Spiritual Duties of the ECK Volunteer · The Slow Burning Love of God, Mahanta Transcripts, Book 13, p. 127 You will have many opportunities to serve by listening to others as a quiet

Spiritual Duties ofthe ECK Volunteer

Serving the Mahanta with Love

You are training for Mastership, and Master-ship means service. It means being a Co-workerwith God.

—Sri Harold Klemp,The Golden Heart, MahantaTranscripts, Book 4, p. 170

eECKANKAR

Guidelines

Spir Duties ECK Vol Gdlns.p65 6/26/2014, 8:03 AM11

These guidelines have been prepared under the super-vision of the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master,Sri Harold Klemp, to assist those working in the causeof ECK.

Spiritual Duties of the ECK Volunteer is for the ECK volunteersserving in the RESA organization. Permission is granted toECKists in good standing to duplicate this document for usein ECK activities.If you have questions about these guidelines, please contactyour RESA or the Spiritual Services director in your region.This document is produced by Spiritual Services at theECKANKAR Spiritual Center.

August 2014

Contents

What Is My Mission? .................................................................... 1

Personal Conduct ........................................................................... 2

Serving in the Spiritual Hierarchy ............................................. 3

Serving as a Listener ..................................................................... 6

Important ..................................................................................... 7

For Spiritual Exploration .............................................................. 8

Teachers of the Light and Sound ............................................. 10

Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2014 ECKANKAR. All rights reserved. The terms ECKANKAR, ECK, EK, MAHANTA,SOUL TRAVEL, and VAIRAGI, among others, are trademarks of ECKANKAR, PO Box 2000, Chanhassen, MN 55317-2000 USA. Printed in USA. 140323


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Spiritual Dutiesof the ECK Volunteer

Those of you who give toECK get something back fromthe ECK that is priceless. It’s anopportunity, and the gifts thatcome back to you spiritually—ifyou will accept and receivethem—will be more than anygift, any prize, any treasure you

could receive in any material sense.

—Sri Harold Klemp,1992 ECK Springtime Seminar

Serving the ECK is a way of life. It is the gathering ofsacred forces, of qualities, of eons of desire to live as aconscious Co-worker with the Mahanta. These guidelineswill help you fulfill your role as an ECK volunteer.

What Is My Mission?

The world will look for the grace of theMahanta in you, so let your heart be purebefore God and let your light shine before all.

—Sri Harold Klemp,ECK Arahata Book, p. 2

• Do the Spiritual Exercises of ECK every day to becomea magnet of divine love.

• Give loving support to the Master’s mission: to showSoul the way home to God.

• Serve ECK purely out of love.


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Spiritual Duties of the ECK Volunteer

Personal Conduct

Here are a few guidelines onhow to reach God-Realization: (1)do everything in the name of theMahanta or the ECK, (2) do eventhe smallest act with love andattention to detail, and (3) above all, giveothers the right to find their own way to God.

—Sri Harold Klemp,A Modern Prophet Answers Your KeyQuestions about Life, Book 1, p. 237

As a volunteer, you represent ECKANKAR and serve asa role model in the ECK community and your personal life.

How does an ECK volunteer serve as a role model?

Whenever you’re in doubt about any action,ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

—Sri Harold Klemp,How to Survive Spiritually in Our Times,Mahanta Transcripts, Book 16, p. 215

1. Be aware that others look to you as an example of divinelove and balance.

2. Reflect on Maybury’s two spiritual laws:

• Do all you have agreed to do, and

• Do not encroach on other persons or their property.

3. Treat others as Soul, showing respect in your words,attitudes, and actions. An ECK volunteer does not en-gage in harassment of any kind.1

4. You may also be viewed as a role model in your personaldealings, business ethics, and Internet postings.

1. If you become aware of misconduct by an ECK volunteer,speak with the RESA.


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Being aware of your influence as an ECK volunteer

In whatever way you can, be a demonstra-tion of divine love. Show others how to begraceful channels for ECK.

—Sri Harold Klemp,Handbook for ECK Leaders, p. 42

1. Lead others to the spiritual exercises, guidance, andteachings of the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master ratherthan acting as a personal guide.

2. Keep business or personal ventures separate fromECKANKAR. For example:

• Refrain from using ECKANKAR contacts, events, sta-tus, etc., for personal material gain.

