On a previous thread, Jerry wrote:
Eckankar dictionary
1978
Page 72
Jesus
An ECK Chela under Zadok, the ECK Master
in Judea, who gave him the basic fundamentals
of ECKANKAR, and out of this knowledge came
what is known as Christianity; The Mahanta con-
ciousness as the vehicle for the SUGMAD as IT
appeared to the Christians. See MAHANTA.
.....
Jerry
*********
Aside from a few typos and the missing last
sentence in this definition, I recounted how my
1986 version of Eckankar Dictionary had about
the same definition, essentially.
In spite of that, I am now somewhat puzzled as
to the various incarnations of Eckankar Dictionary
over time.
My 1986 version is illustrated as Sixth Printing.
The Copyright is given as 1973 - which is over a
year after Paul Twitchell translated; Darwin Gross
became spiritual leader of Eckankar; and shortly
after Darwin Gross and Gail Twitchell (Paul's widow)
were married (in October 1972?). I had no idea there
was a 1978 version of Eckankar Dictionary.
The puzzlement has to do with determining how
the 1973 version of Eckankar Dictionary compares
with the 1978 & 1986 versions - not to mention, how
these compare with the 1998 Eckankar Lexicon.
In Jerry's 1978 version, the definition for Jesus
mentions Mahanta consciousness, but it also has
"See MAHANTA."
Does anybody know if a listing for "MAHANTA"
appeared in the original 1973 Eckankar Dictionary?
"MAHANTA CONSCIOUSNESS" appears in 1986
version, but a listing for "MAHANTA" does not. So
I wonder when the latter first appeared. During the
time - or about a year after death for - Paul? Or if
it first appeared during the time of Darwin Gross?
The Eckankar Lexicon has included "MAHANTA",
but a listing for "MAHANTA CONSCIOUSNESS" is
missing.
Why is any of this im****tant to me? Partly the
answer might become more evident after reading
the following quote:
".... Paul encouraged people to read The Shariyat-
Ki-Sugmad and make their own study. He never
said to take the words as holy, as the last word.
You take the words and check out the teachings
from within: Does this work for me or doesn't it?
You have to know. And based upon what you
know is how you conduct your life out here. This
is what governs your relation****p with your friends
and your family. It governs every aspect of you
in the lower worlds, including your ethics and
morality. [....]"
[Based on: Article (The Real Foundation), by
Harold Klemp - see link]
http://www.eckankar.org/Masters/Peddar/writings.html#ideal
*********
Looking at the Eckankar Lexicon definition for
Jesus, I do not find the illustration for "MAHANTA
Consciousness. Nor reference to See: MAHANTA.
I'm not arguing integrity of pure inner spiritual
teachings, only outer teachings and illustrated
definitions for same over time. I'm looking at the
"words" and their apparent history. It's a hobby,
and something I love to do.
Two definitions prior to Jesus (in the Eckankar
Lexicon) comes Jehovah:
"The MAHANTA Consciousness as the VEHICLE
for the Sugmad as It appeared to the old Judeans;
also known as JOT NIRANJAN."
I have to know. Is there a difference between
"MAHANTA Consciousness" & "MAHANTA"?
This is kinda hard to tell, IMO, based upon the
fact these terms seem to appear and disappear
over time and/or the meanings appear to change.
It is also hard to tell, IMO, about what is being
said about history.
Jot Niranjan is the ruler of the Astral Plane,
it would seem. Was this the "MAHANTA Con-
sciousness" as the vehicle for the Sugmad as
it appeared to the old Judeans?" How could it
be when "MAHANTA CONSCIOUSNESS", in
my Eckankar Dictionary, suggests this is the
head of ECK? Or, the highest of all states of
consciousness?
It's taking time to research this subject, as
I'm having to try and determine what was the
actual meaning intended for these definitions.
Part of the Harold Klemp quote given earlier
gave: ".... Does this work for me or doesn't it?
You have to know. And based upon what you
know is how you conduct your life out here.
....."
Based upon what I knew, Jesus was said
to have been only a second initiate by some
people. Not "The Mahanta conciousness as
the vehicle for the SUGMAD as IT appeared
to the Christians. See MAHANTA." - What
accompanied JerryCic's quote.
I still want to doubt that 1978 definiton for
Jesus ever appeared in Eckankar Dictionary.
However, if it is true that it did in 1978, when
did it first appear? Was it there from the be-
ginning? In 1973? Does anybody know this?
And why it was removed for the Lexicon in
1998?
I'm basing my understanding for history
of these two terms on what I know. More
research is necessary, IMO, to discover
what - at this point with written history at
least - I don't know.
Part of the difficulty I'm having appears to
stem from associating "MAHANTA CON-
SCIOUSNESS" with "MAHANTA". Is there
a difference between the two spelled out in
any Eckankar Dictionary or Eckankar Lex-
icon? And if not, does that mean they are
essentially the same?
JerryCic's 1978 quote, IMO, appears to
suggest the two terms were given separate
listings in that dictionary (Example: "See
MAHANTA" in the Jesus definition - which
also included "Mahanta conciousness".)
Etznab
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