The title of this discourse refers to Obstacles to the Mahanta's Mission. Within this discourse there are multiple references to what Klemp perceives to be obstacles to the Mahanta's Mission but not a single definition of what the Mahanta's Mission is. In absence of a description by Klemp of the Mahanta's mission here is a quote from the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, the Bible of Eckankar (emphasis added):

• "It means then that the mission of the Mahanta (Klemp) on this earth is to stir the millions of noninitiated into revolt against all orthodox religions. It also means that anyone who opposes the Mahanta in any of the worlds is foolish for the ECK will swiftly work in retribution. There is no wasting away of the Mahanta's strength, for it is of the power of the ECK." - Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Bk I, Page 214, Paul Twitchell

Perhaps Klemp too has been injured by his association with Eckankar. How can Harold act like a true Master when he is tied by his Holy Book to be the 'militaristic' leader of the spiritual revolt of the planet? I say militaristic because of the use within this quote of the words OPPOSE, FOOLISH, RETRIBUTION, and POWER. This statement of retribution is not of a loving God. It's more like a warning or a threat. But for lack of a simple definition of the Mahanta's mission from Klemp's discourse this is all we have to go by. Unless there is a hidden mission. Perhaps we can uncover the mission that Klemp is talking about by reviewing his own writing. We may then discover the true purpose of this discourse: Obstacles to the Mahanta's Mission.

As you read the critique refer back to this quote by Harold's Master Paul Twitchell, the modern-day founder of Eckankar. The following quote is from the discourse series, The Precepts Of Eckankar, discourse # 3, The Thirty-Two Marks of the Master, 1967, page 8, by Paul Twitchell.

"No. 30. The Master teaches only the positive truths. To correct any faults in his followers he simply points out the opposite virtues. He never tells anyone that they are practicing hatred, but explains the positive virtues of love to change the man. He points out that to talk about one's negative fault is only to advertise and strengthen that fault. It accentuates the fault and awakens other faults in both the faultfinder and his victim"

Before Eckists complain of using Mr. Twitchell as source material since his 'consciousness' was from the 60's, please note that Mr. Klemp pulls in Paul's name several times in this discourse to use as supporting material for his points. Notice in this quote the use of the word 'victim' by Paul. When I read such statements as Paul warns of in Klemp's writings, even though I may not be the target of these statements by Harold, I feel like a victim too! What kind of person wants to pull another person to look at negative things? An angry one? How can I blame Harold for disobeying Paul when I too am pointing out negative things in Harold's writings. For one thing, unlike Harold, I don't claim to be a master. Oh Well. (Yes questioning chelas, the Shariyat Book II does say that the Chela must listen to and obey the command of the Mahanta, The Living Eck Master, Page 134).

I will repeat my feelings from critique # 1. If Eckankar is to be a viable path in the Aquarian age it needs to rid itself of all plagiarized documents, all threats written and implied, coercion, claims of God, apologize for the same. Abolish the initiations above the second because the initiations create a separateness between the chelas, foster vanity in the spiritual students, and are used as a control tool by Klemp. Allow other views and faiths to be represented at the Eck temple and centers, and in services. An honest open inquisitive Eckankar. The Sound of God is not the voice of the Old Testament God Of Retribution that Klemp is the trumpeter of.

Recall the old adage: "By his actions, ye shall know him."

One of Klemp's favorite KAList techniques is to flatter and degrade his followers at the same time. The following quotes from the discourse are displayed here to demonstrate the adjectives, adverbs, and superlatives that Klemp uses to describe himself, Paul Twitchell, the Eck Masters, and Eckankar. Such statements give the Eckist 'ego strokes', as well as calm his doubts and engender a greater sense of importance within the Eck teachings. Shouldn't the experiences, concepts, and words stand on their own? The bolded-italicized words are my emphasis to show the elitism of Klemp.

• "In this discourse I will talk about the hardships that the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master puts up with so that people in the human consciousness can rise upward in spirit.

  You would truly be wonder-struck at the complaints from initiates in regard to the call of service to ECK..." - page 7
  

You put up with taxes, you put up with mosquitos in Minnesota's summer, and you put up with your spouses snoring, but not the 'efforts' made for the unfoldment of your students. That is a Master's greatest love and his life's work and pleasure. You put up with something you do not really want to do, something you resent but feel you can't change. Klemp's martyr complex continues (from discourse #1 ) with his emphasis on his hardships. Don't you all have hardships in your life? It seems that the Godman of Eckankar would have you believe that his problems are far greater than yours.

