Eckankar is a modern spiritual movement founded in the United States in 1965 by Paul Twitchell. It presents a system of teachings and practices aimed at direct, personal experience of what it calls the ECK, or the divine life force. Adherents—often called Eckists—focus on inner listening, contemplative exercises and a belief in the soul's ongoing spiritual journey. For an introduction and official materials see overview.

Core beliefs and practices

Central to Eckankar is the idea that each person is a soul and that spiritual progress occurs through inner experiences of Light and Sound. Practitioners use simple spiritual exercises, including the repeated chanting of the sacred name HU, contemplative writing, and guided exercises intended to produce "soul travel"—out-of-body or inner soul experiences that reveal higher levels of consciousness.

Key elements include:

  • The ECK—a name for the creative power or sound current believed to connect soul to God.
  • Soul Travel—techniques for exploring inner planes of reality and past-life memories.
  • Spiritual leader—a Living ECK Master who offers guidance; the movement has had successive spiritual leaders and organizational structures since its founder's death. Additional historical detail is available at history.

History, organization and reception

Paul Twitchell established Eckankar in the mid-1960s, drawing on a mixture of Western metaphysical ideas and elements resembling South Asian contemplative traditions. After Twitchell's death, leadership continued under appointed successors and a corporate organization that publishes books, conducts seminars, and organizes regional study groups. The current leadership has emphasized outreach and literature in multiple languages; see resources for publications and events.

The movement has been described in academic and journalistic sources as a new religious movement. It attracted both devoted followers and critics: some scholars note similarities to other mystical traditions, while some commentators have questioned aspects of the founder's biography and the movement's claims. Balanced commentary and critiques can be consulted at analysis.

Today Eckankar continues to present itself as a path for direct spiritual experience rather than adherence to dogma, emphasizing personal transformation, study groups, and seasonal programs. Its materials aim to teach techniques that followers say help clarify purpose, heal emotional wounds and expand awareness of the soul's relationship to the divine.