Checking things out

[Etznab]

This is on Eckankar website just before Death of an Ideal. Quoting...

The Real Foundation

Paradoxical as it may seem, my point in bringing out all of this has been to strengthen your faith in the Mahanta—but not at the expense of making a god out of the Mahanta's vehicle, which is the Living ECK Master. It's a price we cannot afford to pay. As soon as we set someone above us, in potential or in fact, we have committed a crime against ourselves: We have limited the opportunity for our own unfoldment.

We recognize that there are some people who have unfolded more; but Soul, in quality, is Soul. The difference in consciousness is the difference in unfoldment. It doesn't make one person bigger or another person smaller—as Soul.

Sometimes we've wondered, Where really is the foundation of ECK for me? And I'm telling you, it's not in the physical writings. It's always within, with the Light and Sound.

The writings inspire us. They can give us words we can understand, but they'll never help us practice the life of ECK. It won't work that way. The books are good, the discourses are good; they inspire, they give us enthusiasm, they show us how to meet the Inner Master as the Blue Light of the Mahanta. But by themselves, they are imperfect translations written in an imperfect world.

Paul encouraged people to read The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad and make their own study. He never said to take the words as holy, as the last word. You take the words and check out the teachings from within: Does this work for me or doesn't it? You have to know. And based upon what you know is how you conduct your life out here. This is what governs your relationship with your friends and your family. It governs every aspect of you in the lower worlds, including your ethics and morality.

Ethics and morality will be different for each one of you. But I do expect more from the leaders of ECK when they're out in public. Whatever you do in private, it's your life. But when you go out in public as an ECK leader, you should epitomize the highest points of these golden teachings of ECK. [... end quote]

http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html#ideal

Harold wrote:

"[...] You take the words and check out the teachings from within: Does this work for me or doesn't it? You have to know. And based upon what you know is how you conduct your life out here. [... .]"

Check out the teachings. That I understand. But what does it mean to "... take the words and check out the teachings from within:"(?)

How about taking the words and placing them next to earlier sources from which those very words might have come?

Someone once wrote a book that included the following.

"[...] If Harold was trying to convince ECKists, as David suggests, that Paul's words never came from the writings of others, then why would Harold have talked about the five stages following the death of an ideal? Why would he have spoken about the need to accept that Paul was not a god? Why would he have called Paul a master compiler? Why would Harold say that he would have to do something about the sources of Paul's writings someday? [... .]

[Based on: Doug Marman: Dialogue in the Age of Criticism, Chap. 10]

I believe it was spelled out already this year how Harold Klemp's transcripts don't always reflect what he actually said. I don't need to go to the inner for that. I can listen to the audiotape and compare with the written text.

***

There appear to be at least three different versions of what Harold Klemp said concerning a particular sentence in excerpts I recently quoted. For the three different versions I'm talking about, refer to the following sentences:

(1) " 'To show where a lot of the ECK writings on earth came from, [... .]"

- Based on Doug Marman's version in his 2000 online book.

http://www.littleknownpubs.com/Dialog_Ch_Ten.htm

(2) "[...] For ... from where a lot of the writings ... Eck writings
on Earth came from [... .]"

- Version based on 1984 (April) Eckankar International Youth Conference, audiotape 4312, copyright 1984, side two (near the end).

(3) "[...] For a lot of the ECK writings to be done on earth, [... .]"

- Based on: Eckankar transcript version in Harold's book and on the official Eckankar website.

http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html

*********

Apparently, both Doug Marman's version and the Eckankar transcript version are not exactly the words Harold Klemp spoke in April 1984; concerning Harold's encounter with the late Paul Twitchell at the astral plane library, what have you.

I never before noticed that three different versions existed. And while it is common for the transcript and book versions of talks to differ from the actual talk, with this particular sentence I see a remarkable difference.

[The old a.r.e. thread with this information is here.]