How does this statement make Eckists feel? If I allow myself to slip into the Eckankar viewpoint, the feelings I have are a strong empathy and desire to assist Harold with his hardships. In other words to ease his load. I feel sorry that he is suffering. I want to be a good chela, and not cause him any more problems and hardships than he already has. This is a convenient place for Harold to have his chelas, for it is from there that he can further influence their actions towards his own ends (i.e. The Mahanta's Mission) and the chelas can perpetuate the illusion of their own Christ complex.

Aside from the play on Eckists' emotions for his own benefit, the Eckists should ask Klemp why they should be wonder-struck about the complaints from the initiates? Harold has taught and continues to teach us all about complaints. Do you see how Harold accuses his own chelas of complaining about service to ECK, when he himself writes in the very first paragraph of his discourse that he puts up with such great hardships as the Living ECK Master.

Complaint: 1: expression of grief, pain, or resentment.

(From Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary)

The first sentence of this discourse is a complaint from the Godman of Eckankar about his role, a role he simply puts up with (resents?), for your benefit.

Life is the teacher, not Klemp. Each of us is a free soul and has an awareness of spirit as to our desire, interest, and effort. Don't let anyone take away your self-responsiblilty, especially a hypocritical complainer like Klemp.

What's the greatest obstacle to the Mahanta's Mission? Perhaps himself. But then again what is the secret agenda of this Mahanta's Mission?

• "Fortunately, the ECK Masters walk the trails on the edges of the black forests of consciousness and guide the lost ones into the meadows of light and being. Therefore, anyone in a conventional religious body who has broken its hold was helped to do so by an ECK Master." - page 8

This absolutist and self-elevating statement documents Klemp's attempts to take credit (through his leadership of the Eck Masters) for other people's choices when it is in his benefit,( i.e. one leaving a conventional religion) and yet he clearly takes no responsibility whatsoever for people's alleged propensity to complain, nor of the causes behind their pain.

• "This is symbolic of the desert of consciousness that the physical life without ECK offers him (chela). Broken and wearied by the unexplained problems of heart and Soul, the ragged individual awaits the grace of the Sat Guru (Klemp), only too happy to sit in the dirt if there is any hope at all that the temple has in it the answers to riddles that distress him." - page 8

Do you notice who is in the dirt here? Why is such imagery needed from a Master (sat guru)? This seems to be a place a master salesman would envy to have a potential buyer in. Desperate, tired, and in need of help.

Harold, why not write something like this: "The grace of God assists all who wish to know truth, all who are struggling to open their hearts, and understand the riddle of life."

• "The Mahanta(Twitchell) came to me (Klemp) in the dream state to give an insight how the ECK Masters work among the people, even though they are followers, at first, of the common religions." - page 10

The use of the word 'common' here means ' inferior to Eckankar'. Air is pretty common, so is water, and food. Should we stop eating, drinking, and breathing because they are so common? The Eck Master's (i.e. Klemp's) continual self-elevating statements infest the Eckist's subconscious. Their ego, already smashed by life, or going through withdrawals from their addictive need for approval from the Eck, is injected with so much flattery from these discourses that they probably tear the discourse from the envelop to devour it as soon as it arrives. I know I did!

• "This string of enlightenments was hardly a gift, for I (Klemp) had earned the right to them by a determined and consistent practice of the Spiritual Exercises of ECK." - page 11

Its very interesting how Klemp tells stories upon stories which illustrate the help of the 'great' ECK Masters in the lives of the Eckists and non-initiates. But somehow he claims here that he and his efforts alone, are responsible for his enlightenments? What about the rest of us Non-Mahantas? Isn't it possible Harold, that everyone earns what they receive? And they neither owe anything to, nor need the pompous help of the masters of Eckankar. I'm getting tired of your holier than thou writings.

• "The monthly initiate reports are therefore the Mahanta's way to let the chela pass off some of the karma that must dissolve before there is any hope of dwelling in the superior awareness of ECK." - page 12

This is a One-Two punch. One, authority and power over the chelas - the Mahanta's way to let (i.e. allow). Two, flattery and vanity - the superior awareness of ECK. Klemp K.O.'s chelas!

