On Apr 5, 11:38=A0pm, Etznab <etz...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> =A0 =A0I'm not going to give quotes here, but I am looking
> to determine the original Copyright date for the book:
> "ECKANKAR PRESENTS, LETTERS TO A CHELA".
>
> =A0 =A0The reason to forego quotes is that I don't know
> whether this was an Initiates-Only book, discourse
> series, or whatever.
>
> =A0 =A0The copy I'm familiar with mentions Paul Twitchell
> on the cover and appears to suggest it was literally
> authored by Paul Twitchell. This would be the 1980
> Copyright version of that book.
>
> =A0 =A0In 1980, Drawin Gross was the spiritual leader
> of Eckankar. And if you believe what is written in
> the first letter on page 10, (IMO) it would appear
> that Darwin Gross was the "Mahanta, the Living
> Eck Master". (large and small caps illustrated
> differently in actual quote).
>
> =A0 =A0Reading through that book I got the impression
> that it was not entirely "written" by Paul Twitchell.
> In other words, not entirely authored by him. Yet,
> I have yet to locate an illustration in the book to
> clarify that, in fact, this was not the actual case.
>
> =A0 =A0The original copyright, the first version of this
> book, is what I'm curious about. Because if the
> 1980 version was authored by Paul Twitchell,
> why does one of the letters suggest the name
> of his successor as the present (1980) master?
> Did Paul Twitchell (who died in 1971) write, or
> author that? Reminds me a little of Moses and
> the "idea" that he authored Deuteronomy.
>
> =A0 =A0It's creepy I have to admit, but for someone
> who claimed to keep Paul Twitchell's works
> in their original form, it sure looks (to me) like
> Darwin Gross (or someone) took the liberty of
> "re-writing" those letters.
>
> =A0 =A0This was Copyright 1980. A critical year in
> the history of Eckankar, in my opinion. Does
> anybody know if this was a discourse series,
> for 2nd-Initiates and above only, or one of the
> books available to the public? For research &
> educational purposes I want to consider the
> "history" behind this book.
>
> =A0 =A0Mostly, I'm trying to determine the number
> of versions for this book. If 1980 was the first
> one. Secondly, I'm trying to determine if the
> leader of Eckankar can "re-write" the works
> of the former leader, while at the same time
> attributing author****p ("apparently") to him
> (the former leader) only.
>
> Etznab
After searching through my library of Eck books
I can now provide some clarification about this one.
The title sounded familair, as if it were still one of
the available books. So after checking the bookshelf
(my bookshelf) I found another (newer) version.
On the cover is a sticker which indicates "This item
is for use by Eck Chelas only." It confirms my suspic-
ion that it might have been a discourse series and not
something I would feel comfortable quoting from - until
its determined whether that if OK.
Letters to Gail, Vol. 3, was also a "discourse series"
as I remember. One that was later put into book form
and available for purchase by Eck Chelas. However -
unlike Letters to a Chela - I'm not sure that book is
available now. It was discontinued, far as I remember.
Why I happened to pick up and read the 1980 version
of Letters to a Chela last night I've no idea. Apparently
I had read it before (I made marks in it) but didn't realize
the "historical insights" it gave.
My newer copy is Copyright 1987, Second Printing
1987. That would appear to answer one of my earlier
questions about how many versions there were.
Both versions, however, give the name Paul Twitchell.
To the best of my knowledge there is no illustrations of
"compiled by", etc., to indicate that it was NOT written
entirely by (authored by) Paul Twitchell. In fact, the 1987
version has omitted "Authored by Paul Twitchell" on the
inside page (something that appeared in the 1980 one).
Perhaps it was not coincidence to have realized
there were at least two versions of this book. One
during the time of Darwin Gross and one during the
time of Harold Klemp. Both of them give the name
of Paul Twitchell, which led me to believe they were
"copies" of his works. The key revelation, however,
is that they are not "exact" copies. Between the two,
additions and revisions exist.
The last paragraph in the earlier message to this
thread gave:
*********
Mostly, I'm trying to determine the number
of versions for this book. If 1980 was the first
one. Secondly, I'm trying to determine if the
leader of Eckankar can "re-write" the works
of the former leader, while at the same time
attributing author****p ("apparently") to him
(the former leader) only.
*********
Concerning the last question in that para-
graph, it appears to me that is "apparently"
possible. At least, it's possible for Eckankar
(the company, whatever) to give books by a
former leader, change the contents, and at
the same time illustrate the "author" as the
one who created it in the first place. Darwin
Gross and Harold Klemp have BOTH done
so "apparently" with the works and writings
of Paul Twitchell, the founder of Eckankar.
For historical research based on existing
do***ents, this is vital revelation to keep
in mind when reading through the available
materials. In other words, it is not always
"apparent" that the "ORIGINAL" history is
what you're looking at. Things might be in
some ways worded differently now - and
based on what the "compilers" believed
the original author meant (some cases).
This is something that helps confirm one
of my suspicions over time. That the copies
of Eckankar books available to me after 1987
through Eckankar may NOT be "exactly" as
the original author illustrated them. Usually
this is indicated somehow though.
Without quoting the actual letters text, I
don't know how much I can reference it. A
lot of the content, however, was familiar to
me from other Eckankar books. Ones even
that were not for Chelas only.
That which I want to point out here is my
recent impression reading again the 1980
version of Letters to a Chela. It was creepy.
It was like I was seeing words attributed to
an author who's books I have read almost
every one. But the writing style here and
some of the content I didn't recognize. It
gave me the impression it was put together
by another person. Something like the new
versions of the Bible when compared to the
old King James version. (All apparently -
believed by some - authored by inspiration
of God only.)
There are no mistakes, perhaps. And my
question was answered by having somehow
picked this one book (1980 version) out of a
pile and realized it was put together during
the time of Darwin Gross. Between it and
the 1987 version my second question has
been addressed. As to the first ("Mostly, I'm
trying to determine the number of versions
for this book."), I suspect it must have been
"AUTHORED BY PAUL TWITCHELL" PRIOR
to the 1980, or 1987 Second Printing versions.
Letters to a Chela? Paul Twitchell? When
did that first happen? Anybody have a clue?
Etznab
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