While Eckankar claims to respect all other religions, and its members will tell you that the cult is not focused on getting new members, the *teachings* are designed to produce members who think, inside themselves, that all contacts in all areas of life are simply opportunities to "link" people to their "Mahanta," if not immediately, then in the future. This is an example of how even a simple ping-pong game is as much more than it is: From Klemp's Ask the Master, Book 2:
Q: Why don't you go out into the streets and preach the message of ECK as they did in days of old?
A: Each period of history has its own special way to preach the message of ECK.
This is being a silent channel for the ECK, where actions speak louder
than words. And I love it!
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This is obviously "compiled" from an old story...since Harold was too sick to
go to seminars for several years, I doubt if he'd be playing Ping-Pong.
Now, there's certainly nothing wrong with playing Ping-Pong...exercise is
good for us. But...this shows the effects of Twitchell's "infiltrate youth
groups" orders...
Harold's not simply playing Ping-Pong for pleasure...or enjoying it simply
because he likes teenagers...
He's being a Silent Channel for the ECK...and this message is something that
runs constantly in the background in the minds of Eckists. I know this is
true. I was an Eckist for almost 15 years, and I haven't been "out" that long.
It's hard to explain...but I'm aware of such a difference in myself. Just
this week, while just sitting & talking & laughing with a group of people,
enjoying it simply for what it was...I could remember what my thoughts and
feelings would have been when I was an Eckist.
As an example, one woman told a story about how after her divorce, she'd even
been living in a car for awhile. Then she got a small apartment, and a
neighbor invited her to go to bingo at her church...and paid for it...and
even refused to take part of this woman's winnings...and in the process they
ran into someone who knew of a job opening, which the woman applied for and
got...she said God was taking care of her...
As an Eckist, I would have thought "Wow!! It's the ECK!!! Even though
they're not aware of it!!! And someday...they'll meet the MASTER!!!"
The other night, we were talking about nursing homes...one older guy
mentioned he used to drive his old girlfriend to work at one, and he got
acquainted with a lonely old lady, so he'd sit there and listen to her
talk...he had nothing better to do, and he enjoyed it...although sometimes he
would nod off...she wouldn't notice, though...
As an Eckist, I would have thought "Wow! It's the ECK!!! Even though they're
not aware of it!! And someday...they'll meet the MASTER!!!"
And I would have been HUing inside, constantly...
Before Eckankar...well, the Jehovah's Witnesses tried to lay that number on
me...the miserable-world & major-guilt-trip & Chosen People & only-real-way
to- God & Salvation thing...the SAME THING that ECKANKAR does!!!!!! I ended
up basically telling "God" to f*** off...I would not and could not believe or respect a "God" who
would kill everyone, including innocent children, simply because they didn't belong to a particular
religion. I made up a "fantasy" God...and just
went through life...enjoying & living it fully...the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows
Then...Eckankar got me. And things were different. I thought everything was
wonderful...just like the Eckists here will tell you. I had "experiences" that I didn't understand,
and I came across an eckbook in the library. The book seemed to explain my
experiences....because I simply wasn't that familiar with a lot of religions or spiritual teachings.
The cult's books said that I had *always* been an eckist, but had made the mistake of leaving the
"path" in a previous life. I was told if I rejected the Living ECK Master again, well...I was doomed
to suffer another horrible incarnation here on earth.
I remember thinking a lot of what I read was a bit strange, but I wanted to know more. I
joined. I did the hypnotic "spiritual exercises." I studied the books as I was told. And for fifteen
years, I believed. It worked for me. I thought I had "proof," but came to realize, the "proof" was
a deceptive lie."
I'm out now. And I'm glad. Being older & wiser...I understand what I
think of as "God" a bit better...and I DO know, and have experienced whatever
it is.. right before I got suckered into Eckankar. Right now...well I'm back
in the Catholic church, not necessarily as as "true believer" in all of
it...but there is truly *something* there...what I choose to think of as
God/Holy Spirit... whatever that is.
Back to Harold's Ping-Pong story . . .
I wonder if Harold was LEM when he was playing ping-pong? I'm pretty sure this is an older
story. "Ask the Master" was compiled from older books, to appeal to and be sold to the
public.
He's not thinking that he's "infiltrated" a group of young people...but he
DOES say "hardly any...know that I am in ECK"
"Someday they'll put two and two together..." This means...many years later,
they will see Harold's picture on an eckbook...perhaps read it...read the
messages that say the least little thing is a "message from ECK" ... and they
may well be suckered in thinking..."WOW!!! I used to play PING PONG with the
LIVING ECK MASTER and I didn't even know it!!! It was a WAKING DREAM!!! I'm
an ECKIST...and I never even knew it until now!!!"
That's how Eckankar works on your mind...from the very beginning. That's how
it got me...told me I'd "always" been an Eckist & didn't know it...and I'd
made the mistake of refusing the "master" in millions of past lives...
Now...what does it say about what's in Harold's mind when he needs some kind
of acceptance and validation by high-school kids thinking to themselves
"Anybody who plays Ping-Pong like that can't be all bad!"
Why can't Harold simply enjoy playing ping-pong as a plain, simple
down-to-earth human being? What is it in Harold, what emptiness is inside
him that can only be filled by the ego-stroking of Paul Twitchell's cult...or
the thoughts of high school kids who knew him even years ago...
Of course, now he's LEM...he can laugh at EVERYONE... he is THE MASTER...
"This is being a silent channel for the ECK, where actions speak louder than
words. And I love it!"
Sometimes...yes, it's hard to tell with words, what feelings & emotions are
being expressed by it. But this sort of makes me think of one of those
little show-off bully types--- "Ha ha ha!! I really showed THEM who's
boss!!"
Well...whatever you choose to believe...at least look at all the
possibilities...something I didn't do...I just believed...
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