• Avoid giving the impression that personal venturesor advice are part of the ECK teachings or endorsedby ECKANKAR.

3. Give freedom to all, never pushing anyone to acceptECK or to donate time or money to ECKANKAR.

Serving in the Spiritual Hierarchy

Others will know by their owninner experiences, or by your outerexample too, that the ECK hierar-chy has its basis in the love andpower of God, not man.


In ECK, authority flows from the SUGMAD to theMahanta, the Living ECK Master, who gives responsibili-ties to the ECKANKAR Spiritual Center and the RESAorganization.


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• ECK volunteers are approved by the RESA or the RESA’sdesignee.

• The ECK volunteer respects the direction and guidancegiven through the hierarchy.

• Should your inner guidance differ from the outer guide-lines, you can talk to someone higher up in the RESAstructure and discuss your thoughts.

• For valuable spiritual insight from Sri Harold on howto work together and when to step back, read “Agreeto Disagree,” pp. 230–31, Be the HU: How to Become a Co-worker with God.

Service areas for ECK volunteers

Love brings all true seekers tothe Master. Help them find himthrough your selfless acts andshining faces.


Helping in the Mahanta’s mission is a service of celebra-tion and great privilege.

1. The Mahanta may guide you to serve in the outer worksof ECKANKAR, in areas of interest or need.

2. There are many opportunities to serve in the forefrontor in quiet ways. Service areas you can help in includethe following:

• Vahana Teams: intro events for seekers, postering,public outreach

• Spiritual Services: ECK classes, ECK Worship Ser-vices, ECK newsletters

• Administrative Services: ECK centers, ECK materi-als, fund-raising


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• Youth and Family Services: ECK classes and pro-grams for youth and their families

3. You can also contemplate on the seven margs in Hand-book for ECK Leaders, pp. 162–63.

How can I become an ECK volunteer?

There is nothing to compare with thefeeling of being of service to life. Once we getinto the higher states of awareness, a dra-matic change takes place: Never again are wesatisfied to serve only ourselves. In one wayor another, we must serve all life.

—Sri Harold Klemp,The Eternal Dreamer, MahantaTranscripts, Book 7, pp. 124–25

1. Ask your local director or your RESA about service op-portunities in your Satsang Society.

2. You can further your ongoing training from the Innerand Outer Master by reading and contemplating on theECK Arahata Book (available to all ECK members) orHandbook for ECK Leaders (for Second Initiates and above).

3. Many volunteer positions have specific qualifications,guidelines, or trainings to support you. For example:

• Arahatas need to have successfully completed ECKArahata training and be approved by the class coor-dinator.

• Special guidelines apply to those working with youth.1All volunteers working with youth need to success-fully complete the regional-youth-volunteerapplication procedure.

1. See ECK Youth Leader’s Guide for essential safety and otherinformation.


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What special duties do ECK volunteers have?

To serve is an expression of divine love.


• ECK membership is a commitment of the heart betweenyou and the Living ECK Master. All ECK volunteersmaintain current ECK membership.

• Volunteers preserve the confidentiality of ECKANKAR’smailing, telephone, e-mail, and membership lists, usingthem solely as approved by the RESA, the RESA’s des-ignee, or ECKANKAR.

• ECKANKAR societies are nonprofit religious organiza-tions and churches. ECK volunteers honor the nonprofitspiritual purpose by applying all funds, property, anddata to the ECK mission only.

• High Initiates: Refer to Spiritual Duties of the ECK HighInitiate for additional duties.

Serving as a Listener

Sometimes being a Co-workerwith God means just to listen tosomeone else. When they come toyou because they need to talk, youhave to have the awareness to justsimply listen to them.

—Sri Harold Klemp,The Slow Burning Love of God,Mahanta Transcripts, Book 13, p. 127

You will have many opportunities to serve by listening toothers as a quiet Co-worker with the Mahanta.

1. If someone asks you for confidential spiritual assistance,


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suggest the person seek an ESA session.

2. If a person spontaneously shares private hopes, troubles,or spiritual goals, declare yourself a vehicle for theMahanta. Listen with divine love, and turn it over to theECK.

If appropriate, you can share the HU or a spiritual exercisefrom the ECK works.

