered His own trip (i.e. Eckankar) and also offered as his
references people whose very existence was empirically non-
verifiable. In other words, while anybody could go and speak with,
or
write to, Kirpal Singh and ask His honest appraisal of Paul's
attainment (or lack thereof), no objective observer could dial up
Rebazar, or one of the masters at the spiritual city of Agam Des, and
get the same.
Now, I do want to make it clear that I am not casting doubt
upon the
existence of non-physical Spiritual Masters who supplement the work
of
the Living Satguru and contribute to our spiritual uplift. The
assistance provided by my inner guides has been invaluable, and I am
forever in their debt. At the same time, no matter how many inner
nudges I might be given by such dear friends as Jelaluddin Rumi,
Shams
I Tabriz, Nanak and Shiv Dayal Singh (not to mentioned our beloved
master, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj), I would never consider using
their approval of what I do as a means of shoring up support for my
service as a teacher. Inner experiences are very precious, private
and sacred. We should hold them closely to our hearts, and learn
from
them. Like the conjugal relationship between two people in love, our
contact with the Inner Master, and other masters who have come in the
past, should be kept quiet, and cherished as a gift from God.
But, back to our original question about Paul Twitchell and
the
"character issue," particularly lying about his past and plagiarizing
other authors' works: why? Why did Paul feel a need to deny His
spiritual roots and invent new ones? Why did He feel the need to
copy
such spiritual classics as Path of the Masters, Mysticism: The
Spiritual Path and Sar Bachan nearly word-for-word, and publish them
under his own name as The Far Country and Shariyat ki Sugmad, among
others?
I for one feel there is still not enough hard data about this
man to
ascribe substantive motivation to His actions. All we can concretely
say right now is that plagiarism and spirituo-historical revisionism
did occur. Beyond that would require in-depth interviews with those
who knew Him during his tutelage under Premananda and Kirpal Singh,
as
well as the early, formative days of Eckankar. Needless to say, the
key person to start with would be His widow, Gail Atkinson. Given
that she knew Paul intimately, before and after He began teaching as
a
Living Master, she would probably be able to shed valuable light on
the life of this most enigmatic of Shabda Masters.
Beyond all of this, though, I want to repeat what I said at
the
beginning, we cannot base our judgment of a man on his errors alone,
and it would be a grievous mistake to do so. For, in spite of some
major errors in judgment, Paulji did some very good things as well.
For one, He made significant strides in opening up western
consciousness to the Light and Sound Teachings. What had before been
a relatively arcane, eastern system of unfoldment appealing to those
already predisposed to the Indian lifestyle and perspective, now
became a bona fide western teaching as well. By stripping Sant Mat
of
its eastern cultural trappings, Paul was able to present what He
believed to be the essence of the Teachings in a language 20th
Century
Americans could understand and work with. And this was a good thing.
Maharaj Charan Singh had this to say about Paul Twitchell in Thus
Saith the Master:
Q. Master, in Las Vegas there is a man by the name of Paul
Twitchell,
who has written a book in which he makes many references to Sant Mat
without using the term "Sant Mat," and which includes some of the
names. Are you aware of him. He teaches the Sound Current.
A. I have read the book. I don't want to say anything against
anyone. But, I personally think that what he has written was taken
from our books. There is hardly a word in the book which is not
referred to in any of our books...
Q. I see good in most things, including myself, and I always
thought
that perhaps it was part of the Creator's plan that a man like Paul
Twitchell should be here to help effect spiritual development.
A. Well, if it is part of a Divine Plan, the Lord knows His own
ways
and means of pulling a soul. I've nothing against this gentleman.
I've nothing against anybody. As long as he talks about the teaching
and talks about the same Lord, talks about the same thing, it is
acceptable to us...It's much better than talking about worldly
things.
In addition, if you talk to the people whose lives He touched,
you
will hear a wide spectrum of stories attesting to Paulji's spiritual
prowess. If you read Paulji: A Memoir, by Patti Simpson (one of His
earliest chelas) you find a man who was both very human, and capable
of connecting His students with the Divine Sound Current and lifting
them into the Pure Spiritual Regions of Sach Khand, and beyond.
And so we come nearly full circle to where we started. Did
Paul
Twitchell make mistakes in his life which may have had a negative
impact on the credibility of western Light and Sound paths? Yes.
But
did Paul's errors of judgment and action invalidate His experience of
God-realization? I'd have to say, "No." From my experience, Sri
Paul
Twitchell definitely traversed the dual worlds, journeyed to Sach
Khand and Anami Lok, experienced God-realization, and was - and is -
able to guide his students within all the way back home to Anami
Desh.
Who was the "real" Paul Twitchell? Twenty-five years after
His death
he remains, as Brad Steiger once said, an enigma - and an American
original.
Next month we will take a look at Paul Twitchell's successor, and my
Master, Sri Darwin Gross. Until then...
Baraka Bashad!
Michael
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFS
alt.meditation.shabda