Another one of Klemp's favorite KAList techniques is to attack other spiritual paths and wield his illusion of control over the initiates. The following quotes from the discourse are displayed here to demonstrate how the 'compassionate' Mahanta attacks all who oppose him, don't even know of him, those who want to follow him, and the Eckists as a whole. Such statements give the Eckist the emotionally charged message to NOT be one of the group of people, or type of person that Klemp attacks lest you lose favor with the Godman. The bolded-italicized words are my emphasis to show where the attacks of Klemp come out.

• "The lower the state of consciousness, the greater the inner revolt to becoming a worker someplace in the spiritual hierarchy." - page 7

This statement, from the self-proclaimed SUGMAD(God) on earth, equates serving in the 'spiritual hierarchy' to higher states of consciousness. Spiritual Hierarchy here is a synonym for 'spreading the Message of Eck'. If only the master Harold would follow Eckankar's teaching and recall that everything is in it's proper place within all the worlds of God instead of trying to influence Eckists to serve, serve, serve. The Eckists become so consumed with serving that they mistake service for spiritual growth, and vanity for Self and God-awareness.

• "These people, those who think only of what they can get out of ECK, are obstructions to the mission of the Master." - page 8

Out Damn Spot! Purge time. Are all you chelas ready? Whom of you will be on the right hand of the Mahanta? This divisive statement is an attack upon Klemp's own students. This statement appears to be an expression of Harold's grief, pain, or resentment. In other words, another complaint from the Godman himself. Are you wonder-struck yet? (Refer to quote from Precepts of Eckankar)

• "The silver cord has been severed for the bodies of Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, even to the extent that the recent offshoots of ECK, such as the Sant Mat groups, have so little of the spiritual essence in them that one could spend a lifetime in them and not see any real results. This is not to say that only people in ECK will find enlightenment, but the members of the orthodox groups find it despite their church. If their future depended upon the nourishment that is in the bibles of men, they would starve in spirit." - page 8

Harold, why do you love to attack other religions? What are you afraid of? This is the first ever discourse that I recall Klemp mentioning the Sant Mat groups, which are the Light and Sound teachings from which Paul Twitchell plagiarized most of the Eckankar works. Harold attacks them also. He forgets (in his blind belief that he is the fountainhead of the Light and Sound) that each soul can in and of itself contact the essence of God from which it came. Harold, you have claimed that Eckankar is making bridges to other faiths to make it easier for others to understand Eckankar, but instead of simply grooming a path to Eckankar's door, you also fire your ballistic missiles of hate directly into the camp of those religions so that the souls there are forced into fleeing from their spiritual path. On second thought, new people don't receive this discourse series. Perhaps Klemp is actually tearing down all other paths so the long-time Eckists reading his words will be influenced to stay in Eckankar, since all of the other paths are trashed by the self-proclaimed SUGMAD(God) on earth (discourse # 3), Harold Klemp.

This reminds me of a quote from the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Book I, by Paul Twitchell, page 181, paragraph 4 excerpt:

"For it is said in ECKANKAR that whosoever puts his hand over another to govern him is an usurper and a tyrant. The ECK declares him an enemy."

• "Spiritual liberation, the model upon which the churches established their concept of salvation, is not entrusted to the priestcraft, for the have no knowledge or experience with the Audible Life Stream. They are the pretenders of truth who mislead the seeker in order to develop his discrimination as to what is right or wrong." - page 8

How does Klemp know that priests have no knowledge or experience in the Audible Life Stream? How do Eckists know this? How does this statement make one feel? This is how this statement makes me feel as an Eckist; "I am so holy, I have the Eck, ALL those 'religious' people, all those others know NOTHING of it. I am so special, so loved, so fortunate, I am on the True Path of God". Attack all you want Harold, but don't complain when you receive the same.