3. An ECK volunteer does not counsel and does not diag-nose or treat physical, emotional, or mental conditions.

• If a person appears to need care, recommend profes-sional help. (Do not make specific recommendations.)

• You can offer to help the person call community re-sources such as a crisis line.

4. If someone wants action from the RESA organization orECKANKAR, recommend that he speak with an appro-priate ECK leader.

ImportantAll US states and many countries have laws concern-ing the reporting of child abuse. Some also have lawsconcerning the reporting of abuse of elderly or vul-nerable adults.

If you have a reasonable belief of abuse or neglect ofa child or an elderly or vulnerable adult,

• report it immediately to the proper governmentagency;

• also, promptly speak with the RESA if the infor-mation was gained while serving as an ECKvolunteer or at an ECK event, or if it may affectECK activities.

ECK clerics: See Spiritual Duties of the ECK High Ini-tiate, page 8.


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For Spiritual ExplorationChoose a passage from this guideline to contemplate.

Let the Mahanta show you how these words apply to yourquest for higher awareness and service. Ask for a way tomake the passage a living reality today.

On how to better serve and grow spiritually• See where you can be useful.

• Do what you like to do that is positive.

• Learn from the fruits this brings.

• Be diligent with the Spiritual Exercises of ECK.

At all times, do everything in your power to be self-reliant. A free Soul owes that to Itself. Accept help whenyou need it, but make it right at the first opportunity.

Your aim is ECK Mastership!

Open your heart. Love the Master. Trust life. Do that,and your life will take turns for your spiritual benefit,though you may often scratch your head at how a certaincourse could possibly result in anything of merit.

Your ideals are clearly worthy of regard. Be aware. I amalways with you.

—Sri Harold Klemp,“Ask the Master,” The Mystic World,June 2013

On doing a good deed dailySimply give back some service of love to the world,

your friend, your neighbor; and it may be simply bydoing a good deed every day that no one ever knowsabout. . . .


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There is no greater joy than working as a Co-workerwith God. Giving something back to life when you havethe ECK coming in is absolutely essential for spiritualsurvival.

—Sri Harold Klemp,The Spiritual Exercises of ECK,pp. 297–98

On the Master’s direction

The Mahanta, the Living ECK Master serves you throughhis talks, writings, and directives and guidelines from theECKANKAR Spiritual Center. . . .

. . . All of you, from a First Initiate and above, are myspiritual responsibility. I willingly look after you.

So be wary of the few “leaders” who disparage someportion of the ECK guidelines.

You all have a stake in this. The way of ECK is to free youfrom the bonds of karma. A great deal of self-responsibilityrests upon your shoulders to stay on the path to spiritualfreedom.

—Sri Harold Klemp,“The Wisdom Note,”The Mystic World, June 2013

Life is a series of expanding and contracting cycles thattest and measure your love for all things holy. It takescourage, love, and trust to serve the Mahanta when oftenyou feel so inadequate for a new, challenging situation.



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Teachers of the Light and SoundThe Mahanta is with you every mo-

ment, in every crisis, giving freely ofthe divine inspiration and guidance youneed to meet the day. As a teacher, re-member that you are ever the student.Life teaches its lessons continuously.

And as one of the community’s leaders, you are amongthe least of those whom you also serve.

Praise and reward come silently from the Mahanta,the Living ECK Master, because who else can evenbegin to understand or appreciate your love and ser-vice? Your spiritual rewards, on the other hand, comein the measure of love, knowledge, wisdom, andunderstanding. The Master’s yardstick is generous.He measures out a reward that is many times greaterthan any gift of love and service that you humbly offerto life and your fellow creatures.

These aren’t just words. They are an honest effortto tell you how much the seeker depends upon youfor finding the teachings of ECK and God’s Light andSound. . . .

My gift to you is a love for life.

No greater gift can I give you.

Be teachers of the Holy Light and Sound, but openalso your eyes and ears to the secret hoard of spiritualtreasure that lies scattered at your feet.

Walk with love and humility before all Souls. Belife’s greatest student.

—Sri Harold Klemp,Handbook for ECK Leaders, pp. 281–83


Documents

Spiritual Duties of the ECK Volunteer · The Slow Burning Love of God, Mahanta Transcripts, Book 13, p. 127 You will have many opportunities to serve by listening to others as a quiet