Editing Eckankar (section)

==Criticism==
In his 1977 book ''Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America'', [[David C. Lane]] writes:
{{Blockquote|This lineage, known as the Vairagi masters in Eckankar, allegedly traces its genealogy back through some 970 Living Eck Masters to Rama, an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. In other versions, the teachings go even further back to Gakko, a spiritual essence that traveled from the city of Retz on the planet Venus to Earth six million years ago&nbsp;... In addition, Sudar Singh and Rebazar Tarzs are not genuine historical personages but literary inventions developed by Twitchell to conceal his past associations.<ref>{{cite book |title =''Eckankar'' in Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America (ed Eugene V. Gallagher and W. Michael Ashcraft)Volume 3: Metaphysical, New Age, and Neopagan Movements|pages = 115|first = David Christopher|last = Lane| year = 2006|publisher = Greenwood Press}}</ref>}}

Lane has also suggested that Twitchell, a former Scientologist, incorporated [[Scientology]] teachings into Eckankar.<ref name=carleton>{{cite web|url= https://religionsmn.carleton.edu/exhibits/show/eckankar/new-religious-movements/eckankarnrm|title=Eckankar as a New Religious Movement}}</ref>