Sri Darwin Gross, also known as DapRen, (his spiritual name), was the 972nd Living Eck Master in the original teachings of Eckankar as presented in the unedited works of Sri Paul Twitchell, his predessor, mentor and spritual guide since Darwin was 3 years old. Darwin took over for Paul in 1971, after receiving the Rod of Power, and built Eckankar into a 50 million dollar corporation by 1983. A takeover coup, led by Harold Klemp, Peter Skelskey, Patti Simpson and the Board of Trustees, ousted him along with others who worked closely with Darji.
Darji's lifetime contract with Eckankar was cancelled. He received no pension nor a dime's worth of compensation, let alone compassion, from Harold or anyone who remained with the corporation. Regardless of the claims made against Darwin, is this how you reward someone who is training you to inherit the mantle of the Living Eck Master, not to mention a thriving multi-million dollar spiritual organization?
Eckankar makes no mention of Darwin in their history, despite his leadership of the organization for 12 years. No matter what Harold claims Darwin did after that, he certainly cannot deny that Darwin was the Living Eck Master for that period of time and that millions looked to him both inwardly and outwardly. No one can deny the spiritual works he did, the books he wrote, nor the incredible, healing music he produced.
Sri Darwin was accused of embezzling funds that were set aside for his continued work with the Eckankar Corporation, funds that he had no direct control over in the first place. The protraction of this lie led to great distress and confusion among many of the unsuspecting members of what is now the Eckankar Religion. While this accusation was quickly disproven, it has nevertheless been perpetuated through rumor, inuendo and gossip.
Darwin was kept in court continually having to defend himself against his own writings wherein he was attempting to tell his side of the story. Meanwhile what little funds he possessed were systematically drained away through the need for defense attorneys. Nothing ever came of any of it but their goal was accomplished. Without funds to continue his defense, Darwin was finally forced to agree not to use any of the Eckankar terminology in his writings; universal terms that belong to everyone...Vairagi, Eck, Eckankar, Soul Travel and the like. Neither could Darwin afford to enforce his contract with Gail Twitchell, Sri Paul's widow, allowing him exclusive rights to print, publish, distribute and maintain Paul's original writings.
As with all fully realized Living Eck Masters, Sri Darwin carried on Sri Paul Twitchell's original works using the name ATOM (Ancient Teachings of the Masters) to do so, until his translation on March 8, 2008. The path is now carried on by his successor, Sri Paul Marché, under the name Dhunami.
