Self-Responsibility With the Works of ECK
February 1969
Dear Friends:
This month we are going to talk about the esoteric reasons why the chela cannot exchange discourses with those who are now studying ECK, or let those who are not chelas read them. Neither can a student talk about or reveal the contents of the discourses to anyone who is outside ECK. At no time may the chela study more than one discourse nor receive more than one a month, nor discuss proper terminology with others.
First, chelas are not allowed to exchange discourses with anyone, especially those who are not studying ECK, except members of his family living under the same roof. Once he does this his own spiritual progress becomes nullified and the MAHANTA is unable to do anything for him. He cannot spiritually develop until the situation rectifies itself. If the MAHANTA gives him special permission, then it is possible; but not unless this is done in writing and an answer received.
The same applies for any chela who allows anyone outside his family read the discourses without special permission from the MAHANTA. These discourses are the secret teachings between Master and chela. To allow anyone to read them first without first writing the MAHANTA is giving away unearned materials, and brings harm to both the chela and whoever reads them without becoming a student himself.
When the chela begins his discourses he should know there is a line established between himself and the Master. This is an invisible esoteric line which is used by the MAHANTA to communicate with the chela, inwardly. When a chela allows anyone else to read these discourses, or exchanges them with anyone outside ECK, he is apt to break this communication line between himself and the Master. It is used for many purposes: for the MAHANTA to guide the chela through hardships and dangers, to give him the secret teachings and to answer requests. None but an established chela can have this spiritual communication line with the Master.
The chela must not, under any circumstances, allow himself to discuss or reveal what he is studying in the discourses with others who have not accepted the Living ECK Master as their spiritual guide. Since the materials are secret materials, they should never be given away, and this includes the techniques of how to do Soul Travel. Once this has started, the chela and his friends who are not members of ECK, will be together outside of ECK. The chela may lose everything doing this and be eventually dismissed from ECK.
The chela is not allowed to study more than one series of discourses at the same time. If he should send in his payment for another series, at the same time he is studying one series, it will be returned. He does not want to overload himself with trying to digest too much of the spiritual work at one time. This happens when a chela believes that he is ready for the whole works of ECK. It simply isn't true. He cannot take too much of the spiritual works at the same time because it's like eating too much rich food. It will halt his spiritual unfoldment and he will begin to wonder what has happened to him. He should take his study slowly, one a month, and not try to get into too much of a hurry, forcing his unfoldment.
I find that too many chelas are in too much of a hurry to get into the God-Realized states. If it has taken many centuries of incarnated lives to meet the Living ECK Master, then it is a practical course to listen to him, to turn their inner lives over to him, and do as he says about what has been given here. But few want to do this; they are interested in studying another course at the same time, or reading as many books as possible about many other ideas and systems until they are thoroughly confused. Then they call upon the MAHANTA to get them out of their dilemma, and when he stands aside to let them work through it, they become miserable and unhappy.
One must either believe in the Living ECK Master or not. If the chela doesn't, within a reasonable amount of time, then he should drop out of ECK. This is a serious path and must be considered the only way to God. If the hardships come, hang on with everything for the MAHANTA is standing by giving help; and if the chela must go through a karmic problem, he will be given help but the task is his alone. He bears the responsibility. The basis for all this is faith in the Living ECK Master and his ability to be with the chela at all times, to heal, give help and guide through the obstacles of life.
Another thing which must be taken up at this time is the situation arising when a chela asks that his mail be sent to another address, because his family is definitely against this type of spiritual work. The policy is to stop this is anyone is doing this sort of thing, because we in ECK do not lend ourselves to deceive one while trying to help another. If a house-wife asks for her mail to be sent to a friend's home, because her husband does not want her to have it, this is not being honest with her mate. If both do not agree upon allowing the material in their home, we would rather have the chela not receive it. We want to be above board with all, and not have any disagreements between members of the family over the ECK materials.
The chela must study for two years before he is eligible for initiation; this means that he must have the Soul Travel and Secret Way Discourses before applying. If he takes the Precepts and then Soul Travel, this will suffice for initiation, but two years is the minimum. It does not matter how much he has studied with other esoteric groups and religions. They have nothing to do with the spiritual works of ECK, and although they give the chela a background, quite often he soon finds that he is not able to keep up with whatever is given in ECK. He might think that he does, but the MAHANTA knows that he is over his head in the works and that he won't admit it.
This is one cause for failure with the techniques. I get letters from chelas who believe they should start with the Soul Travel discourse, who suddenly find themselves unsuccessful with the philosophy and techniques. First, they are thinking in terms of astral travel and secondly, they soon learn that they are beyond their own spiritual depths. They should have started on Precepts of ECKANKAR. Now that we have the ECK Satsang Discourses (First Series) for classwork, many could start with these and be far better off than with any of the individual courses.
I am always with you.
Affectionately,
Paul
From the book, Illuminated Way Letters © 1981 Eckankar – Sri Paul Twitchell
