Dialogue in the Age of Criticism - Ch. Nine - 4
KMerrymoon
have written to David Lane's book, The Making of a Spiritual Movement. In this
section I respond to the fourth part of David's Chapter Nine.
You can find past chapters at my web site, called Little Known Publications.
The new URL is:
Doug Marman.
**************************
I had many experiences with Darwin like this through the years I worked with
him. Another experience that comes to mind took place shortly after I started
working at the ECKANKAR Office when it was still in Las Vegas. I had discovered
a box of audio tapes in the back of a loft where boxes and office supplies were
stored. In going through the tapes I discovered they were the originals of
Paul's talks. With all the changes in general administrators, the tapes had
been forgotten and were laying there abandoned and gathering dust.
I asked Darwin for permission to go through the tapes and sort them out. Then,
usually in the evenings after work, or on weekends, I would bring home a
reel-to-reel tape player, and started going through the tapes. In the process I
found dozens of talks by Paul that had never been released on cassette tape. I
also found that some of the talks that had previously been sold were actually
spliced together sections from a variety of talks, because someone thought it
would be more interesting to hear Paul's thoughts on one subject at a time.
I began the slow process of splicing the tapes back to their original form, and
trying to date and place where each talk had been given, as well as
electronically cleaning them up as best I could, given the technology available
at that time. It was from the year or so that I spent on this task that I
gained an insight into Paul that has never left me, and has influenced me
greatly in how I see the man and why I've decided to write this book to correct
the misleading picture that has been created about him.
Anyway, back to the story: Darwin was very supportive of my self-assigned task
and would ask me about it from time to time. One day I told him that I'd
discovered a tape like no others in the box. It was a personal recording by
Paul, apparently done in his home. It sounded like Paul was experimenting
again. This time he was trying to create an audio version of something like
Dialogues With The Master.
The tape started with Paul's voice describing a visit by Rebazar Tarzs. Then we
hear Paul's voice lower to into a deep, gravely sound, saying something like,
"Well, Paul, are you ready?" Paul was mimicing the voice of Rebazar Tarzs! The
tape went on to give a discourse from Rebazar on a spiritual topic. This was so
long ago I can't remember much more than that, but the tape was amazing to me,
and I wish I could hear it again to see what I might think of it today.
So, when I told Darwin about the tape, I asked him if he had ever heard
anything about it before. He immediately became interested, told me that it was
news to him, and asked if I could get it for him. I told Darwin that I had left
it in my apartment with all the other tapes I was sorting through, but I would
run home to get it for him. I immediately jumped up to head for my car.
It was at this point that Darwin said something that left me with a deep
impression. He saw that I was hurrying toward my car in my desire to get the
tape for him, and he said, "Take your time." He then paused, as if he was
saying something very important, and he added, "There is never any reason to
rush."
While these words hardly carry with them anything that sounds very significant,
Darwin's words carried an inner power and depth that told me there was
something very significant going on. So, the whole way back to my apartment,
and then driving back to the office, I found myself working through the inner
teaching that came with those words. Once again I found that Darwin had
transferred something inwardly, which was an experience I had never seen from
anyone before in my life.
The meaning of these words, "there is never any reason to rush," unfolded as I
thought about it. First, the rhythm of the ECK behind Darwin's words showed me
that in hurrying I was not in synch with life or spirit. By rushing, I was
trying to move faster than the ECK, and thus put myself out of alignment with
Life Itself. I remember asking myself, while driving in my car, was Darwin
really right that there was never any reason to rush? Never? But the more I
worked through the inner meaning, I realized that Darwin was right. To rush was
to become disconnected from the ECK, and that Life has its own pace. To find
that pace and align with it, whether fast or slow, is what the path of ECK is
all about. This will be the best thing in any situatioin, no matter what it
might be.
Besides personal experiences with Darwin, there was a widespread experience
that many ECKists talked about, shortly after Paul died. They saw Paul's image
and face coming through Darwin while he was giving a talk. Sometimes it
appeared this way for just a moment, but other times for nearly the whole talk.