• "This is only one example among many. Today the conscious development of good, noble traits of character in school is pratically nil. In the future far greater emphasis must be laid on this. Loyalty, spirit of sacrifice, discretion are virtues that a great nation absolutely needs, and their cultivation and development in school are more important than some of the things which today fill out our curriculums. The discouragement of whining complaints, of bawling, etc., also belongs in this province. If a system of education forgets to teach the child in early years that sufferings and adversity must be borne in silence, it has no right to be surprised if later at a critical hour, when a man stands at the front, for example, the entire postal service is used for nothing but transporting whining letters of mutual complaint. If at the public schools a little less knowledge had been funneled into our youth and more self-control, this would have been richly rewarded in the years from 1915-1918." Mein Kampf, Page 114, Adolph Hitler, 1925

Oops, how did this quote get here! I must have mixed up my source material on complainers, you know Harold, Hitler, both begin with H's. Actually, now that I look at this quote it seems that Harold Klemp is not the only powerful leader who complains about complainers. Interesting support and interpretation of the 'Law of Silence' by Hitler. I wonder if Harold Klemp believes that the Eck chelas who are complaining should also shut up and keep their opinions and sufferings to themselves? Who would have thought? I do not support Hitler, or Nazism in any way. I only use it here to point out the possible subconscious control techniques used by powerful leaders of people.

• "These are the introverted chelas I mentioned earlier in this letter. They have turned the spiritual energies in upon themselves." - page 9

And I suppose you are the life of the party Harold; the perfect being on earth; Adolph's dream man. "The vanguard of the human race" (your words from discourse # 3). Harold do you recall this from the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Book II, page 64, by your Master, Paul Twitchell:

"He (the Shab - 7th initiate in Eckankar) never finds fault or blames others, either to their face or behind their back, no matter what the provocation may be. He does not speak ill, and he never lectures others concerning their shortcomings".

How can one learn to be a master from a master who hasn't mastered himself? (Refer to quote from Precepts of Eckankar)

• "Those who pay lip service to the spiritual exercises by giving them a cursory trial complain that ECK does not work for them. Therefore, something is wrong with the program (eckankar). True to the mold of the loser, failure in their life is always the fault of somebody else. They seldom take responsibility for what they do, and what they do is done in a halfhearted and sloppy way." - page 9

What about 'masters' who pay lip service to their Holy Book? Harold do you recall this from the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Book II, page 64, by your Master, Paul Twitchell:

"He (the Shab - 7th initiate in Eckankar) never finds fault or blames others, either to their face or behind their back, no matter what the provocation may be. He does not speak ill, and he never lectures others concerning their shortcomings".

Harold, how can one learn to be a master from a master who hasn't mastered himself, or who has forgotten how to live his own life in tune with the spiritual ideals of his own path? (Refer to quote from the Precepts of Eckankar) And tell us Harold, since you seem content to degrade your chelas by accusing them of being failures who do not want to take responsibility for what they do, do you take the responsibility for the failures and complaints of your students, i.e.; the failure of your path, Eckankar, to produce God-Realized beings and instead produce all of the chelas whom you are complaining about? No, I didn't think so. In Eckankar the buck stops far below the SUGMAD on earth..., umm I mean the Mahanta..., no wait I should say the Living Eck Master..., No, how about Godman..., the Prophet of Eckankar?..., Ah-ha, the Spiritual Leader of Eckankar..., Oh OK! I mean the guide, someone's who's been to God and back. (Sorry newcomers didn't mean to confuse you about Harold Klemp's official Internet web-stated position.)

This brings up an interesting point. That of greed, and deceit. Hardly the mark of an honest master. Therefore I wonder why the official net page on the Living Eck Master describes Klemp as a mere guide, and the brochure for the Contemplation Trails of The Temple of ECK describe Harold only as the 'Prophet of Eckankar, not to be worshiped'. Is Eckankar trying to trick the newcomers? Is it misrepresenting itself to the public? It appears that they are hiding what Klemp writes about himself! Klemp writes that he is literally GOD on earth and has all the power to carry out the will of the Supreme One (his own words from discourse # 3, care to retract that claim Harold?)

Does Harold's and Eckankar's honesty begin after the new-comers are entrenched in Eckankar?

"This is why the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master has always advised the chela against reading literature on sacred religions, occult, and psychic matters. That is, until the chela is strongly entrenched in ECKANKAR; otherwise he is liable to find himself reacting to what is said in some of these works and eventually depend upon them in some manner or other, via certain modis operandi like prayer and requesting the space gods for help." - Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, Bk II, Pg 140, Paragraph 1, Paul Twitchell

The following quotes strung through the discourse comprise Klemp's main message to the long time Eckists. I have bolded and italicized words that I consider keywords in the quotes.

What is Klemp saying here ? What is the main message of this discourse, Obstacles to the Mahanta's mission ?

