Eckankar Trivia Quiz

Answer: Paul Twitchell

Paul Twitchell was the founder of Eckankar, while Darwin Gross and Harold Klemp subsequently became the succeeding Living ECK masters. An historic Eckankar teacher, Gakko, is believed by Eckists to have been Venusian or come from the planet Venus.

Answer: The Mahanta

There have been three Mahantas or spiritual leaders since the founding of Eckankar (1965):

Paul Twitchell (1965-1971)
Darwin Gross (1971-1981)
Harold Klemp (1981-ongoing)

The role of The Mahanta is one of a respected spiritual guide, rather than an object of worship for Eckists.

Answer: Co-worker with God

The Eckankar religion stresses the development of awareness through experiences of God's love in the daily world, through which one can become a conscious co-worker with God.

Answer: Way of the Eternal

Two books written by Julian P. Johnson ("The Path of the Masters" and "With a Great Master in India") are cited as being the sources that Eckankar founder Paul Twitchell derived most of his own writings from.

"Eckankar: The Ancient Science of Soul Travel" refers to Paul Twitchell's initial title/name for the developing Eckankar religious movement.

"The Way of the Eternal" is composed of two books written by the Mahanta that discuss spiritual topics relating to the Eckankar religion, such as key concepts and beliefs.

Answer: Soul travel

Twitchell's conceptualization of soul travel varies from that of most religions that subscribe to the belief in out-of-body-experiences. Specifically, Twitchell considered the soul to be traveling while one is asleep and dreaming. In contrast, the other religions emphasize being awake while having an out-of-body-experience and judge unconscious manifestations as unreliable.

Answer: Alone and/or in groups

Mantras are thought to minimize the influence of external stimulus on the physical senses, which may permit the superior viewpoint of the soul to be realized.

Answer: All of the answers are correct

Eckankar incorporates many beliefs drawn from Eastern religions. For example, karma may be simply explained as being moral causation in which negative behaviors will beget negative consequences and conversely positive behaviors will result in positive consequences. In considering the nature of reincarnation (i.e., the rebirth of the soul following death into a new life form) it would be possible that these consequences could potentially manifest over generations of rebirth of the soul.

Another of these beliefs is that, during out-of-body consciousness, it is possible to see inner light and hear inner sound, which are manifestations of God.

Finally, the chanting of mantras is viewed as singing love songs to God, which aids in opening the heart to God's love and facilitates the perception of inner light and sound.

Answer: To take the soul by its own path back to its divine source

As stated on Eckankar membership cards, "The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take the soul by its own path back to its divine source". This goal of spiritual liberation is considered attainable by all through consciously acknowledging oneself as soul (self-realization) and that soul is a manifestation of God (God-realization).

Answer: Adherents may continue to practice their pre-existing religion, too

It is very unusual for a professed religion, such as Eckankar, to be open to the acceptance of members retaining pre-existing religious beliefs and practices. In fact, Buddhism is considered a philosophy by some people and a religion by others. This lack of clarity fosters an ambiguous situation regarding what Buddhism really is even to those that practice it. Furthermore, in considering Voodoo as practiced in Louisiana, there are so many parallels between the religion of Voodoo and Roman Catholic Christianity that the tradition begun among slaves of practicing and/or blending the two religions continues today.

Answer: Chanhassen

The Chanhassen, Minnesota grounds of Eckankar headquarters extend over 174 acres of woodland and prairie. The ECK Spiritual Campus includes such features as: the Golden Wisdom Temple, Eckankar Celebrations of Life Chapel, and miles of Contemplation Trails.