It seemed as if Paul's presence was up on stage, and as if Paul himself were
giving the talk. In fact, this experience was so common that a drawing of
Darwin's profile with a sillouhette of Paul inside became widely distributed,
and it was eventually coined into a medallion worn by ECKists. This was just
one of many proofs to ECKists that Darwin had received the Rod of ECK Power.
What I find fascinating, is that this experience of seeing the past Master in
the form of the new Master is not unique to ECKANKAR. I've run across similar
stories told by the satsangis of Salig Ram after Shiv Dayal Singh, the founder
of Radhasoami, passed away. And when Salig Ram was succeeded by Brahm Shankar
Misra, similar reports were popular. What does this mean?
Everything in this world is touched by electricity in some way or other.
Electricity flows everywhere, but it flows mainly through conductors. It is the
same with Spirit, or what ECKists call the ECK. The spiritual force flows into
this world through the channel of what we call consciousness. Spirituality
touches everything. There is nothing that exists without some element of
Spirit, and therefore some element of Life, yet this Power mainly enters this
world through the conduit of consciousness.
When a spiritual teaching is brought forth into this world, it is like a wave
that enters the consciousness of the planet. But, since it must come through
some person, some individual, it uses the vehicle of that Teacher to flow
through. Those who become students of a Teacher find that their Master's image
becomes a matrix and a channel for the inner teachings. This wave of
consciousness pours through that image like electricity flows through an
electrical conductor. Without this inner connection to a spiritual teaching,
all of the books and writings become nothing more than empty words. Therefore,
according to ECKANKAR, before one can discover the secret teachings, one must
have this inner connection with the Teacher.
So, when a student reports seeing the image of a past Master coming through the
form of another, it is an indication that the same wave of consciousness is
flowing through them. The inner matrix of the previous Master still remains
active until the new Master's image becomes established as a symbol for the
spiritual current in the students' consciousness. Therefore, the form of the
previous Master naturally becomes replaced by the image of the new Master,
whose consciousness the teaching now flows through.
I should mention that while ECKANKAR and the Radhasoami Parent Faith, in Agra,
both recognize this fact, the Beas Radha Soami Satsang that David Lane has been
associated with does not. The Beas group teaches that once you have been
initiated by a Guru, that Guru becomes your Master for your whole life, even if
that Master dies. Strangely, the founder of Radhasoami, Shiv Dayal Singh,
spelled it out quite clearly in his book, Sar Bachan, that until the spiritual
seeker gains the high states of consciousness and has established themselves in
such states, they are still in need of the Living Master and should seek them
out after the previous Master dies. However, the Beas group has removed this
reference from their version of the Sar Bachan.
Interestingly, this is one of many examples where ECKANKAR is actually closer
to the original teachings of the Radhasoami Parent Faith (as they call
themselves) than the teachings of Kirpal Singh or Charan Singh, who were
associated with the Beas Satsang. This, I believe, is another indication
showing that while Kirpal Singh may have introduced Paul to the Sant Mat
teachings, that Paul was connected to a teaching very different than the
teachings flowing through Kirpal himself.
Returning back to the discussion, such experiences of the images of a previous
Master coming through the form of a new Master have been described down through
history by spiritual students, but misunderstandings of what is taking place
have mislead some disciples to think that their previous Master has
reincarnated in the form of the new Master. The Tibetan Buddhists often search
out the birth of the reincarnated Teacher for this reason. The reincarnation
taking place, however, is the reincarnation of the spiritual current through a
new human form. Therefore, the transmission of a spiritual teaching is a very
real thing, but it can become hidden beneath the surface of outward events.
The way that this inner matrix of the Master forms and changes is rarely
understood by the student. It forms within the consciousness of the student,
but the seeker often thinks it is the Master, himself. The transmission of the
inner spiritual currents and teachings come through the form of the Master, but
they create a highly personalized matrix in the consciousness of the disciple,
and this is what causes the inner image of the Master to lead and guide them to
the Inner Form of the Mahanta Consciousness.
When the student begins to find the higher states of consciousness, they should
be able to connect to the source of the spiritual teachings, themselves. Then
they should begin to access the teachings directly, and can see why they will
never be separated from the Mahanta again. This is the state known as
Self-Realization.