• " In this discourse I will talk about the hardships that the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master puts up with so that people in the human consciousness can rise upward in spirit. You would truly be wonder-struck at the complaints from initiates in regard to the call of service to ECK. People want spiritual advancement but are too selfish and lazy to work for it. Earth is for them a garden that is to serve their whims in plenty." - page 7

Analysis: This quote is in itself a complaint. By pointing out the problem Harold points out his own pain, which is one of the definitions of a complaint. The word 'complaint' has seemed to have gotten a dirty name. Words are used to communicate. The word 'complaint' is difficult to process because if complaints are truly viewed we must deal with the pain or grief that underlay them. But simply being wonder struck by complaints does nothing to constructively handle the pain and grief. Here I wish Harold would have listened to Paulji and NOT point out the negative. There's enough grief in the world. Do we really need more grief from Klemp about fellow Eckists? What's Harold trying to teach here? Selfish and lazy? Remember the old adage: 'The child (chela) who lives with criticism, learns to condemn.'

• "The only purpose of Soul, then, is to become a Co-worker with God. The lower the state of consciousness, the greater the inner revolt to becoming a worker someplace in the spiritual hierarchy." -page 7

Analysis: This quote sets up the division between two groups of Eckists. The first are those willing to conform, they have a higher state of consciousness. Those who 'revolt' (hmm mission of the Mahanta is to stir revolt?) have a lower state of consciousness. Spiritual hierarchy means 'the Eckankar movement' for Harold's purpose as follows.

• "Watch the chelas who turn in upon themselves in groups, the ECK centers that introvert the ECK flow and hold the ECK message out of reach of the community. The excuse is that they do not want to push ECK upon another, which is correct, but these initiates are so busy arguing with each other that the energy to go out into the world is all dissipated within the walls." - page 8

Analysis: This quote is an attempt to direct our attention to the negative attributes of certain chelas whose actions run contrary to pulling more 'converts' into Eckankar. Again I wonder why Harold doesn't follow mark No. 30 of the Master. I don't want to watch 'negativity' Harold. I feel like Klemp is trying to instigate 'loyal' Eckists to take charge and do something about this 'problem'. Why Harold doesn't handle it himself by: establishing firm field policies; having the Eckankar Spiritual Center pay local Eck Center's costs; hiring Eckists as employees to man the centers; and controlling the areas more like parishes of other faiths, instead of allowing the chelas to fight amongst themselves. That may settle this 'introversion' he complains about. And allow Eckists to concentrate on Soul and God realization, instead of converting new-comers.

• "The reason behind the bickering is that these individuals are more into self-service than into living the ideal of the great saints who have walked the earth before them, such as Rebazar Tarzs, Peddar Zaskq, Sardar Lhunpo, or Fubbi Quantz." - page 8

Analysis: The chelas, whom Harold claims are into bickering and self-service, may actually be trying to communicate, resolve their differences, and form agreements. The advice from the previous quote analysis would also apply here. If you don't like what you see Harold do something CONSTRUCTIVE about it instead of trying to polarize the Eckists against one another. Notice the throw in of Sardar Lhunpo. This master is certainly on the fringe within the spotlight of Eck Masters that are normally spoken of. I wonder why Harold added his name here? Also instead of using the phrase 'ideal of the great saints' perhaps the discourse pages could have been better used by explaining, with examples from the Saints lives, the IDEALS themselves. Certainly the ideals are not 'POINTING OUT THE FAULTS OF FELLOW ECKISTS'.

• "These people, those who think only of what they can get out of ECK, are obstructions to the mission of the Master." - page 8

Analysis: Get rid of them Harji. Talk, talk, talk. Complain, complain, complain. Of what use is this statement to me? Will I now go to the Eck Center meetings and stand up and point out those Eckists who are standing in Harold's way? These people need LOVE, not censure. Certainly if there is no wasting away of the Mahanta's power to those who oppose him, there must be no wasting away of the love for those same people. Let's just love them, and accept them, and address their concerns with respect. Perhaps then they can come to realize the underlying reasons for their opinions, and you for yours. If not, just do as I suggested above: finance and administer the whole structure of Eckankar down to the Eck center level. (Cost too much?- Oh well)

• "Why do the Adepts of the Order of the Vairagi put up with the insolence of the candidates who stand on the threshold of the path? Somebody who has gotten to this area of the secret doctrine has demonstrated, under the fire of spiritual tests, that the Spiritual Eye is awakening." - page 8

Analysis: Methinks this statement here is to calm the Eckists who are the one's that recognize themselves as the obstructions as Harold has described them. It appeals to their vanity. First of all because their insolence is acknowledged, and then as the quote shows their Spiritual Eye is awakening. In essence Harold is saying that there is still hope for the revolters to put down their weapons of opinion and move further into the secret doctrine.