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!searchin/alt.religion.eckankar/gruffly/alt.religion.eckankar/8_wBxuhcsJg/eNot7Xe9BAkJ

***

There are two sides to the coin, IMO, when "inner" and "outer" are relative to one another. So I don't believe one can completely separate the outer Eckankar writings from a person's inner experience. The two terms are very broad as well. I think people can get just as misguided on the "inner" as on the outer, and in such cases taking the words and checking out teachings from within is not ALWAYS superior to looking at what is right there in front of the face.

One way that recorded history gets overwritten is when people do it with the imagination and convince others, through words, to do the same. This is not really "checking things out". Being in denial of outer reality (in the form of recorded history) and defaulting to "inner", or "imagination" instead can be helpful when the outer record is false to begin with. And in such cases the "inner" can often lead a person to the outer confirmation. Even to the extent of restoring truth to the outer record. This is real historical research, IMO.

So I agree it's a good thing to check things out. Especially when people TAKE THE WORDS on the outer and knowingly CHANGE THEM. Also, when the words on the outer, whether original or changed, are pseudo man-made creations used to misrepresent the actual happenings they claim to represent.

It's what makes religion unpopular and causes people to fight one another. So it's probably better to check things out. Better to get things right. This is something one could apply to all religious writings, IMHO.

I'm doing my part.

[Santim Vah]

First:

RE

(2) "[...] For ... from where a lot of the writings ... Eck writings
on Earth came from [... .]"

- Version based on 1984 (April) Eckankar International Youth Conference, audiotape 4312, copyright 1984, side two (near the end).

(3) "[...] For a lot of the ECK writings to be done on earth, [... .]"

- Based on: Eckankar transcript version in Harold's book and on the official Eckankar website.

http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html

Clearly item (3) is not credible, as it is FALSE. Meaning, not correct and not true. This untrue version has been around since circa 1992, 1998ish on the website, and it has the approval of Harold.

This version however makes no credible sense within the context of the talk in which it is placed, in particular the subject of the Astral Library *story* of past writings, nor the subject of the Talk itself, being Paul's writings.

---

Second:

RE
"The writings inspire us. [...] But by themselves, they are imperfect translations written in an imperfect world.

Paul encouraged people to read The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad and make their own study.

He never said to take the words as holy, as the last word. You take the words and check out the teachings from within: Does this work for me or doesn't it? You have to know."

[end quote]

here's a couple of quotes by Paul Twitchell from the Shariyat books anyone can check for themselves:

"these writings .. always been hidden in the spiritual words ... now been translated and published for the first time"

"Volume One .... was dictated by Sri Fubbi Quantz .. at the Katsupari Monastery"

"Volume Two .... was dictated by Yaubl Sacabi .. at Agam Des"

"The SKS consists of about 12 books ........ or what we call dialogue form, in which SUGMAD (God in English) speaks to his chief disciple, Sat Nam .. lord of ... the plane Soul, or the fifth region."

"To read and study this highly inspired book will give the reader an insight into the scriptures of the Temples of Golden Wisdom."

"The essence of God knowledge is laid down in these WRITINGS."

"But altogether it is the whole Truth, concise in all its departments that tell everyone what life really consists of and how to live it. "

"The ancient books of the SKS are indeed the true Light and the Word of God: .. discusses every phase of life in both matter worlds and the highest planes."

"One will find within these pages an answer to every question man has ever desired to ask of any greater ones. All that which is Truth is here now, within these pages. "

"Those who follow ECK are involved in the SKS for it is their bible, their everlasting gospel."

----

Third:

RE

"You take the words and check out the teachings from within: Does this work for me or doesn't it? You have to know."

Personally, in due course, when I took the *words of the SKS* within as well as Harolds own *words* within, and asked for inner guidance I was led, step by step by the 'EK', to the pre-existing published writings that had been plagiarised and copied by Paul verbatim then inserted into the SKS books from the front to the back.

Then I knew that there was no translated dictation given from Fubbi or Yaubl to Paul.

Then I knew that All that which is Truth is NOT within these pages.

Then I knew that altogether it was NOT the whole Truth, and NOT concise in all its departments.

Then I knew that the essence of God knowledge was NOT laid down in these WRITINGS either; and that neither would taking these words as an outer guidance, nor to the inner could possibly lead anywhere close to Truth.