This leads the discussion to the greatest challenge that faces every seeker of
the spiritual path: The challenge of the self. If we seek God for our self,
then we will fail. If our ultimate desire is to benefit ourself, then sooner or
later we will find ourselves in our own way, for at the bottom of most
struggles for God and spiritual illumination, is the problem of the self. Yet,
what other motivation do we know but what springs from our self?
And here we come to one of the most interesting things to be learned from this
dialogue over David's book. How does Sant Mat solve this problem of the self?
Fundamentally, the Guru solves this problem for the disciple. The disciple must
place total faith and love in the Guru, thus taking attention off themselves.
Therefore love for and worship of the Guru is the crux of the whole path. Any
doubt that might creep in could send the disciple reeling back to the
fearfulness of his own self, and once he begins listening to the whisperings of
the self, he has lost all that he once attained.
Therefore, in Sant Mat, surrender to the Master is required. This is the way of
losing the little self to find the Greater Self. All doubt springs from the
fears of the little self and must be forgotten. It all comes down to this.
Sacrificing the little self for the Guru.
After dozens of years studying this matter, I've come to the conclusion that
ECKANKAR resolves this problem of the self in a very different way. Although
love for the Inner Master, the Mahanta, plays a significant role in many of the
most critical turning points on the spiritual path of ECK, there is another
principle at work that is even more far reaching in the life of the ECKist.
Paul writes in The Flute of God, page 18:
"In a way, man lives in two worlds. The outer life
that man lives is limited, but the Prince of God
lives in a boundless inner world. One can become a
slave to the influences from without instead of
being free, influenced from within as Soul.
"Now you must remember that until coming into
the awareness of "I AM HE" or God ITSELF, you are
still the Prince, the potential heir to the throne.
Each of us must learn the responsibility of the
throne which we, as individuals, will inherit
someday, as well as the principle by which the
King, Our Father, governs all His subjects.
"Do you understand this simplicity? Savants,
sages, rishis, saviors, munis and avatars have
expressed this idea to the peoples of this world.
We are the offspring of the Eternal who must
recognize His spirit in all men and greet them as
part of the Eternal.
"Each Soul desires to be the Prince, to live like
the Prince. The heir to the throne knows his power,
his position in life. He lives in confidence, leaning
upon the support of his high estate, upon the
knowledge that the King is his Father.
"Therefore, the principle involved here is, "We live
and have our being in the Supreme Being." Lai Tsi,
the Chinese ECK Master, said it this way, "we live
and move and have our being in the SUGMAD."
To put this another way, in ECKANKAR the problem of the self is fundamentally
solved by the seeker once they take up the spiritual work, which is not a work
for the sake of the self, but for the sake of Life, or the ECK. It is the
Greater Work. We take up this work not to solve our problems or to make our
life better, but simply because it is our rightful place in life.
Once we step upon this path, and take our place in the spiritual heirarchy,
wherever that might be, our whole life begins to change. We fall under the
graces of God and the events of our life take on a whole new significance. We
still find difficulties, we still find illness, but our struggle is no longer
just a problem of the little self, but something with larger meaning and
purpose. The language of life begins to speak to us and show us the hidden
plan. We, as the Princes, cannot always know all that Our Father does, but we
see enough to know and see the spiritual force at work moving all of life
closer to the awareness of God.
This is why Paul wrote the following in The Flute of God, pages 35-36:
"The basic principle in this study of purification is
the learning of relaxation from all tension...
"The great law of the universe is to "Love one
another." Every teacher has told us this. Why?
Simply because when we love others our heart and
consciousness are relaxed, and our attention is
taken off of self. What happens then? We relax
when we forget ourselves. That is the natural and
universally recognized result...
"When one loves another as himself, his attention
is focused outward. He is therefore relaxed. There
is no stranglehold within. Then he becomes a
channel for the power, and often demonstrates his
conscious union with God. Yet when he asks for
something for himself, his attention is focused
inwardly. He instantly becomes tense and feels
that it is a great struggle to get that which he
desires..
