Editing Eckankar (section)

==Beliefs==
Some scholars believe that Eckankar beliefs draw in part from the [[Sikhism|Sikh]] and [[Hinduism|Hindu]] religions,<ref>{{cite book |author=George D. Chryssides |title=The A to Z of New Religious Movements |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2001 |location=Oxford, UK |page=298 |quote=Emanating from the Radhosoami Satsang (q.v.) background, which is a synthesis of Hinduism and Sikhism (qq.v.), Eckankar teaches a form of surat sabda yoga&nbsp;...}}</ref> particularly the [[Radha Soami]] movement,<ref>[[J. Gordon Melton|Melton, J. Gordon]] (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc. {{ISBN|0-7876-6384-0}}. p. 1056.</ref><ref name="JonesRyan">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2007 |title=Eckankar |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Facts On File |place=New York |url={{Google books|OgMmceadQ3gC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |series=Encyclopedia of World Religions. [[J. Gordon Melton]], Series Editor |pages=144–146 |isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020070415/https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |archive-date=2022-10-20 |surname2=Ryan |given2=James D. |surname=Jones |given=Constance A. |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=2024-02-22 }}</ref> but [[J. Gordon Melton]] finds significant differences between Radha Soami teachings and Eckankar.<ref>17. Ibid. ^Melton, J. Gordon, Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th Edition). (q.v.) "ECKANKAR is distinguished from the [[Sant Mat]] tradition in significant ways. ECKANKAR, for example, teaches that the ultimate state for each individual is that of a co-worker with God, not oneness with God; inner techniques are more active spiritual exercises than yogic practices; and Eastern austerities (vegetarianism, extended meditation) are not espoused. Twitchell also presented a different vocabulary than that of Sant Mat teachings." It is arguable that Eckankar's denial of its reliance on Sant Mat's yogic practices, and Twitchell's assertion of a unique vocabulary were intended to distinguish Eckankar from its partial origins in the older established religion Sikhism and the Sant Mat teachings.</ref>

One of the basic tenets is that [[soul]] (the true self) may be experienced separately from the physical body and, in full consciousness, travel freely in "other planes of reality." Eckankar emphasizes personal spiritual experiences as the most natural way back to God.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/SEW/ Eckankar: Spiritual Exercise of the Week] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110819181428/http://www.eckankar.org/SEW/ |date=2011-08-19 }}. eckankar.org</ref> These are attained via Soul Travel: shifting the awareness from the body to inner planes of existence.<ref name="Cosmic 2009">Klemp, Harold. ''A Cosmic Sea of Words, The ECKANKAR Lexicon''. Minneapolis: Eckankar, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-57043-286-6}}</ref>{{rp|187}}

Certain [[mantra]]s or chants are used to facilitate spiritual growth. One important spiritual exercise is the singing or chanting of ''HU'', which is viewed in Eckankar as a "love song to God." It is pronounced like the English word "hue" (or "hyoo") in a long, drawn-out breath and is sung for 20 to 30 minutes. ECKists sing it alone or in small groups.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}} They believe that singing ''HU'' draws one closer to the Divine Being and that it can expand awareness, help one experience divine love, heal broken hearts, offer solace in times of grief, and bring peace and calm.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html HU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028215421/https://www.eckankar.org/hu.html |date=2017-10-28 }}. eckankar.org</ref> ECKists believe the practice allows practitioners to retreat from the overwhelming input of the physical senses and emotions and regain the Soul's spiritually higher viewpoint.

Dreams are regarded as important teaching tools, and members often keep [[dream journal]]s to facilitate study.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/dream.html Dreams: A Source of Inner Truth]. eckankar.org</ref> According to followers of Eckankar, dream travel often serves as the gateway to Soul Travel<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html Soul Travel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050628081239/http://www.eckankar.org/soultravel.html |date=2005-06-28 }}. eckankar.org</ref> (also known by Eckankar as an [[out-of-body experience]]), or the shifting of one's consciousness to ever-higher states of being. Soul travel is a term Twitchell created.

Eckankar teaches that "spiritual liberation" in one's lifetime is available to all and that it is possible to achieve "Self-realization" (the realization{{vague|date=February 2025}} of oneself as Soul) and "God-realization" (the realization of oneself as a "spark" of God) in one's lifetime. The membership card Eckankar followers carry states, "The aim and purpose of Eckankar has always been to take Soul by its own path back to its divine source."

The final spiritual goal of all ECKists is to become conscious "co-workers" with God.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}}<ref>''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'', Books One and Two, 65</ref>

The leader of Eckankar is known as "the Living ECK Master" (LEM). Eckankar claims that only a cisgender man can be the LEM as the Soul needs the structure of a male body in the physical world to become the spiritual leader, a choice made before birth.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lane |first=David C. |title=The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar |publisher=Del Mar Press |year=1993}}</ref> Eckankar now claims that some leaders—Twitchell and Klemp, for example—also hold the title "[[Mahant]]a", which refers to the inner aspect of the teacher. During Gross's ten-year leadership (1971–1981), the organization claimed he was the Mahanta. The leader functions as both an inner and outer guide for each member's spiritual progress.

ECKists believe that contact with a divine spirit, which they call the ''ECK'', can be made via the spiritual exercises of ECK and the guidance of the LEM. It is held that the ECK Masters serve all life irrespective of religious belief. The main Eckankar website includes a list of Masters—some of whom are historical figures.<ref>[http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/index.html Official Eckankar Masters List]. eckankar.org</ref>

The ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'', which means "Way of the Eternal", is the holy scripture of Eckankar.<ref>Klemp, Harold, 1998, Cosmic Sea of Words: The Eckankar Lexicon. Eckankar, Minneapolis.</ref> It comprises two books of spiritual meaning and purpose written by the Mahanta.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}} A series of [[Satsang]] writings are available with yearly membership in Eckankar. Satsang classes are available to study discourses with others and individually.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|177}}

Beliefs taught in the ''Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad'' include "Soul Travel", [[karma]], [[reincarnation]], love, and "Light and Sound". ECKists believe ''Sugmad'' is the endless source from which all forms were created and that the ECK, the "Sound Current", flows out of ''Sugmad'' and into lower dimensions.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59, 187, 194}}

Primary to the teaching is the belief that one may experience the perspective of the Soul beyond the body's limits. Also, the concepts of [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]] help explain situations in life as the playing out of past causes.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|186–187}}

The beliefs that people are responsible for their destiny and that their decisions determine their future are important in Eckankar. Eckankar students meet in open public services and classes to discuss personal experiences, topics, books, and discourses.<ref name="Cosmic 2009"/>{{rp|59}}