TOUR OF WORLD RELIGIONS: Eckankar: Religion of the Light

Hello! Another fascinating look into the world's religions. This one originated in our own country, in Minnesota! Below is description. We will meet at 9:30 AM, the service starts at 10:00 AM, lasts an hour and there will be a fellowship afterward. Thanks everyone who participate in these and make them successful, they are one my favorite events. Below is more information. See you then! See you then! Link to Eckankar's national site: http://www.eckankar.org/ Link to Eckankar's Oregon's site: http://www.eckankar-oregon.org/portland.php?=Portland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPXFoWbq650 Ekankar Eckankar is a new religious movement that focuses on spiritual exercises enabling practitioners to experience what its followers call "the Light and Sound of God." The personal experience of this spiritual Light and Sound is a primary goal of the teaching. It claims to provide a personal, unique and individual spiritual inner path to understanding of self as soul, and development of higher awareness "consciousness" and God. According to the Eckankar glossary, the term Eckankar means "Co-Worker with God". It is likely drawn from the Sikh term, Ik Onkar. Since 1985 followers of Eckankar have described it as "The Religion of the Light and Sound of God". Prior to 1985, Eckankar was known as "The Ancient Science of Soul Travel". Eckankar's headquarters are in Chanhassen, Minnesota (southwest of Minneapolis). The Eckankar Temple, an outdoor chapel, an administrative building, and the ECK Spiritual Campus are located at this site. The leader of Eckankar is known as the Living ECK Master. According to Eckankar doctrine, the Living ECK Master is respected, but not worshiped, by followers of Eckankar and is seen as a spiritual guide for their own spiritual progress. Paul Twitchell founded Eckankar in 1965 and led it until his death in 1971. Darwin Gross then took over leadership, serving until 1981. On October 22, 1981, Harold Klemp became the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master, and took over leadership of Eckankar. Primary to the teaching is the belief that soul can leave the body (soul travel) and explore the inner planes of creation in the physical world and in the dream state. Also, the concepts of karma and reincarnation help to explain situations in life. Soul is seen as the true self in that it is housed in a physical body. The physical body uses the mind, emotions and becomes aware who and what they are and that is we are soul. Nightly, when we sleep, all of us as Soul can thus leave the body and return at will, once it learns how. Dreams are seen as very important, with books such as The Art of Spiritual Dreaming forming part of over thirty books available for reading for all people and Eckankar students (Chelas). The beliefs that individuals are responsible for their own destiny and that their decisions determine their future are important concepts to contemplate. Eckankar students meet in open public services and classes to discuss personal experiences, topics books and discourses. Eckists do not proselytize, and it seems to attract membership from those who find confirmation of personal experiences and understandings after reading the books, discussions with a member, or seeing a video available to the public. According to the U.S. Department of State (International Religious Freedom Report for Cote d'Ivoire 2008), the current Nigerian branch of Eckankar describes its beliefs as "a syncretistic religion founded in 1965 in Nigeria that sees human passion as an obstacle to uniting a person's divine qualities". Eckankar claims an active membership base in more than 100 countries throughout the world, United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa. 26,000 American Eckists were estimated in 2001 and 36,700 in 2004. Estimates from varying authors varies from 500,000, in 1972 to 50,000 or less in more recent years. Eckankar does not publish membership figures. Eckankar's 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) main "Temple of ECK" was dedicated in Chanhassen, Minnesota on October 22, 1990. As of late 2007, the largest capacity Eckankar Temple was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, with a total capacity of 10,000. Eckankar has produced over thirty books, videos, CDs, and tapes on a variety of spiritual topics. Members receive discourses, and they are invited to study at home or in the company of other members in Eckankar Satsang classes. Eckankar does not attempt to convert individuals. They do, however, advertise their presence and distribute literature to interested persons. The Eckankar "EK" symbol appears on the list of Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. There are few personal requirements to be an Eckist; however, certain spiritual practices are recommended. Chief among these is daily practice of the "spiritual exercises" of ECK for 15ÂÂ-20 minutes a day. The most basic ECK spiritual exercise is singing the word hu, an ancient name for God (also known and practiced in Sufism), for upliftment and spiritual experiences. A wide variety of spiritual exercises are offered, and members are encouraged to create their own. There are no dietary requirements, taboos, or enforced ascetic practices. Eckankar does not require potential members to leave their current faith to join. There are a number of ceremonies an Eckist can experience as part of the teaching: ECK Consecration Ceremony : Celebrating the entrance of the young and infant into Eckankar, and new life in the light and sound of God. ECK Rite of Passage : Celebrating the passage from youth into adulthood, usually around thirteen. ECK Wedding Ceremony : Celebrating the marriage bond as two Eckists commit their lives to one another before God. ECK Memorial Service : Honors the journey of soul and welcomes it into the worlds beyond the physical. In Eckankar's original form, the Consecration Ceremony, Rite of Passage, and Memorial Service did not exist. Sri Harold Klemp, the Modern Prophet (Living Eck Master) added them later. Eckankar now is referred to as a religion with ceremonies mirroring more mainstream religions. Eckists celebrate a spiritual new year on October 22. There is no celebration of personal anniversaries, such as birthdays of the leaders. There is a founder's day.