"One must relax utterly, then the Divine ECK Power
flows through."
I am pointing out these differences here, because I believe a real way in
comparing religious teachings is to study how each teaching solves the problem
of the little self. This is a crucial aspect of any spiritual path. The
obstacle in our path is our own ego, our human fears and what the Sufis call
the Commanding Self, which is that part of our human consciousness that desires
to make the world as it wants. I believe this method of comparison is as
helpful as any of the perspectives that Ken Wilber has offered.
For example, in Christianity, the image of the suffering of Christ, is one
intended to subdue the little self. The idea of suffering for others, putting
one own's self down below the needs of others, and charity to the poor and ill,
are teachings designed to reduce the power of the little self, to let the
spiritual teachings flow in.
In Buddhism, the teaching is based upon the illusory nature of the little self.
Buddhists teach meditation designed to reveal the trickery of the mind and how
it creates this false reality we think of as our self. The little self is not
real, but a false image created by reflections of the world upon our
consciousness and it leads to mistaken beliefs of separation from all of
Reality.
One could go through all of the religions and see that they are different
because of the way they deal with the little self. This characteristic marks
them and shows their uniqueness. In the same way, Sant Mat differs from
ECKANKAR. The two approach this matter of the little self from different ways.
Even the ECK concept of self-surrender to the Inner Master is very different
from Sant Mat.
To be continued next week.
SoulWords
<snip from some wonderful stuff>>The way that this inner matrix of the Master
forms and changes is rarely
>understood by the student. It forms within the consciousness of the student,
>but the seeker often thinks it is the Master, himself.
Thanks especially for this tidbit, Doug.
I always felt the inner matrix was connected to the Master- like a tributary
of the main Current.
DOUG:
the transmission of the
>inner spiritual currents and teachings come through the form of the Master,
>but
>they create a highly personalized matrix in the consciousness of the
>disciple,and this is what causes the inner image of the Master to lead and
guide them to the Inner Form of the Mahanta Consciousness.
The key phrase for me in the above is "highly personalized". Those who are
successful in Eckankar learn not to compare their matrix to ANYONE ELSE'S.
I know, for example, that my wife's connection is so astoundingly different
from mine that it would be almost impossible for an outside observer to
imagine we are both ECKists.
DOUG:
When the student begins to find the higher states of consciousness, they
>should
>be able to connect to the source of the spiritual teachings, themselves. Then
>they should begin to access the teachings directly, and can see why they will
never be separated from the Mahanta again. This is the state known as
Self-Realization.
Neat angle on that!
If we know that we will never be separated from the Mahanta, we must,
obviously, be Soul.
Love, David
Michael Wallace
"SoulWords" <soul...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000924093517...@ng-fz1.aol.com...
> Doug writes:
> <snip from some wonderful stuff>>The way that this inner matrix of the
Master
> forms and changes is rarely
> >understood by the student. It forms within the consciousness of the
student,
> >but the seeker often thinks it is the Master, himself.
>
> I always felt the inner matrix was connected to the Master- like a
tributary
> of the main Current.
>
> DOUG:
> >inner spiritual currents and teachings come through the form of the
Master,
> >but
> >they create a highly personalized matrix in the consciousness of the
and
> guide them to the Inner Form of the Mahanta Consciousness.
>
> successful in Eckankar learn not to compare their matrix to ANYONE ELSE'S.
> I know, for example, that my wife's connection is so astoundingly
different
> from mine that it would be almost impossible for an outside observer to
> imagine we are both ECKists.
>
> DOUG:
> >should
> >be able to connect to the source of the spiritual teachings, themselves.
Then
> >they should begin to access the teachings directly, and can see why they
will
> never be separated from the Mahanta again. This is the state known as
> Self-Realization.
>
> If we know that we will never be separated from the Mahanta, we must,
> obviously, be Soul.
>
I really like how this book is progressing... Hopefully it will find its way
to the printed ECK Book lists for all to read.
What amazes me is the lack of itinerent waffle from the detractors trying to
shoot Doug's common sense down in flames again.
Maybe they are getting a little surprised that someone here actually knows
what they are talking about?
