New Tooting home for Eckankar

4:34pm Thursday 20th March 2008

Comments (9)   Have your say »

A religious organisation with just 30 active members in south London could open a centre in Tooting, after proposals were approved.

Planning permission was given for a vacant shop in Eardley Road, Furzedown, to be turned into a centre for the religion Eckankar.

Originating in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Eckankar claims to have members in more than 100 countries around the world.

Eckankar Described as the "Religion of the Light and Sound of God", Eckankar's world headquarters are in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Although its teachings are said to have ancient roots, it was introduced as a modern-day religion by Paul Twitchell in 1965. Since 1981, the spiritual leader has been Sri Harold Klemp. He also goes by the title of the Mahanta, the living Eck Master. The Holy Spirit is known as the Eck. Members are Eckists, and its scriptures are the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad. Eckists believe in karma and reincarnation. One of the basic teachings is that God is Love. One of the basic tenets is that soul can leave the body in full consciousness and travel freely in other planes of reality. Various spiritual exercises are promoted by the organisation. Chanting, contemplation, meditation, singing, trance work and visualisation techniques are used to achieve soul travel. Eckankar considers abortion, divorce, sexual orientation, and a decision to terminate life to be personal matters. Eckists discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Eckankar claims an active membership base in more than 100 countries throughout the world, with anything from 50,000 to 500,000 members. The religion is not known for attempting to aggressively convert people, but it does advertise its presence and distribute literature to interested people.

After Islam and Christianity, it is the third largest religion in Nigeria.

Despite being a non-profit organisation, it has attracted some criticism from former members, and there are internet sites which brand it a "fraudulent new age cult".

Agent for the application, Igho Tabor said: "I know people have had problems with it in the past, as with any religion. Nobody's ever stopped from leaving.

"People will always find something negative to say. The only way to find out is to come in there for yourself. Deciding whether it's a cult is a personal thing."

She said the centre would be the only one in the country, as previous sites in Deptford and Kensington have closed.

To open five days a week, the centre would allow members of the public to find out more about the religion, attend study classes and services.

Five residents objected to the proposals, with some worried the site was inappropriate for use as a place of worship.

But planning committee chairman Leslie McDonnell reassured the Wandsworth Borough News that noise and disturbance would be minimal.

"If you're going to have a religion as your neighbour, you'd want it be this one," he said.

Mrs Tabor insisted that the religion's practices were tranquil.

"We always need places that are really quiet in able to function. We hardly ever use microphones," she said.

She stressed that her views were her own personal opinion as a member of the religion.

President of the UK's Eckankar Trust, Steven Mallett, declined to comment at this stage as the plans have not yet been submitted to Eckankar.