• "Paul left several handwritten notes that go directly to the center of the Mahanta's mission. Above all, "the central question raised by ECK is does It work?" This is the great obstacle that must be surmounted in giving the message of ECK. People want to have proof that it works. Is it better than the schooling of the impostors? Stories that give assurance are from initiates who give a quiet testimony to the Light and Sound as they have seen and heard It - but only if it is deemed necessary to say anything at all. The thing that outshines such hearsay testimony is one's actual experience, and the Arahata is patient in the repetition needed to get the newcomer to diligently practice the spiritual exercises." - page 9

• "Paul made another point that bears a close look: 'ECKANKAR will not work only as Soul Travel; but it must be known as religion.' This raises the hackles of some ECKists when they read but half the message of the Shariyat." - page 9

Analysis: These two quotes find Harold using Paul Twitchell's statements to his advantage. Why the claim is made that these are handwritten by Paul is uncertain. Except as an emotional link to influence the Eckists. Here we see what Harold believes is one of the major problems within the body of the Eckists. It's the factor of Eckankar being a religion or not. Harold also seems to be using the Shariyat to his own ends. The Eckists who complain about critics using the early Eck writings from the 60's consciousness to support their position that Eckankar is a cult, should stop and realize that the present Godman of Eckankar is using the same 'outdated' material to support his positions. End of discussion?

• "Like the Old Testament writers, the compilers of the Shariyat give plenty of room for each person to find a niche in ECK. The statement that ECKANKAR is not a philosophy, metaphysics, or an orthodox religion is a thorn in the side of people who see the outer works of ECK distributed by the ECK Spiritual Center using the latest mailing machines. Having found the spiritual works for themselves, they want to stop others from the same opportunity." - page 9

Analysis: Harold hits the mark here. 'Like the Old Testament writers'. I think that's where Klemp is lodged from his seminary training. For his Old Testament God of retribution seems to have pervaded his writings. I've yet to meet any Eckist who believes that Eckankar should not use mailing machines. Perhaps Klemp is mistaken about the 'gripes' of the Eckists. Maybe instead of summarizing here Klemp could give us documents from RESA reports to support what he says is occurring at the Center level.

• "These are the introverted chelas I mentioned earlier in this letter. They have turned the spiritual energies in upon themselves." - page 9

Analysis: Get rid of them Harold. Kick them out. Why wait? Remember that the meek shall inherit the earth, and who wants the earth anyway? Why so strong in your writings and so meek in reality? Is it because if other Eckists silence the concerns of the revolters rather than you, then you won't be blamed for it?

• "They(introverted chelas) hold forth the outworn idea that truth should be passed directly from Master to disciple in a remote ashram. That is wishful thinking. If the methods of old were used by the ECK Masters today, it is certain that only a handful of persons would ever have heard of ECK. You can see behind the facade of these people because they are strongly opposed to any changes at all. They feel that their resistance to better ways of putting the ECK writings before contemporary society is a pure desire to keep the original message clean and unsullied. You'll hardly find a more self-righteous group as an obstacle to the Mahanta's mission." - page 9

Analysis: This quote cleary documents Klemp's main thesis. One he has been pushing for 12 years at least. I recall some flyer from Eckankar and Harold from 1983-84 that talks about this very same subject. How long does it take you Harold to get off the pot and do something real about this? Or maybe you're just trying to get rid of the revolters once and for all? Or divert attention from the other problems, such as plagiarism, the disappearance of Eck books by Paul such as The Far Country, from the Eck Sales catalog.

• "Therefore, something is wrong with the program. True to the mold of the loser, failure in life is always the fault of somebody else. They(introverted, self-righteous chelas) seldom take responsibility for what they do, and what they do is done in a halfhearted and sloppy way. This is the reason that businessmen today can be the leaders in the spiritual things - because the good ones carry out the Law of Economy for their survival and success." - page 9

Analysis: I have nothing to say about this quote except I wish again Klemp would have listened to Paul and not point out percieved negative traits within fellow eckists. Maybe most Eckists don't even know anyone like Harold describes(halfhearted, sloppy, introverted, self-righteous losers). This just seems to be more inflammatory statements by Klemp. Why? Maybe the discourse should be retitled: "How to Complain and Degrade without appearing to Complain and Degrade".