Who knows!!
Love
Michael
neural...@my-deja.com
I have a complete review of Doug's work ready to be posted on my
website.....
I am enjoying Doug's take.
It is an interesting apologetic (and apologetics is not necessarily a
bad term).
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
len
I have a complete review of Doug's work ready to be posted on my
website.....
I am enjoying Doug's take.
It is an interesting apologetic (and apologetics is not necessarily a
bad term).
Len:
How are you using the term?
Len
neural...@my-deja.com
A procedure for addressing issues of contention and trying to reconcile
them with an already previously held theological viewpoint.
Len
Len
<neural...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8qofdb$gq2$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
gruendemann
I think he means our theological viewpoint....... The Making would be the
contention aspect. :-)
Len
Len
"gruendemann" <gruen...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:39CFCDD0...@worldnet.att.net...
Michael Wallace
<neural...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8qmtlq$l2j$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <96984791...@subsonic.fan.net.au>,
> "Michael Wallace" <info@,pythagorus.org.uk> wrote:
> >
> website.....
>
> I am enjoying Doug's take.
>
> It is an interesting apologetic (and apologetics is not necessarily a
> bad term).
But it is a word that does indicate your view ...
"review"?
Love
Michael
Ken
<LOL>
Ken
Len <sv77...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8qoiva$9fq$1...@mailint03.im.hou.compaq.com...
> Thanks Cheryl:-)
>
> Len
>
> "gruendemann" <gruen...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:39CFCDD0...@worldnet.att.net...
> > Len,
> > I think he means our theological viewpoint....... The Making would be the
> > contention aspect. :-)
> >
> > Len wrote:
> > >
> > > You consider The Making...a theological viewpoint. I'm surprised.
> > >
> > > Len
> > > <neural...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> > > news:8qofdb$gq2$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > > > In article <36Iz5.169$193.2...@news.pacbell.net>,
> > > > "len" <sv77...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > David says:
> > > > >
> > > > > I have a complete review of Doug's work ready to be posted on my
> > > > > website.....
> > > > >
> > > > > I am enjoying Doug's take.
> > > > >
> > > > > It is an interesting apologetic (and apologetics is not necessarily
> a
> > > > > bad term).
> > > > >
Etznab
Anyway, back to the story: Darwin was very supportive of my self-assigned task
and would ask me about it from time to time. One day I told him that I'd
discovered a tape like no others in the box. It was a personal recording by
Paul, apparently done in his home. It sounded like Paul was experimenting
again. This time he was trying to create an audio version of something like
Dialogues With The Master.
The tape started with Paul's voice describing a visit by Rebazar Tarzs. Then we
hear Paul's voice lower to into a deep, gravely sound, saying something like,
"Well, Paul, are you ready?" Paul was mimicing the voice of Rebazar Tarzs! The
tape went on to give a discourse from Rebazar on a spiritual topic. This was so
long ago I can't remember much more than that, but the tape was amazing to me,
and I wish I could hear it again to see what I might think of it today.
Evidently, Doug Marman knew about stuff all the way back during the time of Darwin Gross. Evidently he was going through and listening to old tapes by Paul Twitchell years before Harold Klemp, in 1983-1984, allowed Doug access to the Paul Twitchell library.
And yet, when David Lane illustrates example after example of Paul Twitchell changing names, making up historical events, including the date of his birth, putting words into the mouths of Eck Masters, etc., etc. it's like no big deal because plagiarism was like very common at that time.
There is one problem with this picture. It's about more than plagiarism. It's about people knowing one thing, but telling people something else. Something false, and / or misleading.
It wasn't only Paul Twitchell. IMO, a number of people carried the mythological torch after Paul Twitchell died. Some of which have never wanted to completely dispell with the myths at the foundation of Eckankar's popularity and success.
IMHO it's not about protecting Eckankar, or protecting an organization. It's about people protecting themselves. People protecting what they knew by making out like they didn't know a lot, or they just don't remember ... it was so long ago.
When the truth comes out I believe people will learn who knew what and exactly when they knew it. Feigning ignorance will no longer be an option.