And based upon what I know is how I conduct my life out here. This is what governs my relationship with my friends and my family.

What I know governs every aspect of me in the lower worlds, including my ethics and my morality.

Another thing I have known for a very very long time is that as soon as I set someone above me, in potential or in fact, I have committed a crime (sin) against my self: I have limited the opportunity for my own unfoldment.

And that only real *sin* one can commit is to not be impeccable with their Word.

===============================

What does it mean to be Impeccable with your Word?

impeccable - 1531, "not capable of sin," from M.Fr. impeccable (15c.), from L. impeccabilis "not liable to sin," from in- "not" + pecare "to sin," of unknown origin.

— adj
1. without flaw or error; faultless: an impeccable record
2. rare incapable of sinning

adjective
1.faultless; flawless; irreproachable: impeccable manners.
2. not liable to sin; incapable of sin.

I want to point out something more important about impeccability to be aware of that is often overlooked. The expression of your Word is much more than just the expression of your words.

Your word (small case) has to do with the things you say. They make up sentences, phrases that you speak and write. They come out as opinions, or comments, thoughts in your head, or could even make it into policy in some situations. On the other hand your WORD is much more.

Your WORD (upper case) has to do with the power you have to create through every kind of expression you make. You create through multiple types of expression including emotions, attitude, actions, what you refrain from, and what you express your faith in.

You can create how you feel emotionally by generating emotions, and then you feel them. You can create dynamics of respect in relationship by being silent and listening attentively. You can create a different experience for your self and others by refraining from an emotional reaction. You create an income for your self by how well you express caring in the activity of your work. You create a different self image of your self by putting the power of your faith in a thought you have about your self. This can happen in a very subtle and almost passive way of just accepting what you think about your self as true.

You express in a multitude of ways through out the day and being impeccable with your Word applies to all of them.

Silence can be Impeccable. Silence is an expression. And sometimes silence and refrain says a lot more than words can.

Your Fears go against your Self

To live with existing fears in your mind doesn’t fall into the category of being impeccable. Maintaining fears of public speaking, asking someone out on a date, or a fear of failing is not in the direction of love for your self. Keeping your self in fear is an ongoing expression in your own mind that causes you to hold back in your actions of love for your self and others.

Fear is at the heart of NOT being impeccable.

To really master being impeccable will require that you heighten your awareness not just to the words you say, but also to the emotions you express, your attitude, your actions, and where you express the power of your belief. You will need to develop a discipline of mindfulness to be impeccable in these expressions through out the day.

To master being impeccable with your word will take many moments of practice. You will likely throw away many of your attempts as being clumsy and not what you want. But that is okay. For with each action and attempt, you improve as the artist of your life.

Be careful not to believe the judgments that are likely to come from that inner judge. Make a commitment to do your best everyday and it will help you avoid self judgments as you practice and improve. Remember that in the midst of all these expressions that the real art you are working on is your self and you are worth taking time for.

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The Power of Doubt: When Being Skeptical Is a Good Thing


Have you ever asked yourself if something you heard was actually true?

Have you ever wondered if someone was lying to you, or worse yet, have you ever wondered, "Am I lying to myself?"

Do you believe those voices in your head that are giving you opinions? Do you tend to believe other people's opinions?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will understand WHEN being SCEPTICAL is a GOOD thing.

Right now, you're delivering a message to yourself and to everyone around you. You're always delivering messages, and you're always receiving messages from one mind to another mind. But the most important messages are the ones you deliver to yourself. What are those messages?

The WORD is a FORCE you cannot see, but you can see the manifestation of that force, the expression of the word, which is your own life. The way to measure the impeccability of your word is to ask yourself: Am I happy or am I suffering?

If you're suffering, it's because you're telling yourself a story that isn't true, but you believe it.

When you look at yourself in a mirror, do you like what you see, or do you judge your body and use the word to tell yourself lies? If you believe that you are not attractive enough, then you believe a LIE, and you are using the word against yourself, AGAINST the Truth.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Power-of-Doubt#ixzz26sP0pG2i