• "As Paul said in The Master I Discourses, some people use a lot of time and energy to get nowhere, others are able to command their resources better and make more progress than the first group, but the Masters in ECK are diligent in the observance of walking in the grace of ECK. Their every action is aligned with the universal mission of the Mahanta, who is the direct agent of the SUGMAD to carry forth ITS will in all creation." - page 10

Analysis: When Harold gets down to it he just cannot resist pulling in God, and his direct link to IT, to support himself and his divisive positions. On top of the SUGMAD link, Klemp also makes it clear that the Eck Masters are in total alignment with the mission of the Mahanta. In other words they all support what Klemp is writing in this discourse. So if Rebazar comes to you in a dream, etc. and tells you Eckankar should be handed down by word of mouth, it's not really Rebazar (or maybe Rebazar is no longer an Eck Master)? Note the Paul link here again. I guess Paul's statements and writings are fair game even though they are from the 60's consciousness.

• "Paul wrote, 'I must create a feeling of involvement for everyone who enters into ECK - make them feel a little part of It.' He knew that the best way for people to reach beyond the limits of self-serving interests was to turn around the inflow of ECK and let it go out into the world." - page 10

Analysis: Here we go again with Paul. Klemp claims that Paul knew the best way for people to reach beyond the limits of self-serving but what we really see in this quote is that Harold knows the best way to use Paul Twitchell to his advantage in order to turn YOUR attention to Klemp's purpose. At the same time Harold uses Paul to support his divisive positions, he blacklists Twitchell's books from Eck publication. (Have you noticed the disappearance of The Far Country, Dialogues with the Master, and the Illuminated Way Letters ?)

• "When a chela grasps the absolute need for service to God, then there will be a sudden gain in consciousness." - page 10

Analysis: This quote is bolded as is in the discourse. What a simple spiritual bribe this statement is. Harold seems to be saying: All you halfhearted, sloppy, introverted, self-righteous Eckists, if you just realize that you need to serve God (i.e. Eckankar, and the Mahanta's mission) then you will GAIN in consciousness. (Gee what happened to hard work and effort with the Spiritual Exercises?) I just can't believe a real master would use this kind of statement to influence his chelas. Tell me it ain't so Joe.

• "Backbiting and gossip are deadly in the ECK community, because they are the poison that destroys whatever light and goodness there is among the chelas. When the meanness and the contention become too great among his disciples, it is not uncommon for the Master to withdraw from them and go someplace else where the mental resistance to the spiritual works is less of an obstruction." - page 10

Analysis: Father says to children fighting in the house: "If you two mean, contentious, halfhearted, sloppy, introverted, self-righteous children don't stop all this bickering and fighting, well, well I am just going to leave! Then what are you going to do? Who's going to get you food and pay the mortgage." Why don't you just take a hike Harold. If you can't bribe us with gains in consciousness then you threaten us with abandonment. Maybe we would be better off with a real master after all. Oh and don't forget to leave the 'Rod of Power' by the door when you slink away.

• "Know that the secret doctrine is always available through some public channel. Truth is hidden for two reasons: (1) the unwillingness of people to hear it, and (2) the fact that it is scattered far afield. Paul's major contribution to the current golden age of consciousness is the gathering in one place of the original doctrines." - page 10

Analysis: Harold here seems to support the public channel of the Internet. Yes, the secrets are coming out now aren't they? Now everyone can have access to source material on the original doctrines for their own use, especially if they can't reach the Astral libraries.

• "The thing of importance here is that when the individual's motive is to help in the divine cause, then the Mahanta can bring spiritual aid to him. The major obstacles that stop one are the five passions and, especially, the ego." - page 11

Analysis: Spiritual bribe reference number two. How can Harold talk about the ego as an obstacle since he seems to cater to it with his bribes, and with his threats of abandonment? And speaking of ego Harold, isn't it egotistical to state in discourse after discourse (at least within this series) that The Living Eck Master (re: Klemp) is SUGMAD on earth, the direct agent of the SUGMAD, and the embodiment of the SUGMAD? I wonder if Jim Jones, or David Koresh were ever so deluded?

