About Sri Paul Twitchell

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Sri Paul Twitchell (Peddar Zaskq) the 971st Living Eck Master and designated Mahanta, received the Rod of Power on October 22, 1965.  Paulji brought the Dhunami teachings to the public's attention, for the first time in hundreds of years in 1965 under the name Eckankar.

Sri Paul was a soft-spoken southern gentleman of small stature with penetrating blue eyes, and a wealth of spiritual experiences in the "far country."  Under the guidance of the great Dhunami Master Rebazar Tarzs, who appeared to Paul nightly in his Light Body with instructions, Paul brought forth this age-old message through discourses and books, followed up by lectures and travels around the world.  He produced over 30 books about Eckankar along with personal discourses and monthly newsletters. 

"Eck, which is the short label for Eckankar... (now known as Dhun and Dhunami) is not a yoga, religion, or philosophy, nor a metaphysical or occult system.  It is merely a way to God-realization via soul travel." 1

"My father had learned something about Soul Travel when he was in Europe at one time.  He made the acquaintance of Sudar Singh and the two of them hit it right off.  The Indian holy man taught him some of the elementals of Soul Travel and the two of them corresponded frequently.  I know now for a fact that Sudar Singh visited him regularly in the Nuri Sarup (the Light Body).  Father taught Kay-Dee (Paul's sister) some of the basic steps in Soul Travel, and it was these elementary lessons that saved my life when I was 5 years old." 2

"It was upon their return to Paris that Paul met Sudar Singh for the first time.  The Indian holy man was lecturing in France in an effort to gain sincere disciples.  When Kay-Dee introduced her brother to the bearded adept, Sudar Singh took Paul's hand in his own and looked warmly into his eyes. 

"'Your father told me to expect you,'  he said.  'We had a rather long chat last night.' 

"Paul knew that Sudar Singh was not referring to long distance cable.  Kay-Dee had told him that it had been Sudar Singh who had taught Pop the Ancient Art of Soul Travel that Pop had in turn relayed to her.  Paul had been given the most convincing of demonstrations of bilocation when Kay-Dee had healed him of the near fatal pleurisy, and he had himself practiced slipping out of the body since that time; but he remained a bit skeptical about the possibility of bilocation at such great distances." 3

"Kay-Dee and Paul arrived home in China Point shortly before the outbreak of World War II.  The United States had still not become involved in the shooting aspects of the conflict, so young Paul went to Canada and tried to enlist in the Canadian Air Force.  He was rejected, but shortly after the sneak attack at Pearl Harbor brought America into the terrible conflagration that was consuming Europe and the Pacific, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

"Paul had many unique experiences during the war which enabled him to make full use of the spiritual science which he had acquired from Sudar Singh. 

"Once in the Pacific when the fleet was under attack by Japanese fighter planes, Paul was serving as gunnery officer with a small crew of men on a twenty-millimenter gun in one of the forward tubs aboard ship.  A shell had jammed in the loading and the crew was trying to unlock the gun in order to extract the shell.

"Suddenly Paul's father appeared at his side.  'Get out fast!' he said.  'The gun is going to explode!'

"Although Paul knew that his father's physical body was several thousand miles away in China Point, he was not at all confounded by his appearance in the Soul Body.  Paul leaped over the side of the gun tub, shouting at his crew to get out fast.

"The last of the crew had just made it to the deck, about ten feet below the gun tub, when the gun blew up."4

"...shortly after the war, I had returned to see Sudar Singh in Allahabad.  It was while renewing my physical bonds with Sudar Singh that I met the ancient Tibetan Master, Rebazar Tarzs, who is said to be several hundred years old.  It was under this holy man that I truly began to perfect my study of Eckankar and to master the techniques of Soul Travel, the ancient path to God-consciousness."5

"I also began to write short stories under a half-a-dozen noms-de-plume in order to be able to keep my independence and freedom.  I was holding down various newspaper jobs off and on in the Seattle area, but I would spend several hours each night in my daily writing stint, with a cap perched on my head, both feet cocked under me in yoga fashion, and sometimes a bottle of iced champagne beside my chair. "6

"We (Gail & Paul) were married in 1964 in San Francisco, and shortly afterwards Rebazar Tarzs began to appear and give me intensive instructions.  He had been appearing regularly in the latter 50's, but he said that those sessions had only been designed to prepare me for the exhaustive drills which now faced me.  I was told to move south, to choose San Diego for our home.

"I used to walk the beach at night, wondering if I could take the responsibility, but gradually, this task has become more and more acceptable, until now I gladly carry the full burden.

"My first out-of-town lecture was at Long Beach, where three gentle ladies, two widows and a spinster, came.  I decided that I could lecture as well to three as to three hundred.  Word began to get around about ECK, so I agreed to write the monthly discourses and to offer instruction by mail.  I went from three chelas to thousands in less than three years."7

Sri Paul Twitchell's original copyrighted materials published prior to 1983, continue to form the spiritual foundation of the present day path of Dhunami.   His successor, Sri Darwin Gross carried on as the Living Master of the Time until his translation in March, 2008.

All quotes taken from the book In My Soul I am Free, by Brad Steiger, copyright 1968

1 - Page 18

2 - Page 35

3 - Page 51

4 - Page 54

5 - Page 59

6, 7 - Page 64

© Common Law Copyright 2008, 2009, 2010

Sri Paul Twitchell, (Peddar Zaskq)

Sri Peddar Zaskq (Peddaji) is the Designated Mahanta. He represents the "face" of the Mahanta consciousness, and the Office of the Mahanta during his tenure in this capacity.

The Designated Mahanta starts out as the Living Dhunami Master, then continues as the Designated Mahanta following his translation from the body, or his retirement from the job of the Living Dhunami Master of the Time.

The Designated Mahanta is responsible for the development and direction of the Dhunami teachings in the lower worlds, which is guided by the Sugmad through the Nine Silent Ones. 

The Designated Mahanta works directly with the current Living Masters who appear in the physical body to carry on the teachings of Dhunami in his stead. 

The Designated Mahanta is always present in his "Light Body" with the current Living Dhunami Master for protection, and to assist that Master with the work that must come forth during his time in that position.  The two work together in a state of associated consciousness, and by direct communication when necessary.

Sri Peddar Zaskq will be the Designated Mahanta for several hundred years to come.