• "When the ECK renews Itself in the form of another Living ECK Master, the old chelas are bound to fall away in anger. The new Master does not fit the tight pinch of their expectations, so they leave the path for something temporal. The ego is a strange master, and it never brings the ripe fruits of Spirit." - page 12

Analysis: Retro-Eck? Harold are you speaking of your rise to Eck Mastership from 15 years ago (still) ? Do you believe that High Initiates are leaving Eckankar now because their anger is related to you as the 'new Master'? I think the tight pinch that you speak of is your unwillingness to fess up the truth about Eckankar's past, and that one little thing, claiming to be God on Earth (discourse # 3). Lately Harold you seem to be the Living Ego Master yourself, and yes, you are a strange master Harold.

What does it all mean?

The secret mission of the Mahanta? It's not so secret from this discourse is it? Split the Eckists. Polarize them. Clearly point out the 'offenders' ( the halfhearted, sloppy, introverted, self-righteous losers) so that either the 'loyal' Eckists will handle the situation at the Eck Center level, or the 'offenders' will realize they have been found out and will on their own, influenced by Klemp's bribes and threats, modify their behavior to no longer be an obstruction to spreading the message of Eck. I don't feel any closer to God or Spirit after reading this discourse.

The overall tone of this discourse is distressing. I opened the discourse to see the spirituality in it, to learn about God and love, to grow. I had not yet even thought about writing Letters To Harold. That decision was made sometime after reading the claims in discourse # 3. With all the attention within this discourse on the hardships of Harold, the controlling statements, and Harold's own complaints what shred of Spirit remains in this discourse? I now open Klemp's discourses in dread of finding more of the same from Klemp; complaints, attacks, and vain boasts. I hope this will change. Perhaps I will be free someday from all this.

Peace and growth, Harold. All we really want is peace and growth, and a little truth.

Harold complains about the complainers. Here is a quote from Klemp which shows his own complaints about how much money Eckankar was paying Darwin Gross as the president of Eckankar and how much less Eckankar was paying him as the Living Eck Master. Am I wonder-struck by the complaints from initiates, from 14th initiates? No, not wonder-struck, but sick and tired of it all.

1. "The man (Gross) has more money than you and I put together. He earns four times more than I do. And I don't care. I've come up the hard way. At this time the Eckankar organization pays me a salary. Darwin's is four times more, (stammer), more than mine. These were salaries he set himself."

2. "The paycheck (Darwin's) is, every month Six Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Six dollars. I don't know if it's and Sixty-Six cents. I don't know. But multiply by 12 months and you get an idea of what the man makes."

3. "But at this time he's (Darwin) still getting his money at the rate of Eighty Thousand dollars a year. I make a quarter of that so you know about where I am."

- Harold Klemp, 1983 World Wide of ECK, High Initiate's Meeting, Los Angeles, Ca.

Notice how Harold calls Darwin 'the man'? It seems Harold is still complaining about coming up the hard way. All his hardships once again. Thirteen years later and still he talks of hardships. Why does Klemp make us perform mental division? Why doesn't he say he made about Twenty Thousand dollars a year, instead of beating about the bush. Will Eckankar ever publish membership data such as number of members, totals dollars taken in, operating expenses, and salaries of all employees, including Harold's? Why the secrecy? Listen to the first quote of this section for yourself. It sounds like to me that the Living Eck Master is voicing his pain, grief, and resentment (i.e. a complaint). Listen for yourself.

Quote 1 - Just click here to download the lth2a.wav file to your computer.
Quote 2 - Just click here to download the lth2b.wav file to your computer.
Quote 3 - Just click here to download the lth2c.wav file to your computer.

I hope this document stimulates further analysis of the teachings of Harold Klemp. Also I ask other Brothers Of The Leaf (H.I.'s) to come forward to lend their ideas and observations. Some of you are considering taking the first step out of fear and conditioning. If you are in the process of unwinding the many years of repression in Eckankar, or are considering it, know that you are not alone, you do have others willing to help you. The next critique of The ECK Satsang Discourses, Fourth Series # 3, entitled 'The Purpose of the ECK Initiations' will be posted on or around 07/03/96.

Peace and Growth,
Raphael.

raphael@skypoint.com